SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

UK Lawyer Says Shen Yun Takes Her Back to Her Heritage

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UK Lawyer Says Shen Yun Takes Her Back to Her Heritage
Jennifer Simpson and her mum at the at the Venue Cymru, in the U.K., on Feb. 8, 2024. Mary Mann/The Epoch Times

LLANDUDNO, U.K.—Shen Yun Performing Arts graced the stage in northern Wales for another sold-out show at the Venue Cymru on Feb. 8.

Jennifer Simpson, a senior associate and attorney, took her mother to visit Shen Yun for the first time. Being of Chinese heritage with her family from Malaysia, Mrs. Simpson was ecstatic that the company was selling out auditoriums to Western audiences.

“It’s nice that so many people in the U.K. are listening to this and experiencing another culture … it’s nice to broaden people’s awareness of other cultures in the world,” she said.

“It was brilliant; very vibrant, colorful, … very emotional,” she said. “It’s really good to show people the traditions of China … what it’s like there [currently] … and the history.”

Based in New York, Shen Yun is the world’s leading Chinese classical dance production. Featuring a live orchestra that blends Eastern and Western instrumentation and classical Chinese dance that has been passed down through antiquity, the company presents story-based dances that span 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture.

According to the company’s website, Shen Yun presents “China before communism.”

Mrs. Simpson was wowed by the company’s patented method of integrating a 3D animated backdrop with the stage performance. It allows the performers to travel back and forth between the stage and the background projection.

“I’ve never seen anything like that before; it’s seamless,” she said, “very smooth transition between the screen and the stage … it’s very realistic … with people coming in and out of the screen like that.”

Having formerly visited Tian Tan (Temple of Heaven) in Beijing, she said she was “touched” by the background animated depicting scenes of ancient China throughout the dynasties, which reminded her of the historic towns she had visited.

“It takes us back to our heritage,” she said.

‘From the Heavens Downward’

Steve Smith at Shen Yun Performing Arts at Venue Cymru, in the U.K., on Feb. 8, 2023. (Mary Mann/The Epoch Times)
Steve Smith at Shen Yun Performing Arts at Venue Cymru, in the U.K., on Feb. 8, 2023. Mary Mann/The Epoch Times

Steve Smith, NHS director, also saw Shen Yun for the first time at the Venue Cymru on Feb. 8, and it exceeded his expectations.

“It’s absolutely fantastic,” he said. “Really mesmerizing to watch … something that I wasn’t really expecting.

“It was really joyful to see … and really [great] storytelling… it was really amazing,” he added.

Shen Yun’s story-based dances depict heavenly realms, ancient legends, and cherished tales from the past. According to the company’s website, the presented heroes embody the most exalted virtues of Chinese civilization and convey morals still relevant to the modern day.

“It really tells the tale … where we came from ... from the heaven downwards … from many, many years ago to where we are today,” said Mr. Smith. “I think bringing in all the ethics involved is really important.”

“[I] really enjoyed it,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would.”

“Thank you so much for giving us entertainment tonight,” he said in appreciation to the Shen Yun artists.
Reporting by Mary Mann and Jennifer Schneider.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.
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