SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Shen Yun Fascinates Young and Old in Sydney

Mar 11, 2016
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Shen Yun Fascinates Young and Old in Sydney
Barbara Sattler MBE travelled from Hobart to enjoy Shen Yun Performing Arts at Sydney's Lyric Theatre on March 11, 2016. (Melanie Sun/Epoch Times)

SYDNEY, Australia–“What more could I want?” said Barbara Sattler MBE, who was celebrating her 90th birthday with her two daughters and two granddaughters.

After purchasing tickets two months in advance, Mrs. Sattler travelled all the way up from Hobart especially to see Shen Yun in Sydney. “The whole thing has been overwhelming, and I’m so thrilled to be here,” she added.

The Lyric Theatre was abuzz on Friday night, March 11, for Shen Yun Performing Arts’ fourth performance in Australia’s most famous harbour city.

Jade Matthews (L) attended Shen Yun Performing Arts with her friend Shae Straker at the Lyric Theatre in Sydney on March 11, 2016. (Melanie Sun/Epoch Times)
Jade Matthews (L) attended Shen Yun Performing Arts with her friend Shae Straker at the Lyric Theatre in Sydney on March 11, 2016. (Melanie Sun/Epoch Times)

Jade Matthews, a singing student at the Australian Institute of Music, was blown away by the calibre of the production. “They’ve obviously trained very hard, and it really shows,” she said.

Music plays a pivotal role in Shen Yun performances, setting the mood of each dance and bringing to life the legends and heroic tales.

Ms. Matthews was particularly fond of the blend of traditional Chinese and Western instruments in the live orchestra, a sound synonymous with Shen Yun. “It’s unlike any other experience. You'll definitely get something out of it.”

She was left with a feeling that she has learned something completely new about Chinese culture. “I'd love to come see it again!” she said.

The performance touched audience members of all different ages and backgrounds, with many remarking on the rich cultural heritage expressed throughout the performance.

Shae Straker, an events assistant at the Museum of Contemporary Art, felt she had “learned a lot about the divine” while watching Shen Yun.

‘It’s so beautiful’

“It’s amazing to see so many people moving as one. I’ve just never seen anything like it,” said Vivienne Cable, a personal stylist from Chatswood, who was also at the Friday evening performance.

Inspired by the divinity that has been at the core of Chinese culture for millennia, the strong spiritual theme in Shen Yun’s performances was very moving for Ms. Cable. “It’s so beautiful to see people on stage expressing their story, expressing their feelings in a true way,” she said.

‘Depth of culture’

The overall performance moves from ancient China to a scene from the present day, touching on the ongoing persecution of spiritual faiths in China.

Shen Yun artists are passionate about their mission to revive 5,000 year of traditional Chinese culture that has been repressed since the Cultural Revolution in the 1960s. Unfortunately, the Chinese Communist Party still persecutes people with spiritual beliefs in Chinese society today.

During the Friday evening performance the return of a culture, nearly lost, was also appreciated by businessman, Jim Hunter, who has his own Asia and U.S. importing company.

“Being Australian, we don’t have the depth of culture that China has ... so it is really interesting to see how a country like China has developed,” he said.

Mr. Hunter thought that Shen Yun was wonderful and described the performance as “vibrant, energetic and cultural.”

Reporting by NTD Television and Melanie Sun

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.

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Shen YunSydney
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