LONDON—Li Guiyang, a Han Chinese from the Sichuan Tibetan area of China, was forced to flee China and reside in the U.K. after being caught up in the persecution of Tibetans by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
With his heart in his homeland, Mr. Li felt a sense of pride to see the essence of 5,000 years of Chinese culture displayed by Shen Yun at the Barbican Centre on March 6.
“The Shen Yun performance, in my opinion, is terrific. Their dance is very classical, displaying dance skills of remarkable excellence. Some of the programs from the very beginning to the end are just like a story. From 5,000 years of Chinese culture to contemporary culture, and to those [cultural features] of ethnic groups, the performance is a thorough demonstration, though only two hours long.”
Deeply impressed with the purity and profundity of 5,000 years of history and culture visualized onstage by Shen Yun, Mr. Li said, “Simplicity, purity, truth: these are the pursuit of our human nature, and what I adore. The innocence of human nature included in it is what I like. In mainland China, some stuff is in pursuit of vanity, quite false, very empty. It appears good-looking, but it lacks the essence inside.”
Traditional values depicted in Shen Yun programs, like divine retribution and harmony between man and Heaven, are lost in China. Meanwhile, the program about Falun Gong practitioners persecuted by the CCP left Mr. Li deeply touched.
“This [Shen Yun] is hope. It is better to display innocence and purity, since a lie is absolutely a lie and will be uncovered someday. Fate is sometimes so strange, just like the story told in An Unexpected Encounter. One tourist just goes there to take a look and is involved for no reason, and then persecuted. As for me, I am by accident involved in the Tibetan problems. Therefore, that program for me is very realistic, as if it depicts a story of mine, a reminder of my deepest pains.”
Mr.Li said that if all Chinese people chose to keep silent, the persecution would never be ended. He decided he would share what he had seen today with those around him and would highly recommend Shen Yun to his friends. If they missed it, “It would be a great pity for them,” he said.
Read original Chinese article.
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company will be performing in Barbican Theatre through March 9. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
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