LONDON—Shen Yun Divine Performing Arts (DPA) 2009 World Tour continues to amaze audiences. A study in grace, fluidity, balance, and inner strength, the show brings classical Chinese traditional values and culture to life in dance, song, drama, and music. It continues its tour at the renowned West End New London Theatre.
Thoroughly enjoying the program was Dorothy, a retired teacher, and her husband David, supervisor of a construction engineering company that built a bank in Hong Kong.
“We enjoyed it very much. It is different from what we are used to obviously. But it is good. The background is excellent. All the things going on are represented, very interesting,” said Dorothy.
David continued, saying, “Singing, dancing, choreography, it was all very good. I really enjoyed the lady with [the] erhu. I really enjoyed the sound ... absolutely marvelous.”
Dorothy said, “As we said, it is something different, we hear singing, we hear piano everyday. We have never heard that—wonderful.”
As performed by soloist Ms. Xiaochun Qi, the stirring tones of the Chinese two-stringed violin are intensely expressive.
Also in the audience were two friends, Inona and Morag, both managers in information technology. They regarded themselves as “lucky to have watched the show.”
“It was really interesting, I’ve never really seen anything like this before. I was impressed with the discipline, the color, and the spectacle of it all,” said Inona.
Classical Chinese dance is a unique art form that has its own complete set of training methods such as stunning dives, leaps, spins, and superlative body control. Dancers are taught to especially emphasise fluidity of movement.
Inona was fascinated to learn China’s 5,000-year history formed the basis of the DPA New York-based company’s dances. She couldn’t decide which particular dance she liked more than the others, but settled for Flowing Sleeves, a window into the picturesque Tang Dynasty era of elegance and majesty. “The movements were so beautiful and flowing,” she said.
Her friend Morag preferred humorous dances such as The Monkey King Triumphs, one of China’s most beloved tales of a monk who goes in search of the Buddhist scriptures. In the 16th century novel, “Journey to the West,” a pig, an ogre, and a magical monkey both help and hinder the monk on his quest. Monkey has been celebrated in operas, children’s stories, dances, and puppet shows ever since.
Monkey uses one of his special powers to defeat a formidable foe who almost kidnaps the monk. He is able to create multiple monkeys from a single hair on his head. Morag said that the introductions from the hosts made the storylines easy to understand and more enjoyable.
A business analyst for a London bank, Mr. Taylor, had seen Shen Yun DPA shows twice in previous years. He and his wife enjoyed the show so much last time, they decided to see it again.
“Yes, it’s interesting seeing the new show. We really are enjoying the show very much.”
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Divine Performing Arts.
For more information, please see divineperformingarts.org
