MELBOURNE, Australia—The Saturday matinee by Shen Yun Performing Arts in Melbourne’s Arts Centre Theatre, on 29 March, stirred the feelings of Jewellery Designer, Gareth Flintoft. Unprepared for such a spectacle as a Shen Yun performance he described his feelings.
“I have never really been to see the ballet or [a] dance company or anything like that before. Actually, I got quite emotional.”
Shen Yun performances are more than an art. They are a way of being. The people of China have long held that their magnificent culture was gift from the heavens. Art was primarily a means to explore the connection between humankind and the universe. Artists cultivated virtue in themselves because they felt that to create art worthy of the divine, there must first be inner beauty.
Seeing Shen Yun for the first time, Mr Flintoft said he was amazed by the colorful costumes.
According to the Shen Yun website traditional Chinese clothing was serious business. The right clothes gave off an aura of refinement and dignity. It embodied the virtues of Chinese antiquity, and contributed to the culture’s perception of self.
Mr. Flintoft could smoothly follow the dance stories saying “The interpretation of the dance is quite easy to understand. I especially like the Lotus dance.”
The Steadfast Lotus dance depicts a modern story from China where people are practicing a spiritual meditation discipline. A mother gives her daughter a beautiful banner with a lotus flower and three words on it; the tenets of their faith – Truth, Compassion, and Tolerance. Moved by this dance Mr. Flintoft said “I like to meditate.”
Through the Shen Yun performance Mr. Flintoft came to appreciate Chinese history and culture more saying “I really enjoy the culture, the history [and] especially the family values.”
Shen Yun’s website explains the origins of the culture and how it has endured through the centuries.
Under the influence of Buddhism, Daoism and Confucianism, Chinese culture has generated a rich and profound system of values. These three religions’ teachings and principles have constantly played out over China’s 5,000-year-long history.
If he could describe Shen Yun’s performance with only one word, Mr Flintoft said “Fantastic.”
Shen Yun’s final performance in Melbourne is on Sunday at 2:00pm.
Reporting by Jade Lor and Judy Shakespear
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has four touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit Shen Yun Performing Arts.
The Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time. We have proudly covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006
