CANBERRA, Australia—Canberra, translating to “meeting place” in local aboriginal tongue, would one day become the major meeting place for Australian and international bureaucrats and intellectuals alike. In 1913, construction began on the city under the guidance of architect Walter Burnley Griffin, solving an ongoing dispute between Melbourne and Sydney as to which city would boast the honour of being named Australia’s capital.
Now, 100 years on, Canberra is a bustling metropolis of more than 360,000 people, and the centre of all things political in Australia. It was also the host city to the final shows of the Australian leg of Shen Yun Touring company’s 2013 season.
Amongst the audience members of the final sellout performance was American Janie Huffman, a professor of education and lead faculty developer at the University of Canberra. She shared her impressions of the show.
“I was very, very impressed. I really enjoyed the grace and the dignity and the precise motions of all of the dancers. I thought the vocals were excellent, but I thought the dancing and the ability of all of the dancers to work together was very, very exciting to see.”
Established in 2006, New York-based Shen Yun has set out to “reclaim and renew the true divinely inspired heritage of China,” according to its mission statement. Moral values were at the centre of this divinely inspired culture, values which Ms. Huffman could relate to.
“I felt the honour, the compassion, the understanding that the characters seem to be involved with understanding each other and understanding what their culture meant. As an American I feel that those values of kindness, concern, compassion, strength, I think that is certainly valued,” she said.
Originally from Dallas, Ms. Huffman recommended her family abroad to see the show when it next travels through the United States. She also conveyed her gratitude to the performers.
“My thanks and appreciation for all the hard work that has taken place, and continue to do the excellent, beautiful job [you] do.”
Shen Yun Performing Arts Touring Company, which presents a brand new show each year, will continue its 2013 tour in Taiwan on Feb. 20.
Reporting by NTD Television and Rebel Eddy.
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
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