SYDNEY—“I enjoyed the show very much and it was a privilege to be able to watch it,” said Ken Harkness, a lawyer, after seeing Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Sydney Theatre April 16.
“I thought it was a world class performance,” he added.
Mr. Harkness is a partner at a prestigious law firm and President of the City of Sydney Law Society. His other community involvements include being President of the Berrima District Historic Vehicles Club and a member of the Sydney Anglican Boys’ Ministry Committee, according to the law firm’s website.
Shen Yun is based in New York and has classical Chinese dance at its heart. According to its website, “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.”
Mr. Harkness took his daughter, Caro, to see Shen Yun as she learns dance. He was very impressed by the ability of the Shen Yun dancers.
“The dancing was meticulous, and it was very interesting and exciting to watch,” he said.
“I want to thank the performers, and all those who were involved in it, for putting on such a fine performance, and all the training and effort they go to–we really appreciate that.
He felt Shen Yun was a “proud presentation of Chinese Performing Arts,” and mentioned “the wonderful pride of the Chinese people in their rich culture and their deep tradition of civility and civilization.”
“Very high quality! It’s really a wonderful experience.”
The Shen Yun website explains, “Shen Yun cannot be seen in China today, where traditional culture has been nearly lost. Yet Shen Yun—a non-profit organization—has become an international phenomenon, bringing the wonders of ancient Chinese culture to millions across the globe.”
“Over its past 60 years of rule, the communist regime has treated traditional Chinese values, centered on the idea of harmony between heaven and Earth, as a threat to its existence.”
Mr. Harkland was impressed to see Chinese people, both in China and overseas, celebrating the joy of freedom. “I wish them every encouragement in that,” he said.
“I certainly hope that the Chinese people can soon enjoy the freedoms that are enjoyed by most people in the world and I really encourage groups like this to remind Chinese people that freedom is a universal virtue.”
Continuing he said, “trying to seek a freedom in a deeper sense, both in a spiritual freedom and a political freedom, and recognizing that those two are very much connected.”
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.
