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Sarah Frater's rating
Great Pall of China
By
Sarah Frater
25 Feb 2008
You have to wonder what the South Bank big-wigs were thinking when they booked Shen Yun for the Royal Festival Hall.
The two-hour song and dance "spectacular", as the organisers optimistically bill it, is supposedly a showcase of ancient Chinese culture, when it's actually an American-produced variety show that says more about entertainment economics than the art of the Orient.
It also reveals much about geo-politics. The company is based in New York and wastes little time bashing the Chinese Communist Party, both in the programme and on stage.
They may have a point, but few of us take the kids to a pageant-style show to hear about Falun Gong.
You could overlook the politics if the show was any good, but it is dated and sentimental, with comically bad compères, laughably awful film projections and dance routines that would make panto producers blush.
How you long to see the "bearing" and "form" of Chinese classical dance, the flowing heeltoe, flat-footed walk, the elegant arm dancing, and the jumping and tumbling at which the Chinese excel.
Instead, you have a so-so series of dance routines, singers with voices like bags of gravel, and the truly weird dance-drama where Falun Gong followers are beaten by heavies wearing jackets with appliquéd hammer and sickles.
Two or three of the traditional sequences hint at the synchronised elegance of Chinese classical dance.
The large orchestra of musicians and the Chinese violin player were also pretty good, but neither could salvage this peculiar event. On much safer territory was the gala in memory of Maris Liepa, the Soviet era dancer whose charity supports aspiring dancers.
On offer was the standard gala combo of good fun and a good cause, with classical highlights mixed with more recent choreographic creations (some of the latter were awful).
Still, good to see a few unfamiliar ballet excerpts, and some great dancers, including Tamara Rojo, Sarah Lamb and Svetlana Zakharova.
There was also the very strange experience of seeing Alina Cojocaru and Johan Kobborg fluff their steps. The renowned duo rarely falter.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
Reader views (20)
This show is wonderful! All the beautiful colors, dances and the messages of compassion that it gives you is just amazing. So different from those so called "chinese dance acts" in China, all based on the communist party culture and not on the original traditional culture.
It makes you think, why people keep defending the communist party? They keep killing their own people, then through their propaganda machine they start brainwashing them into thinking its ok to torture and kill the Falun Gong adherents or the Tibetans, or the Uighurs.
Then in the Falun Gong case, when they showcase a revival of chinese traditional culture and the tragedy of the loss of their traditional culture and their freedom of belief through dances and arts like the Shen Yun spectacular, combined with stories and dances of their traditional chinese culture, you also find some people who are saying its "political" (whatever that means...) speaking badly about the Falun Gong practitioners and thus contributing to the ongoing persecution.
There is a chinese saying: "Good and Evil deeds have Just Rewards". You should support the Falun Gong practicioners in China so this horrendous persecution of almost 10 years can finally end, instead of supporting those who torture and murder them everyday.
- Andres, CA, Venezuela, 18/06/2009 02:16
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Just finished seeing this show, and was well pleased. The critic must have been having a bad day. I do not agree with her review. As witnesses to their culture being ripped apart,I do sympathise with their message that is a bit political, but I see hope being put forth also. And an example of a proper response. It was not corny in the least. Let us not everr have to experience seeing our own culture ripped apart. I know the western world would not dance as a response. There is just something wonderfully resilliant about the Chinese people, they are strong and they will win their traditional culture back eventually. This and more is what I got out of seeing this amazing performance. Humility is needful here and compassion.
- Jill, Idaho, USA, 22/05/2009 08:29
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It's out of this world, it's the best Gift of Life!
- Grace Yin, Waterloo, CA, 14/05/2009 19:01
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This is a fantastic show! It has presented the pure beauty and entertainment to the audience! It is enjoyable and spirit uplifting.
- Lyn, London, 05/03/2009 11:03
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I agree with the critical reviews - this was thinly veiled propaganda in a embarrassing costume. I particularly objected to having been hoodwinked into buying rather expensive tickets for a show that promised "5000 years of Chinese History" when it was nothing of the sort.
We insisted on speaking to a representative of Shen Yun after the show and got our money back after raising these points.
- Rajah, London UK, 03/07/2008 10:58
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I and my friends were not prepared to see a show with religious connections. It gave us a rare feeling even the performance was alright. But I believed we were relatively moderate comparing to other audiences that night, many just walked away whenever there were words like, persecutions and torture....The whole mood was ruined.
I was really sorry to my friends as they said they would hardly take my recommendation in the future.
- Kate Louise Young, Melbourne, Australia, 30/04/2008 09:23
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I didn't go the show (of course not) and didn't need to. So far, I have never read anything positive about this Falungong show from a thrustworthy source. That's good enough to me.
