BRISBANE, Australia—Mr. Rooker, an accountant, and his wife Elley, a bookkeeper, took the opportunity to see Shen Yun at the matinee performance on Easter Saturday.
Both retired, the couple said they had chosen to see Shen Yun as they were curious about Chinese culture and wanted to know more.
After seeing Shen Yun, they both felt that they had gained an insight into Chinese culture, and were astounded at the breadth of its 5,000-year-old history.
“It made me realise how different and how far advanced the Chinese culture is in relation to our Western culture,” Mr. Rooker said.
He was very impressed by Shen Yun and elaborated. “The backdrops were excellent. The dancers were beautifully dressed. When they opened the show, and we saw those dancers sitting in that cloud, I was thinking, Wow! That is so pretty,” he said.
Mr. Rooker was referring to the opening scene, The Five Millennia Begin that depicts heavenly beings descending to Earth to commence China’s five millennia history.
Mrs. Rooker thought the dancing was perfect, “They control their bodies totally. Not one hand was out of place,” she said.
Mr. Rooker agreed saying, “They’re dancers [are] athletes. Very, very graceful.”
He felt a strong message in Shen Yun, which he felt was transmitted throughout the performance and was beyond words. He referred to Heaven Awaits Us Despite Persecution, which bespeaks of an ancient Chinese belief that says good people are rewarded, even if not in this lifetime.
“I could follow that story without having to know the words,” he said.
Despite so much being transmitted through dance and music, Mr. Rooker said he appreciated the emcees in Shen Yun, “I found that quite helpful because you don’t have time to read the program when you go into a show like this. So to have the bit of an explanation up front was useful.”
In the audience was Dr. Jaria, a medical practitioner from Zimbabwe and his son, who also enjoyed Shen Yun at the matinee session on April 11.
Dr. Jaria said it was “good entertainment” and had given him an insight into traditional Chinese culture.
Brisbane has a matinee on Sunday, April 12. Shen Yun will be in Toowoomba on Monday, April 13.
For more information please visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
