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SYDNEY—The February 17 performance of the Shen Yun Performing Arts International Company at the Capitol Theatre was met with a warm reception and enthusiastic applause.
Among the many Sydneysiders who came to the Capitol Theatre on a hot Thursday evening were Sue Gaunt and her daughter Nicola.
Nicola is an International Studies student at Macquarie University, with a particular interest in Chinese and Japanese history. Seeing the many historical stories from Chinese heritage unfold on stage was an educational experience for her.
“I like the dancing and the stories. I’m just studying about Chinese culture. It was very good,” Nicola said during the intermission.
Shen Yun is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance company. Classical Chinese dance involves training in physical bearing, artistic expression, unique postures and a variety of technical moves.
Ms. Gaunt was impressed with the dancers’ acrobatic abilities during the dance Herding on the Grasslands, which depicts the free spirit of the Mongolian people.
Though many of Shen Yun's dance legends reflect the rich and diverse cultural landscape of ancient China, they also tell stories of contemporary life in the country. The dances express the artists’ longing for their traditional culture, and real-life tales of life under an authoritarian state.
Nicola said she thought the contemporary dances, which highlight the current persecution against Falun Gong practitioners in China, helps the audience relate to the modern situation.
“I’m glad it has contemporary [dances]. I guess it’s more relevant to how we see China now,” she said.
Reporting by Shar Adams and Sonya Bryskine.
Shen Yun Performing Arts International Company will present performances in Sydney, Australia, at the Capital Theatre through to Feb. 23. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts.