- Christopher, Ottawa, Canada, 17/04/2008 20:45
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Went all the way to London to see it, and the only thing I can say to people who didn't enjoy it is that after Royal Festival Hall collected in the audience feedback forms, only 2% gave a negative response. That's out of nearly 8,000 people. And for people who don't understand about Chinese culture, Falun Gong is a type of "Qigong", which (in very simple terms) means health-beneficial exercises, and Qigong has been in China for a few thousand years. Since Falun Gong is a type of Qigong, I don't see why it can't be classed as Chinese culture.
- Kat, Birmingham, UK, 06/03/2008 00:15
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Shen Yun is a very special show! I and my four ten to seventeen year old children came to London from Nottingham to see this wonderful Shen Yun performance. We all thought it was just great, even though, for the kids, it was something completely different from their usual indie-band fayre. It was really fabulous artistically. It was also very meaningful, educational even, in terms of traditional virtues and values. Every bit worth the long journey we all made. We're all looking forward to next year's show. I'm gonna tell all my friends to come!
Mary-Nottingham
- Mary Cann, Nottingham England, 04/03/2008 14:29
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I went to see the show with my friends with an open mind. I have to say that we were all enchanted by every moment of it. For us the show was outstanding, more than ‘spectacular’. The movements were so elegant and graceful, the costumes and colours were so vibrantly colourful. Everything blended in so well with the background, just like a beautiful Chinese painting.
The lyrics of the songs were very meaningful, an inspiration to me, and the folk stories brought back my childhood memories when I was being brought up in China.
The drums acted as a perfect counterbalance to the lightness and grace of the dancing etc, the rhythm and sound was thrilling.
I have to say the highlight of show for me was the 2 string ‘Chinese violin’. It was so moving. I could not hold back my tears. The whole experience was amazing.
What is Chinese culture? - Shaolin monk’s martial arts or the Chinese circus?
If you ask Chinese people nowadays, I don’t think they can give you a clear answer. But today I have seen it in the ShenYun show. This I believe to be the ‘true’ Chinese culture that has been missing. It is a beautiful moral culture, where people know right from wrong.
I am so grateful that ShenYun has brought the spirit of the true Chinese culture back to our modern life and represented it in such a graceful and peaceful way.
I hope to see more shows like this!
- Xia Qing, London, 28/02/2008 13:37
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My friends and I thoroughly enjoyed the show, including one who is a director. We all marvelled at the beauty, technical ability, the gracefulness, and positive feeling that emanated from the performances. There were several highlights for me, but none more so than the lady who played the 2 stringed instrument, she was amazing. I believe that after this show I have a greater understanding of the true culture of China, and I for one am happy that they decided to include the Falun Gong pieces as that is modern 'culture' that reflects the society of today in China, as 'art mirrors life', and I found them to be particularly moving. After the show I felt so light and warm inside, I am so grateful and happy that I had the chance to see this show in London, and I hope that they return next year.
- Neil, Surrey, UK, 27/02/2008 11:38
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I saw the show and whole heartedly agree with Sarah. Frankly, I refused to give applause from the very beginning. I was so frustrated; in particular, the theme of the show was so distorted by Falun Gong. I am Chinese, and NOT a supporter of Falun Gong.
I went in good faith to be entertained with traditional Chinese entertainment and instead I was exposed to a mediocre exhibition with a very strong political slant. They are disguised as artists yet I felt that we were paying to see a political rally. As if that was not enough, the dancers were so amateurish. From the picture of above, you can tell the dancer has not been properly trained; her legs were not straight enough.
Are we sure that there is no legitimate Chinese dance troupe who can perform to a standard that you would expect to find in the festival hall? Is this really the best that the festival hall can provide? We expect to see this level of performance at Wembley town hall not the festival hall.
- Qq, London, 26/02/2008 22:52
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Severely disappointed.
The show was marketed to be based on Chinese culture but it was nothing of the sort. It insulted the Chinese culture by basing it on a religion (Falun Gong) formed by a person in 1992 claiming to be from outer space(the Chinese culture has nothing to do with aliens).
5000 years of culture? Falun Gong's re-defined China since 1992 is more appropriate.
The dances were OK but the evangelistic songs were extremely annoying, I cannot believe I paid £40 to be preached at. The brochures mention nothing about Falun Gong(I wonder why, the phrase "wolves come smiling in sheeps' clothing comes to mind").
A lot of people walked out during the show and everyone I went to watch it with all had the same feeling as me, ripped off and disgusted.
