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CANBERRA—Alistair Coe MLA, Liberal Member for Belconnen, Nicholls and Hall, was in the audience at the Canberra Theatre to see Shen Yun Performing Arts International Company on a balmy evening on Tuesday, March 8. He loved the opportunity to learn more about Chinese culture.
“I think it’s wonderful to be able to come to a performance like this and to witness 5,000 years of culture in the space of a couple of hours, really, it’s a wonderful opportunity. I encourage as many Australians as possible to come and see the show.”
Mr. Coe mentioned the diversity in the show and “the fact that it does articulate Chinese culture in so many different formats, whether it be singing, whether it be through the orchestra, whether it be through dance, I think there are so many ways in which it presents Chinese culture in such a spectacular way. It really makes it a must for all.”
He said that in Canberra, people don’t necessarily have much exposure to Chinese culture, and seeing Shen Yun “does broaden one’s horizons.”
“I think it really is a great opportunity,” he said.
Mr. Coe also spoke about his support for the spiritual practice of Falun Dafa which is the theme of a couple of dances in the show. “I’m aware that the Falun Dafa practitioners are persecuted in China. That, of course, is a tragedy. I support the freedom of expression, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, so anything that can promote that is, I think, for the best.”
Mr. Coe said he felt seeing Shen Yun perform was a good experience for anyone, and “at its core it’s about Chinese culture … so it really is a spectacular opportunity.”
Reporting by Rona Rui and Kati Turcu.
Shen Yun Performing Arts International Company will perform one more show in Canberra on Wednesday evening, March 9, before continuing its 2011 World Tour to Taiwan. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
