SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Principal Dance Teacher Impressed by Shen Yun Dancers’ Attention to Detail

May 07, 2023

SYDNEY, Australia—Shen Yun Performing Arts graced the stage for the final show in Sydney on the evening of May 7.

Belinda Kirkness attended the show with her mother. It was the second time they had both seen Shen Yun together.

Mrs. Kirkness, a teacher at a Catholic primary school in Sydney’s west, is also the principal teacher at the Bollard School of Dance, based in Condell Park, a suburb in Sydney’s southwest. Her mother, Margaret Kirkness, is the principal of the dance school.

Mrs. Kirkness said she was impressed most by the “attention to detail of the dancers.”

“[The dancers] were amazing, absolutely amazing ... The training is amazing; the amount of hours is very obvious that’s been put into the show,” she said.

“And it’s great to see that obviously the technical training from when they were young to now as adults have really been showcased in this talented show.”

Her mother concurred, saying the Shen Yun dancers “are marvellous.”

New York-based Shen Yun is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music company, established in 2006. Each year, Shen Yun brings an all-new performance with new works of orchestral music, costumes, choreography, digital backdrop designs, and stories from China’s 5,000 years of civilization.

Classical Chinese dance is an ancient art form that has evolved over thousands of years. Next to ballet, it’s one of the most athletic and expressive dance systems in the world.

Mrs. Kirkness said that she had traveled to China in the past and also taught at the Beijing Dance Academy. She said that seeing places she has “actually experienced” herself, being depicted on the stage, helped her appreciate more the story and culture of China.

Shen Yun’s digital backdrops transport the audience into various settings that “truly reflect China’s multifaceted geography, society, regions, and dynasties,” according to the company.

Mrs. Kirkness said Shen Yun is “entertaining as well as showing us and teaching us” the culture and history of China.

“You wouldn’t know that that was part of the culture until you saw a show like this because it’s not something that we study in Australia at school,” she said. “So it’s amazing that you can see this, and you can learn through, not just through dance, but you can learn through the history of the show and scenery and everything together.”

Shen Yun’s Music Is ‘Extremely Emotive’: Piano Teacher

Gabriel Gonzalez, a piano teacher at Parsons Music, based in Sydney’s northern suburbs, said that he felt “so emotional” at the beginning of Shen Yun’s performance and that he loves Shen Yun’s music.

“I enjoy it so much because I understand it’s all original. It’s wonderful. It’s something new. Something I don’t have the chance to listen to very often.

“It’s extremely emotive,” he said, adding that he experienced “a lot of feelings.”

Gabriel Gonzalez attends Shen Yun Performing Arts at Sydney Lyric Theatre, in Sydney, Australia, on May 7, 2023. (NTD)

“Happiness, sadness, joy. In general, I found it very, very inspiring ... [an] inspiring kind of happiness ... Good feelings. That is the main inspiration.”

Mr. Gonzalez also shared that he was impressed by the baritone vocalist.

“I love his voice,” he said. “I like it very much. It was amazing because the sound was extremely powerful, clear, and very deep.”

Shen Yun’s vocal soloists perform in the bel canto tradition with piano accompaniment. The songs and lyrics are original works and are different each year.

The lyrics had a “spiritual message” that was “so inspiring,” said Mr. Gonzalez, adding, “I like it very much.”

The song texts are imbued with philosophical reflections about human life and contain deep layers of meaning, according to Shen Yun.

Mr. Gonzalez described Shen Yun as a performance that “combines [classical Chinese dance], music, poetry and a very deep spiritual message at the same time.”

“Not just spiritual, but also inspiring emotions.”

Reporting by NTD, Beatrice Lee, and Mimi Nguyen Ly.

The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.