SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Shen Yun ‘Speaks to the Divine Within Us,’ Says Business Owner

Apr 17, 2023

LONDON—Business owner Trudie McGuinness attended Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Eventim Apollo on April 16.

Ms. McGuinness said, “It’s absolutely incredible. The beauty of the dancing and of the singing that we just heard is extraordinary actually. It’s so, so touching.”

She commented on the wonderful energy from the performance. “There’s a beautiful energy ... and the message about really considering the Divine within each of us is very powerfully demonstrated.

“You feel it when you’re watching it,” she said.

“It speaks to me and it speaks to my heart because I do believe in our higher power, and I think it’s incredibly important that everybody has the ability to be able to pursue their own beliefs and to be really in touch with the spiritual part of themselves.”

If Ms. McGuinness were to describe Shen Yun to friends, she said, “I would describe the fact that art is able to touch the heart in a way that sometimes news or everyday stories can’t. And that you get transported to a different place in watching the show, both because of the visual aspects but also you feel the energy of the dancers.

“And the singing that we just heard from the soprano was extraordinary,” she added. She said the lyrics also spoke to her heart.

Based in New York, Shen Yun was founded in 2006 by leading Chinese artists and quickly became the world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music company. Shen Yun’s mission is to revive 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture.

“I think it’s incredibly laudable,” she said of Shen Yun’s mission. “I think it’s really important. There are so many aspects to ancient traditions that we just wouldn’t know about, have any idea about, if weren’t for a production like this. So, I think it’s fantastic and I wish it every success.”

Shen Yun is banned in China. “It’s a tremendous shame,” Ms. McGuinness said. “For me, the fact that such things are prohibited, it’s gut-wrenching, really, that people can’t enjoy their own culture when it is part of their history and their tradition.

“And I think it speaks volumes about any kind of regime that’s so scared of art that it seeks to deprive its people from it. There’s fear within there and, actually, what we see in this show is that love is far greater than fear.”

Ms. McGuinness had kind words for the performers. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for using the gifts that you’ve got to bring this absolute beauty to speak to us and to speak to the Divine within each of us.”

Reporting by NTD.

The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.