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SYDNEY—Paul Flindell, a telecommunication consultant, saw Shen Yun Performing Arts International Company with his daughter Elissa, an events manager at the Capitol Theatre, Thursday, Feb 17.
Mr. Flindell said Shen Yun had been a “new” and “interesting” experience.
“I haven’t seen anything similar to this that I can recall. The colour, the application of colour and the movement—quite enchanting and mesmerising. It was very enjoyable."
Elissa agreed saying: "It’s very new and I think it explores a lot about Chinese history that we don't know that much of. It’s good to see."
The New-York-based Shen Yun is the world’s foremost classical Chinese dance and music company. Shen Yun seeks to revive and restore China’s 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture, including the spirit and values of the culture.
Both father and daughter enjoyed the dancing, Elissa noting the agile and energetic movements.
Mr. Flindell said he particularly enjoyed the performance, Monkey King Outwits Pigsy, saying, “I remember that from the television series. As a child I watched that. It's good to see that sort of story depicted on the stage—quite amusing."
Elissa said the dance pieces were theatrical in their presentation, a technique she enjoyed, “It’s really expressive,” she said.
Although not familiar with Chinese culture, Mr. Flindell said Shen Yun presented an attractive introduction to a very different world.“This is one way to embrace knowing a bit more, seeing a show like that. I gained a bit more interest in Chinese culture as well.”
He said the Shen Yun performance had been educational on many different levels.“Obviously, a great tradition, it all seemed to relate to particular ages the narrators were telling. It was a good learning experience."
He elaborated further referring as an example to the dance ‘Herding on the Grasslands’ which is set on the Mongolian grasslands.“From my understanding China has a great affinity with the land, and respecting nature and understanding the flight of the eagle shown in the dance. These are the sort of things I started to pick up on,” he said.
The contemporary scenes depicting the persecution against Falun Gong practitioners, in China today, were also effective he said, saying: “It was interesting to see that piece. They were brave to perform that, which is one of the things I want to learn more about.”
Elissa welcomed the contemporary scenes particularly “the teacher segment" which she said raised important issues about values, ['Our Story']. “They are talking about trustworthiness and things like that. I think it’s good that they bring it through dances. It is just another communication to our world that these values we really need to communicate to our world. These things are important—the most important in our lives all across the world. It was very good to see that."
Mr. Flindell said “yes, these themes and values have built up over years, and are a cornerstone for moving forward. It’s interesting to see and to learn through the dance."
Shen Yun was a performance “with a lot of colour and cultural engagement,” he said and he would entice his friends to come and see it by saying “dare to do something a bit different … you will love it.”
Elissa said she would tell her friends that Shen Yun would awaken parts of you “that you don’t sense in your world in our 9-5 [daily life].
'That was pretty amazing'
Ms. Midgley loved the costumes and the dancing in Shen Yun saying “the elevation that they have in their spring—that was pretty amazing."
She particularly noted the use of digital technology to complement the performances saying, “I really liked the audio visual,” she said, “That virtual state very much lends itself to that vision of another world and no better shown than in the arts.”
Reporting By Janita Kan and Shar Adams.
Shen Yun Performing Arts International Company will perform at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre through to Feb. 23. Next stop is Melbourne, March 1-6. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
