‘I would like to do that one day’ Says Young Dance Student

MELBOURNE—It was the last day of the Shen Yun Performing Arts International Company's 2011 season at the Regent Theatre, Sunday, March 6, and the audience was keen to express their enthusiasm for the unique show with two curtain calls and an encore by one of China's most celebrated Tenors Guan Guimin.

Amongst the audience were three generations of women, two of whom were schooled in classical ballet.

Tatiana Ippoliti, a year 7 student who does ballet and jazz, took great inspiration from seeing the New York based company.

“I thought it was very colourful and it was a spectacular performance, I really enjoyed it,” she said.

"The costumes were magnificent."

The dancers, “were very good,” she said, and had introduced her to classical Chinese dance.

“I look up to them and I would like to do that one day,” she said.

The dance Plum Blossom had been most impressive she said adding, “I just liked the way they come up with the creations.”

Tatiana was effusive in her enthusiasm for the New York based Shen Yun saying, “I just loved it, it just made me feel bubbly inside.”

"I am going to tell my friends,’ you have to see it.’”

Tatiana’s mother Lynn, now a medical professional, had also studied classical ballet. She was impressed with the costumes, the ability of the dancers and the production as a whole.

“I thought the dance was spectacular. It was beautiful, something I have never seen before.”

She said Shen Yun had left her feeling, “very warm inside.”

Judith Burmeister, Tatiana’s grandmother, was surprised to learn that Shen Yun is not able to perform in China.

Shen Yun’s dances are inspired by different tumbling and acrobatic techniques that were all taken from classical Chinese dance and inspired by the stories that weave through the legends of Chinese history dating back 5000 years.

“I enjoyed it,” she said, “I have never seen anything quite as spectacular … so acrobatic and such genius, the way they dance."

Shen Yun, which has thrilled audiences in Australia’s arts capital will now take up residence in the country’s capital with performances March 8 and 9 at the Canberra Centre.

 For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org