(Minghui.org) During the last week of January 2024, the performing troupes of Shen Yun continued their world tour with performances in the United Kingdom, Italy, the United States, and Japan.
Shen Yun New Era Company at the Eventim Apollo in London on January 27. The company began its eight-day performances in London on January 26, and the shows have all been performed to full theaters so far.(The Epoch Times)
Shen Yun New Era Company at the Royal & Derngate in Northampton, United Kingdom, on January 23. The company presented five performances in Northampton January 20–23, all to full houses. (The Epoch Times)
Shen Yuu Global Company Company at the Teatro Nuovo Giovanni da Udine in Udine, Italy, on January 30. The company presented three performances in Udine January 29–31, all to full houses. (The Epoch Times)
Shen Yun Touring Company at the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on January 27. The company presented three performances in Pittsburgh on January 27 and 28, all to full theaters. (The Epoch Times)
Shen Yun World Company at the SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center in Sacramento, California, on the afternoon of January 27. The company presented six performances in Sacramento January 24–27, all to packed houses. (NTD Television)
Shen Yun New World Company at a packed house at the Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington, D.C., on the afternoon of January 27. The company began its eight-day performances in the U.S. capital on January 26. (The Epoch Times)
Shen Yun New York Company at the Bunkyo Civic Hall in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan, on January 31. The company presented four performances in this special ward of Tokyo January 29–31, all to full houses. (The Epoch Times)
Audience Member in the U.K.: “Extremely Innovative, Creative”
Shafik Gabr, chairman and CEO of ARTOC Group, at the Shen Yun performance in London on January 26 (NTD Television)
Shafik Gabr, chairman and CEO of ARTOC Group, saw Shen Yun in London on January 26.
“It was a surprising impression. I didn’t expect what I saw. And frankly, I have to admire the performers and even the director—everything that he’s been able to do. I think the key element is being able to create awareness and historical significance within a framework of compassion and ideology,” said Mr. Gabr.
He was particularly impressed with Shen Yun’s Artistic Director and the way Shen Yun used its patented digital backdrop. “He has done an incredible job of linking animation with reality. And I think that’s very nice. I haven’t seen it anywhere else,” he said.
“It was an eye-opener. I’m a person who has traveled to over 120 countries in the world. I have been to China only once. But today, I think I was transformed into a whole different framework of thinking about China,” shared Mr. Gabr.
“I feel it is extremely innovative, creative, and presents a message that many people don’t know about China and the history of what we’re watching.
“So, in all honesty, these countries need to always, always put their culture forward. Because that history is very important for civilization.
“The stories are very enlightening. It creates awareness... and I think they’re done in a very nice taste and [are] extremely inspirational. So I enjoyed them very much.
“There’s a lot that I’m taking with me from the performance. But the most important thing is I wish great success to these young performers,” Mr. Gabr said.
Mathematician and entrepreneur Karel Janeček at Shen Yun’s matinee in London on January 27 (NTD Television)
Karel Janeček, mathematician and entrepreneur, and his wife Lilia saw Shen Yun in London on the afternoon of January 27.
Mr. Janeček said that with such a great performance, “It is like raising self confidence, raising [the] consciousness of people.”
Mr. Janecek’s family is Czech. He was aware that Shen Yun would be going to the Czech Republic in March. “We will be there. I will see you there with my daughter and my son. Especially looking forward to seeing this,” he said.
He said he knew about communism when it invaded his country. “We lived in the communist time, so I could experience it. I know what’s really behind it, how much [there is] of a loss of freedom—no freedom, a big problem of dictatorship,” he said.
“Nevertheless, I would like to say that today, we are in a crisis situation. And we are facing the risk of coming back to some kind of similar dictatorship and a loss of freedom, which was communist. What is happening is really dangerous for Western countries, and that is the loss of freedom,” he said.
“I would like to thank the performers for their great physical [stamina]. I do some gymnastics, and I understand how well they are physically prepared and what they can do as sports people,” Mr. Janecek said.
Mrs. Janecek also shared, “We loved it. I know it to be truth... Thank you. It was a lovely experience.”
American Elected Officials Welcome Shen Yun
Prior to Shen Yun’s performances in Pittsburgh, the company received welcome remarks and recognition from local elected officials including (left to right, top to bottom): Governor Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania State Senator Pat Stefano, Pennsylvania State Senator Lindsey M. Williams, Pennsylvania State Senator Jay Costa, Pennsylvania State Senator Devlin Robinson, Pennsylvania State Representative Robert W. Mercuri, Pennsylvania State Representative Mandy Steele, President of Allegheny County Council Patrick J. Catena, Allegheny County Councilman Bob Macey, and Mayor of Pittsburgh Ed Gainey. (The Epoch Times)
Letter from Josh Shapiro, Governor of Pennsylvania (provided by Shen Yun’s local presenter)
On the afternoon of January 27, Mayor Ed Gainey of Pittsburgh saw Shen Yun in Pittsburgh again and personally presented a proclamation to the company. (The Epoch Times)
Prior to Shen Yun’s performances in Cleveland, Ohio, on January 27 and 28, the company received a welcome letter from Governor Mike DeWine. (provided by Shen Yun’s local presenter)
Prior to Shen Yun’s performances at the Kennedy Center in the capital, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen extended a welcome letter to the performing arts company. (The Epoch Times)
American Theatergoers: “This Shows What Actual Chinese Culture Is About”
Steve and Michelle Yates at the Shen Yun performance in Washington, D.C., on the evening of January 26 (The Epoch Times)
Policy adviser and thought leader Steve Yates and his wife Michelle saw Shen Yun in Washington, D.C., on the evening of January 26. He was a scholar of classical Chinese culture.
