Shen Yun Performing Arts performed to full house shows at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre in Australia from Feb. 14 to 16. State lawmakers who attended said they were impressed by the performance.
David Limbrick, a Libertarian member of the Victorian Legislative Council, said: “I thought it was really interesting seeing the parts where they were talking about enlightenment, and they had meditation and this sort of thing, and I think it was really interesting insights that were shown to the people of Melbourne today.”
Ann-Marie Hermans, a Liberal Party member of the Victorian Legislative Council, said: “I think it really brings the beauty of something really special about China and about its culture and its history, its storytelling, its promises, and it’s very provocative too, and I think that it’s sending out a message for people to really think about.”
Jordan Dittloff, a Libertarian candidate for the Senate, said: “I think it’s giving people a side of China and Chinese culture that they might not otherwise see, not just for the people learning about that but for the Chinese people around the world who are in that diaspora that maybe yearn for China to be different one day, I thought it was fantastic.”
However, this divine culture was almost lost under the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Some of Shen Yun’s stories, including ongoing human rights abuses, portray this.
“From my point of view we always express concern for freedom of speech and freedom of belief throughout the world, and it’s always really sad when you hear stories like this about people that are being oppressed,” Mr. Limbrick said.
Chris Crewther MP, the Liberal Party Whip in the Legislative Assembly, said: “I think artistic performances of any kind should be able to be performed in any nation, no matter what it is, as long as it is peaceful, and this is certainly a very peaceful and loving performance.”
One piece depicting modern-day events in China was described as particularly moving.
“It’s definitely confronting to see such pieces but we do know there is at times a persecution of people based on speech or freedom of religion,” Mr. Crewther said.
Mr. Dittloff said that he “already knew a little bit about the Falun Dafa story, so I was expecting some of those elements, but to learn more about the ancient classical traditions of China and the dance was really spectacular.”
Audience members also praised Shen Yun for bringing out the best of traditional Chinese culture.
“When we share ideas, when we have that diversity, we can develop better ideas and take the best from all around the world and hopefully improve our shared culture here in Australia as well,” Mr. Crewther said.
“Absolutely spectacular, beautiful performance. It tugs at you, and it’s worth going and coming here to see it,” said Ms. Hermans.
Shen Yun’s next stop is Auckland, New Zealand, and then the company continues its Australia tour in Sydney and the Gold Coast.
NTD News, Melbourne, Australia
NTD is a media sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts, covering audience reactions since 2006.
