AUCKLAND, New Zealand—Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company graced the stage at Auckland’s ASB Theatre on Friday, April 20, taking audiences to new heights.
In the audience was Dr. Hubert D'Cruze who was happy with his decision to attend.
With every promotion he came across, Dr. D'Cruze said he had considered whether he wanted to see the classical Chinese dance and music company’s performance.
Then, the medical doctor came to realise that perhaps this was a performance he couldn’t afford to miss.
“I had looked at it, and then [thought] WOW, this is what I should not miss … I have great respect for Chinese history, culture, music, discipline and all those artistic ways they perform. So I thought, ’this is a special chance for me to go there.'”
Shen Yun has three companies currently wowing audiences in more than 100 countries on four continents with a mission to reawaken ancient China’s divinely bestowed 5,000-year heritage, mostly lost to six decades of communist rule.
Behind its success, Shen Yun features a number of international award-winning artists—dancers, vocalists and soloist musicians, alike, and performs story-based dances adapted to suit hi-tech animated backdrops, handmade costumes in radiant colours and a full orchestral ensemble.
“I haven’t seen anything like this, I’m sure, on the stage before. I think it’s fascinating, and how rich their culture is, ... and how proud they should be.”
Basil Lawrence, a high school technology teacher, was also in the audience enjoying the colourful spectacular.
“Very good, very good,” he said of the performance that for him, just got better and better.
He said he enjoyed each segment and admired how Shen Yun managed to meld the entire performance together.
Mr. Lawrence concluded that “learning the [traditional] cultures of the Chinese people 5, 000 years ago, is most fascinating and interesting … the music was very, very good, the lyrics are excellent,” he added.
Reporting by Daisy Lee and Raiatea Tahana-Reese
Shen Yun Performing Arts, based in New York, tours the world on a mission to revive traditional Chinese culture. Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company performs in Auckland’s ASB Theatre April 20-22.
For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org.
