[Cindy Liu, Shen Yun Principal Dancer]:

“I was also really hoping that we could bring this show to Hong Kong.”

 

[Leeshai Lemish, Shen Yun Master of Ceremonies]:

“This is a position we were forced into.”

 

[Leon Chao, Shen Yun Principal Dancer]:

“So many faces of devastation and despair.”

 

Members of Shen Yun Performing Arts are speaking out over the forced cancellation of their shows in Hong Kong. 

 

[Leeshai Lemish, Shen Yun Master of Ceremonies]:

“Our entire technical crew were not granted visas. In fact they were refused visas.”

 

Refused visas only days before their series of seven sold-out shows were to begin. The company applied for visas back in October. It’s normally a four-to-six–week wait. But the decision of Hong Kong immigration officials to deny their visas came *14* weeks after the applications were submitted. The reason for the denials: Hong Kong authorities said Shen Yun could hire local staff to fill the production crew.

 

Not so, says Shen Yun stage manager Gregory Xu.

 

[Gregory Xu, Shen Yun Stage Manager]:

“Our crew, including sound engineer, lighting engineer and projectionist, and also including myself on stage, each of us has a full responsibility for the technical part of the show. None of us can be absent from the show. If any of us are absent from the show, the show will fail.”

 

Xu says the visa denials point to a larger issue.

 

[Gregory Xu, Shen Yun Stage Manager]:

“It’s very obvious they [are] purposefully using this illogical, I would say ridiculous, reason to prevent the show from happening in Hong Kong.”

 

The decision has disheartened Shen Yun performers like principal dancer Cindy Liu.

 

[Cindy Liu, Shen Yun Principal Dancer]:

“I think that it’s really unreal and devastating, that... Because over the past four years we’ve toured around the world to more than 20 countries and hundreds of cities and we’ve been really warmly embraced.”

 

These performers really take to heart Shen Yun’s mission to revive classical Chinese culture—a culture of spirituality and values that have been largely suppressed by the Chinese communist regime. 

 

[Gregory Xu, Shen Yun Stage Manager]:

“We are trying to bring it back. They are really scared. From the beginning of the Shen Yun show they interfere with it all over the world.”

 

The Hong Kong show—cancelled at the last minute—was the closest Shen Yun had ever come to being able to perform in China. And not being in Hong Kong right now isn’t easy for them to come to grips with.

 

[Cindy Liu, Shen Yun Principal Dancer]:

“Nothing really means more to me than to be able to see the smiling faces in the audience. Their applause… their cheering. It just really touches me to know that I was able to be a part of something that brought so much happiness to people everywhere.”

 

[Leon Chao, Shen Yun Principal Dancer]:

“It’s just very upsetting for me to know that I’m in D.C. right now when I should be in Hong Kong performing.”

 

NTD News, Washington.