“It was a very interesting performance. The dance moves were very incredible just because, obviously, there’s a lot of technique involved, so just the choreography was pretty amazing to see come together,” said Mr. Yates.
“That’s the China that I studied,” said Mr. Yates, who speaks Mandarin fluently and has served in several adviser posts in national security at the federal level.
“And so, the China after communism, I always feel like it is a rude interruption. I like the sort of return to the roots, return to the past. And I also just think it’s factually correct. The Communist Party does not represent continuity with China’s past. It is an alien intrusion into an otherwise long and, I think, honorable tradition,” he said.
Mr. Yates perceived the overall message of the performance to be tied together with three words—truth, compassion, and forbearance—and encouraging people toward benevolence and kindness.
“It made me recall some things that I had read in classical Chinese before... It’s been many, many years since I studied classical Chinese, so just sort of hearing the intonations and rhythms of all of that, and that form of storytelling, is just kind of soothing to me,” he said.
Mrs. Yates, who works in a defense security company, said it was her first time seeing a performance like Shen Yun.
“I had been waiting for a couple of years, actually, to see the show. I kept saying, ‘I want to go, I want to go,’” she said. “So, it was really amazing to see. It was beautiful. I loved it.”
Bill Walton, former president of the National Symphony Orchestra, at the Shen Yun performance in Washington, D.C., on the evening of January 27
Bill Walton, former president of the National Symphony Orchestra, saw Shen Yun in Washington, D.C., on the evening of January 27.
Shen Yun Performing Arts “holds up” to the major classical masterpieces, Mr. Walton shared.
“I think it’s wonderful. They’re bringing all these great fables to life on stage, and the dancing is spectacular,” he said.
“I love the way they use the animation to amplify what’s happening on the stage. It’s very clever.
“I’ve studied a lot. I’ve read a lot on Chinese history, and there’s a wonderful civilization that stretched back thousands [of years]... I think this shows what actual Chinese culture is about. It’s lovely to see,” he said.
Mr. Walton added that he was moved by one of the story-based dances, which depicted the ongoing persecution of Falun Gong.
“What’s happening in China is criminal, is genocide. And I’m glad we had a chance to see that brought to life on the stage,” he said.
Anthony Moschella at the Shen Yun performance in Washington, D.C., on the afternoon of January 27.
Anthony Moschella, who works for the Department of Defense, saw Shen Yun in Washington, D.C., on the afternoon of January 27.
“The production was excellent... Shen Yun was not only a gorgeous performance, but also contained deep meaning,” he said.
Italian Attendees: “We Come From Above”
Shen Yun Global Company at the Teatro Regio in Parma, Italy, on the evening of January 25. The company presented four performances in Parma January 23–25. Tickets were sold out before Christmas of last year. (The Epoch Times)
Restaurant owner Carlo Bergonzi at the Shen Yun performance in Parma on January 23 (NTD Television)
Carlo Bergonzi, owner of a century-old family restaurant, saw Shen Yun in Parma on January 23.
“Excellent. This was my first time seeing such a unique cultural performance. It exceeds the standard here in Parma. The Shen Yun performance was very special and interactive. It was a wonderful new experience... I will be waiting in Parma to meet them again,” he said.
Bank manager Cristopher D’Addario at the Shen Yun performance in Parma on January 23 (NTD Television)
Cristopher D’Addario, a bank manager at La Cassa di Ravenna S.p.A., saw Shen Yun in Parma on January 23.
“The message [I got] is that we come from above, our heavenly kingdom, so that we can bring a message of hope to this Earth, and then be called back when our mission here on this Earth, on this world, has ended,” said Mr. D’Addario.
Chinese Descendant: “Seeing the Real History”
Sarah Lee and her husband at the Shen Yun performance in Sacramento, California, on January 27 (Minghui.org)
Sarah Lee, an executive assistant at an investment company, saw Shen Yun with her husband in Sacramento, California, on January 27.
“I waited for 10 years. My husband knows. I told my husband, ‘I’m turning 60, I’m not going to wait for another year. It has to be now.’ And finally, my dream came true. My Grandfather was born in China, so this is: seeing the real history,” Ms. Lee said.
“The MC was saying you have ethnic dances and folk dance, so it’s five thousand years of history. I like it because I hope Shen Yun continues to take this opportunity to promote the five thousand years of China’s history through dancing,” she said.
Ms. Lee also thought Shen Yun’s efforts in revealing the truth about the CCP were “very brave,” “very admirable,” and very noble.”
She also said that stories presented in the show such as The Journey to the West and Lady Xi Shi “are all in our culture. It’s changed our life, our belief system, how we behave even today.”
“So thank you. It’s very well done. I hope we come back again,” she said.
For more information about performance times, locations, and tickets, please visit www.shenyun.com.
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