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The final performance for Shen Yun 2011 World Tour in Australia saw three curtain calls and an encore from Guan Guimin, one of China’s most celebrated tenors in recent years.
Senator Humphries was very impressed with the skill level of the dancers. He said, “The people are obviously at a very high level of professionalism in what they do.”
Shen Yun, based in New York is the world’s premier Chinese classical dance and music company. Evolved from a few passionate artists and talented dancers with a shared vision of cultural renewal, it has grown to three companies which tour the world simultaneously.
Senator Humphries felt “quite privileged to see something of a more distant, a remote form of art form from China, which many Australians would not have an opportunity to experience.”
He said that he did not “think many other touring companies from China itself, for example, would display classical Chinese dance and music in quite the way this one does.”
Bringing China’s 5000 years of history to the stage through ancient legends, contemporary stories and ethnic dances, Shen Yun gives an insight into China’s diversity. Senator Humphries felt Shen Yun was more than a history lesson and a wonderful way to experience the true China.
“I can see the inspiration behind lots of the scenes.
“Very impressive to see the indication of China's past, and its diverse history and cultures and it is really quite a good insight I think into Chinese history and culture. It would be hard pressed to find in such a graphic way in any other opportunity,” he said.
Shen Yun is unable to perform in China due to the lack of religious freedom and oppression by the current communist regime.
Senator Humphries said, “I think any restriction on artistic freedom is very aggressive.
“I think it is important for people to be able to appreciate that art is being used to transmit messages, even political messages, for a long period of time. And the message that a show like this gives me, is that we should be respectful of the freedom people should enjoy, to practice culture and religious freedoms and other practices which don’t affect other people in an adverse way.
“So I hope that would be a message that Chinese people in China would be able to take on board in the future.”
Gary Humphries has represented Liberal Party in the Australian Capital Territory in the Senate since 2003 and was elected to the Legislative Assemble in 1989. He is the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Attorney-General and the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Materiel.
Reporting by Shar Adams and Leigh Smith.
For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
