GOLD COAST, Australia—“It was very uplifting,” said former ballet dancer Kim Reeder, after watching Shen Yun Performing Arts at The Arts Theatre Gold Coast on April 25.
“Particularly what the ladies did, the sincerity of the expressions on their faces, you could see their souls coming through,” he said.
“Extremely well rehearsed, not a finger out of place. I loved the precision of what they did.”
Mr. Reeder grew up in Sydney, and spent time in London on a scholarship with the Royal Ballet, where he performed in many classic ballets. He went on to become a notable choreographer, before returning to Sydney, where he sometimes makes guest teaching appearances. He is currently retired and living on the Gold Coast.
Shen Yun aims to revive 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture through classical Chinese dance and music.
The New York-based company’s website explains how classical Chinese dance has its own set of training methods in basic skills, as well as “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.”
With his background in classical ballet, Mr. Reeder was very aware of the dancers’ abilities.
“It was a totally different technique, but I could appreciate what they were doing technically. I just felt it was very sincere. I just got a very good vibe from it, a feeling of joy, and sincerity,” he said.
Mr. Reeder appreciated other aspects of the show, including the emcees’ explanations in Chinese and English before each dance or song. “The costumes were spectacular, the lighting. I just really did enjoy … got a very good feel from the show.”
“It was educational as well. It was good to have the little bit of introduction by the speakers … So it was very informative,” he added.
“I would definitely recommend people to see it. A lot of it looks very easy but it is not. I would just recommend people to come along, have a look, and see for themselves.”
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.
