SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Company Chairman Urges Shen Yun to Perform Worldwide

Jan 25, 2025

OXFORD UK—The audience at Oxford’s New Theatre on Jan. 25 anticipated a wonderful performance and Shen Yun Performing Arts delivered.

Gary Moody, chairman of a company, said he “really enjoyed it. Great visuals. Great dancing.” He said he especially liked the story of Pigsy, a character from the Chinese classic novel “Journey to the West.”

He also was amazed at the opening scene as the Creator bestows culture to the Chinese people and its divine connection.

“That was a new story. Also, I really enjoyed that,” he said.

The dances are enhanced by the interaction of the patented 3D backdrop. “I liked the visuals, with the screen,” he said, “and the way the dancers jump into the screen and come out. That was really, really good.”

Mr. Moody found the orchestra played an important part in bringing Shen Yun’s stories to life. “If you close your eyes, you can’t really imagine that the music is so professional—amazing,” he said.

Singers perform during Shen Yun, and Mr. Moody noted the performance of the tenor, who sings in the bel canto style. “He’s unique. You don’t really hear that sound in the UK.”

Shen Yun’s mission is to revive the 5,000-year-old traditional culture of China. Today, people of faith are persecuted in China by the communist regime now in power. People in China lived by principles such as benevolence and justice, propriety and wisdom, respect for the heavens, and divine retribution before communism.

“I think it’s really important to keep telling the story,” Mr. Moody said. “It’s very important also to show the story around the world. It is a history, so it shouldn’t be forgotten.”

“I think a lot of the values are being lost in the world, and it’s important to bring it out.” Mr. Moody was not aware that the Chinese people could not see Shen Yun in China, and he said it should be seen worldwide. Shen Yun is presently being performed in over 200 cities across five continents.

“That’s very good. Keep doing it,” he said.

Family Enjoys How the 3D Backdrop Helps to Tell Shen Yun’s Stories

Charmaine and Andy Delaney attended Shen Yun Performing Arts at the New Theatre in Oxford, UK, on Jan. 25, 2025. (Mary Man/The Epoch Times) — Charmaine and Andy Delaney attended Shen Yun Performing Arts at the New Theatre in Oxford, UK, on Jan. 25, 2025. Mary Man/The Epoch Times

Charmaine and Andy Delaney attended with their daughter. “It’s fantastic. Really enjoyed it,” said Mrs. Delaney, who works in finance.

The interaction of the 3D backdrop with the performers especially captured their attention. “The jumping is just amazing,” said the young lady.

Mr. Delaney, who works in IT technology, also liked how the backdrop helped to tell the story and expand the dimension of time and space. “I think the interaction with the backdrop is so clever, Really clever. That’s really good,” he said.

The Himalayan dance was a special moment that stood out for him.

The stories that Shen Yun performs tell of China’s traditional culture given by the Divine before communism. China embodied the traditional values and spirituality that need to be seen in modern society.

“I think what they’re trying to achieve is amazing. It’s really good. Really enjoy it,” said Mrs. Delaney. “I know it’s interpreted through the dance,” she said

Mr. Delaney enjoyed how the culture of China was displayed on the stage. “It’s nice to hear about the heritage and the culture and to see the characters and the different costumes,” he said.

Singers are part of Shen Yun’s performance and the Delaney’s found the lyrics touching. “[The lyrics] were quite deep for me,” said Mrs. Delaney. “They were quite profound.”

Mr. Delaney enjoyed the live orchestra composed of Eastern and Western instruments. “It was really good. Really engaging,” he said.

The Delaney’s had encouraging words for the performers. “I think they’re doing a fantastic job. You can see the hours they put into it. The energy they put into it is phenomenal,” said Mrs. Delaney.

The young lady added: “Absolutely brilliant. People don’t understand how much effort dancing takes, and they make it look so easy.”

“I think they do a fantastic job,” said Mr. Delaney. “They just make it look so easy in it.”

Reporting by Mary Man and Yvonne Marcotte.

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