BRISBANE, Australia—Mr. Rick Williams, Member of Parliament for Queensland, experienced the wonder of Shen Yun Performing Arts with his wife at the Lyric Theatre, for the evening performance on Feb. 27.
After attending the first Chinese New Year celebration in his electorate, he saw information about Shen Yun and was excited and eager to see the performance in Brisbane 100 kilometres away.
When he was interviewed at interval, he said he was exhilarated and was excited to see the second half of the performance. “Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful,” he said.
“I think it’s wonderful! I look at the colours and the dancers, and the music.”
New York-based Shen Yun has classical Chinese dance at its heart but also includes a blended orchestra of traditional Chinese instruments and classical Western instruments, a state-of-the-art digitally animated backdrop, together giving a complete theatrical experience.
The music of Shen Yun touches the hearts of many and Mr. Williams said he and his wife both really enjoyed the music of Shen Yun.
“A Western orchestra plays the foundation, while traditional Chinese instruments lead the melodies. The sound produced is uniquely pleasing to the ear. The ensemble at once expresses both the grandeur of a Western orchestra and the distinct sensibilities of China’s 5,000-year-old civilization,” the company’s website states.
“I find that the music is very relaxing and I blend into it,” Mr. Williams said. “She relaxes into it as well. We enjoyed it, we really enjoyed it ... My spirit within can attune to it.”
That spirit Mr. Williams feels attuned to touches on the deeper purpose of the company, to restore the divinely culture that once flourished.
Mr. Williams said he was old enough to remember the Tiananmen Square massacre, and he treasured the freedom of speech and freedom of belief in Australia. He said the government of Australia does not suppress the opinion of the people and he is very happy about that.
For this reason, he applauded Shen Yun’s mission to revive traditional culture and to touch on some contemporary issues of control and persecution in China today.
Over its several decades of rule, the communist party in China has sought to undermine the country’s traditions and faiths.
Mr. Williams said the performers had done a wonderful job and would like to encourage them to continue.
“When I see what they portray here, some of the things that have come out of persecution, I think it is wonderful that they have the courage to go on and do what they are doing. Absolutely compliment them,” he said.
Mr. Williams said Shen Yun was not to be missed. “Come and have a look because you will take away some absolutely wonderful memories. Absolutely wonderful!”
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.
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.
