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SYDNEY—Sydney, considered to be amongst the most beautiful cities in the world, is also famous for its love of the performing arts.
Shen Yun is fast becoming known for the quality of its performances and the beauty of its production, so it is no wonder that local audiences in Sydney would embrace the unusual production so completely.
The Shen Yun Performing Arts International Company completed its 2011 season in Sydney on a high, with politicians, performers, social commentators and business executives unanimous in their praise of Shen Yun, with many describing it as an experience they would never forget.
Award winning actor Cate Blanchett saw Shen Yun with her family, describing the performance as “exquisitely beautiful;” prominent Australian actor Genevieve Mooy agreed, saying she wanted to know about Shen Yun and Chinese culture; while iconic Australian artist Linda Jackson thought it was “fantastic, the whole theatrics of it. It was beautiful.”
According to the Shen Yun website, Shen Yun is dedicated to reviving traditional Chinese culture, which, with its 5000-year history is steeped in values like virtue and courage.
The idea that humanity and the divine are intertwined is fundamental to Chinese culture, the name Shen Yun understood to mean “the beauty of divine beings dancing.”
Consciousness
Fashion stylist and community TV presenter Khristine Moore said she had found Shen Yun extremely moving.
“It’s mind blowing, but it is much deeper than that,” she said. “It is not really just a visual story, it does go straight to the heart and you feel the emotion.”
Tracey Puckeridge, chief executive for Rudolph Steiner Education in Australia, said she was impressed with the medium Shen Yun had used to present issues across a range of levels.
“The way they are using the performing arts to express a message is just beautiful,” she said.
Internationally recognised futurist and keynote speaker, Richard Neville, said he was excited to discover Shen Yun and its presentation of “consciousness issues”, particularly within the Chinese context.
“I found it fascinating,” he said.” I was intrigued by the mixture of entertainment, spirituality … It’s unusual.”
Education
Many in the audience commented on the educational aspects of Shen Yun and a number of schools attended the performances.
High school drama teacher, Madeleine Sheehy, said she had loved the show and appreciated the narrative from the Masters of Ceremonies.
“Just explaining about the importance of the Chinese stories and the persecution, understanding it fully,” she said. “Very engaging and very interesting.”
Renowned Australian author Thomas Keneally said he had enjoyed the glimpses into China’s 5000-year history. “The Qin and the Tang, and the Han dynasties,” he said.
Dr. Simon Longstaff, the executive director of St James Ethics Centre said he had appreciated the way Shen Yun had informed about Chinese culture in such an engaging way.
“Shen Yun is able to maintain something, like a golden thread going back into the history and traditions of the peoples of China that is not something which is dead, looked at as some kind of interesting museum piece, but its alive and you can see it,” he said.
Graeme Frauenfelder, a lecturer at the University of Western Sydney, was also taken with the depth of Shen Yun’s performances, saying it was educational on so many levels.
“I can actually get a sense of the history and the story, and the spirit of it all,” he said.
Interference
A number of politicians expressed their disdain on hearing that the Chinese consulate in Sydney had sent letters to various organisations in an effort to dissuade them from attending.
Ian Cohen, Greens MLC for New South Wales, said he had seen Shen Yun a number of times and had been uplifted by the experience.
“It’s an experience that should be shared by all people, particularly young people,” he said.
Mr. Cohen said Sydney was one of the most multicultural cities in the world, something that made him proud.
“We don’t accept any country dictating control over cultural activities under any circumstances,” he said.
State Liberal MLC, David Clarke, who is also the Shadow Minister for Justice, said Shen Yun was not only entertaining, but also presented “a spiritual side to mankind” which he believed was important.
“People are entitled and should be able to have that spiritual dimension to their lives without it being crushed and under government control.”
He offered his support to Shen Yun and congratulated the company saying, “What a wonderful performance and congratulations to Shen Yun Performing Arts … they are wonderful, wonderful professional people.”
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
