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Retired business owner Tony Alers-Hankey and his wife Parvin praised the Saturday matinee of Shen Yun at the London Coliseum on April 14, 2012. (The Epoch Times)
LONDON—Shen Yun Performing Arts brought traditional Chinese culture to a full house matinee audience at the West End on Saturday, Apr. 14.
Retired business owner Tony Alers-Hankey and his wife Parvin praised the show, which was at the London Coliseum, with Mrs. Alers-Hankey saying: “I thought it was actually spectacular, they are very energetic, I loved the mix of classical [Chinese dance] with martial arts, the costumes were beautiful, and they looked so happy! And as if they enjoyed it, which is marvellous.”
She went on to say that she “could see ballet coming from this, rather than the other way round. We tend to associate Chinese acrobatics with very jerky, physical movements, but these were very fluid and graceful.”
Mr. Alers-Hankey thought the show displayed a very good combination of colour, music and dance.
He also said that “credit should be given to the people who designed the different concepts and also translated it into the costumes and dance. For example, the snowflake [dance] was a very innovative thing, very imaginative.”
Mr. Alers-Hankey was referring to the dance Snowflakes Welcoming Spring, in which “dancers take small, quick steps through snowy fields as they skillfully spin and twirl sequined handkerchiefs,” according to the Shen Yun programme book.
He also praised the piece ‘Lotus Leaves,’ in which the “dancers’ unique full-circle fans sway like lily pads in the wind, evoking scenes of a flowering lotus garden in the summertime,” according to the programme book.
Mrs. Alers-Hankey was struck by the depth of talent among the dancers, saying: “Here, everyone seemed equally talented.” She also commented on a piece set in modern-day China, saying, “It was telling a story which is very pertinent and important”.
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts’s performances are reviving classical Chinese culture, with their International Company performing in London.
Reporting by Valentin Schmid and Louis Makiello.
Shen Yun Performing Arts, based in New York, has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world, with a mission to revive traditional Chinese culture. Shen Yun Performing Arts International Company is performing at the London Coliseum until April 15.
For more information visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts.