Shen Yun Performing Arts dazzled audiences in San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Spain, on Feb. 27, taking them on a journey through ancient China. Based in New York, Shen Yun’s mission is to revive 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture, from before communism.

“Phenomenal, I think [Shen Yun] is wonderful, I think it’s a great idea,” said audience member María del Carmen Aríñez Fernández, a military doctor and university professor. “I think it reaches and touches the feelings and depth of a person.
I’m going to recommend it.”

“I’m really glad that they came to San Lorenzo,” said audience member Christina Mace, who works in marketing. “I think it’s really culturally enriching, and the costumes are beautiful, the set, and seeing the difference with the visuals and the live music.”

Shen Yun uses classical Chinese dance, an art form that has a history of thousands of years, to take audiences on a journey through ancient China.

Ms. Mace said, “I love the storytelling, and I come from a background of dance myself, so I really appreciate all the body language, and they’re so talented. And seeing the men and the women and the difference with the gymnastics and the dance and the acting, I think it’s a really well-rounded show, and you can tell they really rehearsed.”

Alfonso Sepúlveda García, a lawyer and co-founder of a law firm, had positive feedback for the dancers. “The ease with which these people move and express their feelings and so on is remarkable,” he said. “Honestly, congratulations.”

“I thought it was wonderful,” Ms. Fernández said of the dancing. “Very colorful, very delicate, an incredible strength in the dancers.
The dancers surprised me because they danced the whole time.

“And the colors of the costumes, the effects of the costumes and fabrics, I liked everything. The live music seemed, overall, beautiful to me,” she added.

Each Shen Yun performance also features a live orchestra that blends both classical Western and Chinese instruments. Audience members commented on the musicians’ skill and artistry.

“The musical accompaniment to the dance is impressive,” said Mr. García, adding, “I really liked the violin, but also the violin, the notes, the way they are played, they sound truly Chinese, like an oriental style that we are not used to hearing. And also, Chinese instruments that we don’t really know, which can also be heard and sound very beautiful and accompany the whole work very well.”

Ms. Mace praised the cultural value of Shen Yun, saying, “I really like it, I mean, I love this kind of show, and I think it’s important. Now our world is so global, to incorporate other cultures is truly enriching, and I think it’s interesting even though it has its cultural differences. It’s rich and beautiful, the message and the fundamentals are the same.”

Ms. Fernández shared: “I felt good, I felt at peace, [Shen Yun] made me reflect at many moments. And it transported me for a couple of hours to another reality.”

Shen Yun will be performing in Logroño, Spain, from March 13 to March 14, and in Burgos, Spain, from March 17 to March 19.

NTD News, San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Spain

NTD is a media sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts, covering audience reactions since 2006.