“I think it has a positive impact, because [it] brings a different dimension of what China and Chinese culture is all about. I think it’s very important,” he said.
“As someone who’s lived ... in that part of the world, I understand the cultural significance and the loss of the subtleties of the Chinese culture in today’s modern-day and age,” he said.
But Shen Yun cannot be seen in China where the country’s ancient spiritual heritage has been replaced by the atheistic culture of the Communist Party, and young people are not taught their history accurately.
“You‘ll find this amazing,“ Mr. Rowe said, recounting what he told his Chinese friends. ”You’ll see a whole different aspect of the authenticity and the ambiance of Chinese culture, and its impact, and its passion, and its kindness, and gentleness that you don’t appreciate today.”
‘Perspective’ on Arts and Culture
Shen Yun will visit Sydney, Melbourne, Bendigo, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, and Toowoomba throughout April and May amid its world tour.
“I think it’s really important that we promote shows like this one. It gives people a perspective of arts and culture,” Mr. Pandey said, adding that arts and culture were the “soul of any city.”
“I think it’s important that we display that soul everywhere we can, so I would definitely encourage for this to be displayed in as many cities as we can,” he added.
“It’s a journey that we see on the stage from ancient Chinese culture to modern-day China,” Mr. Pandey said.
‘More beautiful than I imagined’: Retired Gymnastics Coach
The art form at the heart of Shen Yun is classical Chinese dance which has been refined over thousands of years to become one of the most comprehensive dance systems in the world.
Lyn Ward, who was twice awarded “National Coach of the Year” by Gymnastics Australia in 2007 and 2008, and has seen elite gymnasts compete at world championships, was left in awe of the Shen Yun dancers’ skills.
Classical Chinese dance incorporates advanced tumbling techniques and movements to enrich its dance vocabulary and expressivity. Additionally, an emotional expression, or bearing, known as “yun” is permeated in every movement. The bearing of the dancers was not lost on Ms. Ward.
“I think they’re trained so beautifully to perfection, the timing, expression, body expression, facial expression is also beautiful,” she said.
Medical Scientist Says People Have a ‘Duty’ to Bring Back Traditional Culture
Garth Harris, a medical scientist and co-director of BioMedica, a nutraceuticals company, said he was inspired by Shen Yun and expressed his desire to see a return to traditional culture—especially in China.“I think we’ve all got a duty to try and bring that culture back to the betterment of humanity,” he said.
Shen Yun was “absolutely brilliant” in terms of the dancing, costuming, and music, he said, adding that the performance had an “inspiring ring” to it, which allowed him to see how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) lacked any semblance of authentic Chinese culture.
“I think it’s very difficult, I’d imagine for Chinese people living in mainland China and I can see why they all want to get out and have the freedom of the West,” he said.
He said using dance was a non-confronting way to tell the story of the persecution of Falun Dafa. “It just opens people’s hearts and minds,” he said.
Mr. Harris drew comparisons between what is valued in his own Christian faith and that of Falun Dafa, an ancient spiritual practice based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance; noting the positive values and “heavenly aspirations” of both.
“Western tradition came from the spirituality of Christianity and I can see the Falun Dafa going back to tradition,” he said, adding: “I feel that we’re all really aspiring to God.”