If you want to learn about Chinese culture, avoid at all costs. There are much better shows around with no hidden agenda and for a lot cheaper.
- Ripped Off2, London, 26/02/2008 17:54
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I think those praising the show are missing the point - this show was never honestly advertised as a Falun Gong show. People who went to see it felt ripped off because they did not see what they had paid to see - ancient Chinese culture. They saw political demonstrations set against backdrops of prisons and high rise tower blocks. They heard modern songs about the Falun Gong religion, performed by people in modern clothes. Criticism of the show is not an attack on Falun Gong, but an attack on the underhanded way in which they tricked people into watching their demonstration. If anything, this show will make people LESS sympathetic to their cause. No one likes to be ripped off! What next, Scientology the Musical?
- Jayne, London, 26/02/2008 11:22
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Do you believe what the UN, Amnesty, Human Rights Watch are reporting about the shameless and inhumane persecution of Falun Gong?
Yet you spout forth the Ccp spread propaganda which was designed to incite hatred and fear of Falun Gong practitioners.
Amnesty has quoted that the propaganda campaign launched upon Falun Gong bears an eerie resemblance to Nazi Germanys’ propaganda campaign against the Jews.
In 2006 UN Special Rapporteur on Torture reported that 66% of the victims of torture and ill treatment in China were Falun Gong practitioners. The report states: “The cruelty and brutality of these acts of torture defy description”.
So when Falun Gong’s message of hope and survival against tyranny is relayed successfully through the medium of art, culture and dance rather than retaliating in violence should this not be applauded? Is this not the most peaceful way to offer the truth to the many who have been deceived?
- Jana, UK, 26/02/2008 01:15
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I saw the show and thought it was amazing. I was brought up in Hong Kong, I was there when the Tian'anmen square massacre happened in china, I also study Chinese language and history at university, so I know the terrible extent of what the Chinese Communist party have done to their people and how much traditional culture they have destroyed.
I think this show does a great job of reviving Chinese culture as well as educating the public about the terrible human rights situation in China. I think these performers are doing a really honourable thing.
The show's line up is top class, it features Guan Guiming, who really is China's greatest opera singer of all time, ask any Chinese person over 45 and they will know him, I loved his song the lyrics were very meaningful. I loved the drumming too it was very powerful, the ladies dancing was elegant.
All in all a night of top class entertainment, I would recommend it to anyone.
- Ben Hedges, London, 25/02/2008 21:09
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Shen Yun was a nothing more than thinly veiled propaganda exercise for the modern religious Falun Gong movement. Amateurish in presentation and content, the garish costumes covered in glitter would have looked more at home in a pantomime – one dance featured a several western angels with tinsel halos and wings. Dancing was modern in style, and extremely repetitive, performed against projected backdrops of Chinese imagery with all the aesthetic sophistication of a computer screensaver.
The dozen or so dances were interspersed with awful faux-operatic singers in modern ball gowns and tuxedos, who sang hymns praising the “Dafa” (way) of Falun Gong and how it had lifted them above life's trials and tribulations. One such song featured the words “Dafa is good” every other line, which gave the feeling of being brainwashed.
The political agenda finally became clear with a dance themes around Falun Gong practitioners being tortured and killed by thugs with giant communist symbols on the backs of their bomber jackets. The finale featured a small child in modern attire playing in a park with her mother, being beaten up by the same “Communist thugs” for holding up a banner bearing the Falun Gong slogan. How this was “inspired by 5000 years of Chinese history and traditional culture” is beyond me and I am asking for a refund. I am not prepared to pay £55 to watch a political demonstration disguised as entertainment.
- Ripped Off, London, 25/02/2008 18:53
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I think we went to a different show. The one that I saw was beautiful. Sarah just comes across as someone who doesn't know how to enjoy herself. She didn't mention that the show sold out either!
I think if you ask any of the audience (like myself) what they thought then they would say something very different.
- John Buchanan, London, UK, 25/02/2008 18:40
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I thought the Shen Yun was great and that the performers are very smart to portray the present harsh history of China's brutal treatment of Falun Gong as part of a showcase on Chin'a heritage. After all it's part of China's history. Three cheers to Shen Yun performers for having the originality of mixing substance with art! Well done. Audience members loved it!
- Makina, UK, 25/02/2008 17:54
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I completely agree. The first thing I did on Saturday morning after seeing the show was to write a strongly worded letter of complaint to the directors at the Southbank Centre (no doubt all devote members of the Falungong themselves). I was looking forward to an evening of Chinese culture and dance. Instead, all I got was religious and political attempts to brainwash an unsuspecting audience. Not worth paying for if you ask me!
- Liz Monson, London, England, 25/02/2008 17:03
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