Shen Yun is a non-profit performing arts company with the mission of reviving traditional Chinese culture. Founded in 2006 in New York by a group of Chinese artists, Shen Yun now travels the world, performing classical Chinese dances and music against an innovative digital backdrop which transports the audience through time and to different – often mystical – places.
When I saw Shen Yun was coming to Milton Keynes Theatre, I booked tickets immediately. I’d heard of the show but never seen it and, having lived in China, was really interested in what the performance would be like.
Let me start by saying, it was spectacular.
The traditional costumes were bright and colourful, catching the eye as the dancers twirled and lept around the stage. It was difficult to know where to look as I didn’t want to miss anything. The music – a full Western orchestra with traditional Chinese instruments such as the erhu and pipa – was emotive and helped tell the stories the dancers were portraying.
What brought it all together was the unique digital background, which not only sets the scene but also allows performers to travel between the stage and the world in the animated backdrop.
The show was split into two halves, with nine dances and a song performed in the first half, and seven dances, a song, and a performance on the erhu in the second half. Each dance either had a theme, such as Yellow Blossoms, or told a story, from a day in a restaurant to an act of kindness being rewarded. A mixture of ethinic, folk, and Chinese classical dances were performed, each with diverse costumes and impressive moves such as backflips and somersaults.
Each performance was introduced by the Masters of Ceremonies in both English and Chinese. It was lovely to hear Mandarin being spoken again and added to the overall feel of being immersed in Chinese culture. The whole show was fascinating; it reminded me a great deal of China and some of the traditional shows I saw when I lived there, although there were some of the dance stories they performed that would never be shown in China – those about Falun Dafa, a spiritual practice that is banned in China.
Every year Shen Yun creates a new performance, so even if you have seen one of their shows, it’s worth going again a different year.
Photography and video recording were strictly prohibited, so the only photo I have is of the programme. You’ll have to go and see it for yourself to admire the dramatic costumes, watch the impressive dance moves, and hear the beautiful music. You can find tickets and watch trailers on their website: shenyun.com.