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CANBERRA—A beautiful Canberra day with sun sparkling and a warm gentle breeze, greeted the world’s premier of classical Chinese dance and music, Shen Yun Performing Arts International Company, to Australia’s capital city.
Tuesday evening, March 8, was the opening show and among the audience was school Principal, Denis Yarrington.
“It’s fantastic dancing, choreographing, gymnastic skills, put together,” the principal said, noting the use of modern technology providing for added effect.
Shen Yun’s story begins with a talented group of artists in the Chinese diaspora and a shared vision of cultural renewal.
Many of these choreographers and composers, dancers and singers had previously joined forces in smaller scale productions. However, they wanted to take their vision to the next level. And so in New York in 2006, they united with the explicit mission of reviving traditional Chinese culture.
Exquisitely attired dancers are choreographed to match perfectly hi-tech backdrops scenes, complemented by a full orchestra playing a fusion of Chinese and Western music.
“The musicians certainly know their craft, are well-orchestrated and coordinated with the dancers. That’s the hardest thing, is the dancers moving at the same time as well as the music,” Mr. Yarrington said.
His school has performing arts as part of the curriculum so he felt admiration for the young dancers whose jumps, flips, twists, and spins have been a part of classical Chinese dance for thousands of years.
Mr Yarrington said he believed that the arts can transcend time and Shen Yun‘s performance was “bringing the past into the future and taking the future to the past.”
“It’s that connecting—and that’s the challenge of the programme, for the choreographers and musical directors,” he said adding, “I think the young people today want to connect with the past, but how do they do that? Obviously, music and dance is a way of doing it.”
Shen Yun did that perfectly he said, referring to the scene, Mischievous Little Monks, which had connected so well with the audience.
“Without that connection, we may as well not be here,” he said. “That connection also allows the audience to share their emotions with the dancers as well, which makes them obviously feel a lot better and appreciate their talents … you were drawn into the story.”
Integral to Shen Yun are the story-based dances taken from ancient legends, folk and ethnic traditions plus contemporary issues of astounding courage in the face of adversity.
Mr. Yarrington said Shen Yun offered so much to young people particularly through the young dancers and their skill.
“Boys and girls dancing in a way that celebrates dance is not that cool,” he said, “so we certainly appreciate it [Shen Yun], I believe that dance is an international language … and same with music.”
Shen Yun had so illustrated clearly how the arts particularly dance and music, can transmit universal themes in a cultural context, he said.“
“There’re different cultures and how dance and music are important to that culture is language. I think a culture that doesn’t have dance and music, there’s something missing.”
An appreciation of languages and cultures are strong at his school, Mr. Yarrington said, so Shen Yun was advertised, supported and encouraged.
“I recommend the show to people as an opportunity to see high quality international dance … you really should take that opportunity.”
Reporting by Shar Adams and Raiatea Tahana-Reese.
Shen Yun Performing Arts International Company will perform one more show tomorrow evening in Canberra before continuing its 2011 World Tour to Taiwan. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
