Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company arrive at Auckland airport, on April 6, 2017. (Michael Zhang/Epoch Times)
AUCKLAND, New Zealand—Upon completing performances across Asia and Australia Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company arrived in New Zealand on April 6.
Excited fans arrived at the airport on Thursday morning to welcome the Shen Yun performers.
Jared Madsen, the master of ceremonies for the New York Company was pleased to arrive in New Zealand and said that everyone can benefit from experiencing Shen Yun. He is eager to share authentic Chinese culture with Shen Yun’s whole new program for New Zealanders.
“The 5000 years traditional Chinese culture actually benefit people from the whole world, because what they depict are universal value,” he said. “No matter which nation you belong to, where you are from, this kind of cultures benefit you. In this world everyone is looking for pure goodness and pure beautiful, so after Eastern and Western audiences watching Shen Yun, they like it very much.”
Sydney born principal dancer Danny Li, who has been part Shen Yun since 2010, said he was pleased to be able to perform in New Zealand and was delighted with audience feedback on their performances.
“From Asia to Australia, the responses from audiences was very good, they all liked seeing the traditional Chinese culture very much. When we saw audiences’ enthusiastic feedback, we were so pleased, it was very gratifying,” he said.
Kexin Li, principle dancer, grew up in Auckland and was very happy to be back here to perform. She said there were many benefits to seeing Shen Yun and she was very happy to be part of the company.
“I think there are lots of quintessential things in traditional Chinese culture, like many good moral values. Unfortunately these were destroyed after Chinese Communist Party came to power. The aim of Shen Yun Performing Arts is to recover this traditional Chinese culture. I feel it’s a very meaningful to be part of Shen Yun Performing Arts and participate in the world tour.”
Shen Yun has four performances in Auckland on Friday, Saturday and Sunday before returning to Australia for performances in Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.
Government officials from all over New Zealand have sent greetings welcoming Shen Yun to New Zealand.
Clayton Mitchell, New Zealand First MP, said “It is my pleasure to warmly welcome the Shen Yun Performing Arts group to New Zealand and wish them all the best during their production in Auckland. I’m sure the New Zealand audiences will enjoy the Chinese cultural and traditional performances and I wish Shen Yun all the best for their 2017 global tour.”
Marama Fox Co Leader Maori Party, Hon Peter Dunne United Future MP, Dr. Cathy Casey Councillor Albert-Eden-Roskill Ward, Mike Lally Councillor, Cr Steve Morris BA, MRP (Hons) | Mount Maunganui-Papamoa Ward also sent greetings.
Reporting by Margo MacVicar
