GOLD COAST, Australia—“It is absolutely sublime,” said journalist Nicole Rowles, after experiencing the wonder of Shen Yun Performing Arts at The Arts Centre Gold Coast on April 25.
“I’ve never seen anything like it. The costumes are just beautiful, and the dancers are technically perfect–it’s breathtaking,” she said.
Nicole Rowles works for Channel 9 and NBN News, after completing a Bachelor of Journalism degree at The University of Queensland. Her background is in dancing, having represented Queensland in rhythmic gymnastics at 10, and later moving to Paris at 17 to dance with Moulin Rouge, before she returned to Australia to study.
“As a dancer, I really appreciate the years of training that must have gone into their work, and I can just see it in every movement they make. It’s absolutely flawless! Their technique, their togetherness, they’re just amazing dancers.”
Based in upstate New York, Shen Yun has classical Chinese dance at its heart, but also includes folk and ethnic dance.
The company’s website explains, “Classical Chinese dance has its own set of training methods in basic skills, and has strict training in both physical expression and specific postures. It also involves learning combinations of leaps, turns, flips, spins, and other aerial and tumbling techniques. It is a vast and independent system of dance.”
Ms. Rowles particularly enjoyed the classical Chinese dancing.
“It’s just such a wonderful experience to watch. I can appreciate it from a technical standpoint, but I think you don’t have to be a dancer to appreciate it. It’s just so beautiful, the shapes are so beautiful, and the jumps are just amazing to watch,” she said.
Shen Yun depicts traditional Chinese culture and values, as the website states: “Through the universal language of music and dance, Shen Yun weaves a wondrous tapestry of heavenly realms, ancient legends, and modern heroic tales, taking you on a journey through 5,000 years of Chinese culture. Its stunning beauty and tremendous energy leave audiences uplifted and inspired.”
Mrs. Rowles really appreciated learning about China’s traditional culture.
“It’s such a wonderful way for it to be presented through dance and through colour and through movement. [It] really gives such an overview of Chinese culture, and over the years, you can see it evolve, and you can see the costumes change, and the style change. It’s just such a beautiful way to experience the Chinese culture; a colourful breathtaking way to experience it.”
The show brings ancient myths and legends, as well as contemporary stories to life on stage. One performance in particular touched Ms. Rowles heart.
“I had goosebumps during the lotus dance, I had goosebumps. It was so beautiful to watch it, you feel what they’re feeling, you feel the spirituality of the dance, you feel it in every single movement they make, and in every hand gesture, and in every jump, and in every pointed foot you feel that spirituality completely. It’s incredible to watch,” she said, referring to ‘The Steadfast Lotus,’ depicting present-day China, and the story of a mother and daughter being persecuted for practicing Falun Gong, a peaceful meditation practice.
“I feel like it’s the passion in the dancers and their conviction, and that really comes across, and that makes us feel as well as the audience … I could really relate to the story, and really feel it, and every sort of emotion on their face was just so real and so organic. It was beautiful.”
“The injustices that people experience now when they’re just trying to express themselves spiritually.”
Ms. Rowles shared her overall impression of Shen Yun. “It’s unlike anything you have ever seen before; it will take your breath away. It’s something that words can’t describe, but there’s so much colour and movement and beyond that there’s so much heart.”
“Every movement has a wealth of feeling and the entire cultural history behind it. It’s just so beautiful to watch.”
Reporting by NTD Television and Leigh Smith
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
