Shen Yun Brings Message of Hope to Melbourne

MELBOURNE—Two curtain calls and a standing ovation rounded out the evening of the Shen Yun Performing Arts International Company’s reawakening of ancient China’s traditional heritage.

Staged at the illustrious Regent Theatre on Friday, March 4, Antoinette Khalil, a public servant for the disabled and board member of management for A.D.E.C. (Advocacy, Disability, Ethnicity and Community) organisation, was amidst the enthusiastic audience.

“The art that we saw tonight with the dancing, singing and music tells a story and helps us understand the history and the culture of the Chinese people,” Ms Khalil said. “I was very moved and mesmerised by the whole of the show and just found it very beautiful to watch, and to learn and to understand more about the Chinese culture.”

New York-based Shen Yun presents colourful and exhilarating performances of classical Chinese dance and music. A performance by Shen Yun is a presentation of traditional Chinese culture as it once was: a study in grace, wisdom, and the virtues distilled from the five millennia of Chinese civilization.

“There’s a lot of things I didn’t know and I’m sure there’s a lot more that I can still learn,” she said. “I found the costumes, the colour, the music … everything was just perfectly orchestrated together.”

She found many messages imbued in each dance and song performed, but the one that is now written on her heart is one of hope.

“Messages of love, of patience, of tolerance, of some sadness, and that we all have to get through it and that we all have to be together, not lose sight of hope.

“I think that’s the message. Hope is really important and … I guess, without hope, we can’t move forward.”

Reporting by NTD Television and Raiatea Tahana-Reese.