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The audiences reciprocated with standing ovations, applause and cheers, especially on the second and final evening that brought an end of its Oceania 2011 tour.
Canberra, known as Australia's bush capital due to the large amount of natural vegetation in and around the city which flourishes in Canberra’s weather. Canberra is also associated as the political centre of Australia. Both the Parliament and Old Parliament House is located here.
Naturally, local federal and state government officials were drawn to join those with arts backgrounds and those from the business community together in support of the New York-based company.
Shen Yun began its Oceania-leg of its global journey in Auckland, on Feb. 3, then travelled on to Sydney, Melbourne and then closing in Canberra on Wednesday evening, March 9.
At the heart of Shen Yun is the reawakening of traditional values handed down by the ancients, all but destroyed under communism.
A variety of short stories are depicted in classical Chinese dance and music, which Senator Gary Humphries found to be “very impressive.”
The government official said he felt “privileged to see something of a more distant, a remote form of art form, from China, which many Australians would not have an opportunity to experience.”
Among the company’s artists are members from renowned ensembles and music schools, and winners of international singing and dance competitions.
Company director Neil Emanuel was amazed by the voices of sopranos, Feng Ming and Min Jiang, baritone Qu Yue and tenor Guan Guimin.
“It was all good, so good. From the singing point of view, I loved the baritone. The baritone was superb. The music was fantastic, the music was superb,” Mr. Emanuel said.
“The choreography is so stunning that you are completely thrown, because you can’t keep up and you keep on seeing new shapes and wonderful things … it was great,” Ms. Kingsland said.
Shen Yun’s accomplished choreographers aim to present classical Chinese dance, an art form still new to the West, in its purest and most beautiful form.
The filmmaker took in the performance with her friend, an early childhood teacher Alicia Flack-Kobe who was stunned by hi-tech animated backdrop scenes, projected behind the dancers, moved seamlessly between stage and screen.
“I liked it and how the people moved in, the fun, the creativity, the imagination as well,” she said. “And the way in which the sense of hope, without realising that hope is higher than us, and really elaborately … the way the tsunami comes through, created a big sensational message about good overcomes evil. It was certainly good,” Ms. Flack-Kobe said.
Shen Yun’s first season, 2007, saw a production by one company comprised of over 90 artists—including a dance ensemble, full orchestra, and soloists. In just three years since, Shen Yun has expanded to three full companies, totaling hundreds of performers.
This growth has allowed the company to perform far and wide. This past 2011 season, for example, audiences in the United States, Europe, and Australia, enjoyed Shen Yun performances all at the same time.
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts International Company continues its 2011 World Tour to Taoyuan City Taiwan March 12 – 15. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
