SYDNEY—Margaret Howe, a physiotherapist, said Shen Yun Performing Arts was “just wonderful” after watching the classical Chinese dance and music company perform at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre on Friday, April 27.
Mid-way through the show’s Opening Night in Sydney, she said the show helped her appreciate Chinese dance, which was different to other styles she had seen.
“It’s very exciting to watch,” Ms. Howe said. “The dancing is fantastic, and the choreography, along with the props, the fans, the scarves, it was just wonderful. It’s so bright, and exciting, and they convey the story very well.”
She said she really appreciated the skills and the different styles of dancing, saying, “It’s wonderful.”
New York-based Shen Yun sees its mission as reviving 5,000 years of Chinese culture through spectacular dance and musical performances, bringing to life Chinese myths and legends, the dress and manners of various dynasties, and a range of ethnic groups.
‘A great experience’
Dental surgeon Enzo Chicca was also in the audience on Opening Night. He had come on the recommendation of a friend and said he was surprised at the quality of the show.
“I’m really enjoying it,” he said at intermission. “It’s a big surprise how good it is. It’s a real introduction to Chinese culture like I’ve never imagined before. So it’s been a great experience.”
He was struck by the skill of the dancers and the fusion of Chinese and Western instruments in the orchestra.
“[They have] incredible skill,” he said. “I was very, very surprised by the level that they have obtained and it’s been very entertaining.”
“I really enjoyed the way it goes from spiritual to comical to all kinds of pace changing. It’s very good.”
The vibrant digital backdrops and the way the performers interact with them were also done well, he said, such as when mythical beings and deities fly out of the scenes behind, enter the stage and “just come to life.”
He admitted to having little knowledge of Chinese culture before seeing the show, but says the colourful performance and the cultural context given throughout gave him a “rapid introduction.”
“I think it’s a very good medium to introduce Chinese culture and I would highly recommend it to all Australian people,” he said.
Reporting by NTD Television and Ethan Yang.
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 will be in Sydney, Australia, through May 6.
For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org.
