CANBERRA, Australia—Canberra hosted the first performance of Shen Yun Performing Arts 2009 World Tour in Australia at the Canberra Theatre on Sunday, March 29. The Canberra Theatre Centre is the Australian Capital Territory’s principal performing arts venue. The Centre was the first government-initiated performing arts centre to be completed in Australia and opened in 1965.
Josje, a photographer, and Susan, who works in marketing, were in the audience who were enthralled by the Shen Yun performance.
This was the first time that Josje had experienced ethnic Chinese dance and music, and she appreciated the history of the culture.
“We’re all fairly familiar with the last 30 or 40 years of history in China, and it’s wonderful to see the grassroots, where the people began. Their culture, their dance, and [it is] very interesting for me to discover that classical ballet—I could see a lot of movements in Chinese dance that we’ve borrowed. We’ve borrowed the techniques in Western dance from Chinese culture. That became very obvious to me. So it was just spectacular.
“I really think it [Buddhism] became a foundation for me for how I live my life. So I really enjoy ethnic dance, music, and culture, because it links me back to that.”
Josje felt it was important for Chinese to keep their culture alive and to educate the young, so they don’t loose this important aspect in their lives.
“I think it’s wonderful that the culture’s still alive. It obviously is a thread for Chinese people. To begin that group [Shen Yun] in New York, they must really yearn for their homes and their background. I think it’s wonderful to show the diversity of culture because we’re all a family around the world.”
“One thing that gets to me is that it could be so important for children, because it was so gentle but beautifully put in the story. I think a lot of it was directed at the children and that’s good to see. They’re learning their culture, and that’s how it should be. So it is passed down correctly.
“I think all dance, all artistic work, whether it’s with song, with dance, but particularly with dance, you don’t need to talk. Because you can see … it has a language of its own. It speaks a language through movement and sound. It’s wonderful, it’s amazing, fabulous.”
Susan also loved the show, she said, “The show was wonderful, wonderful, spectacular. Yes, it’s very vibrant and colourful, wonderful.
“The energy and commitment, very graceful but powerful.”
She especially liked the drums and the state of the 3-D digital backdrop, saying, “I liked the drums. It was all so wonderful. Just everyone was terrific. Very spectacular. I really liked the moving backdrop. That was very innovative.”
Susan felt Shen Yun was “very spiritual, uplifting.”
This is the first of four performances in Canberra before Shen Yun continues to Melbourne on April 3 for the next leg of its 2009 World Tour.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of the Shen Yun Performing Arts 2009 World Tour. For more information please visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
