ADELAIDE, Australia—Mayor Michael Coxon of West Torrens, a city in the western suburbs of Adelaide, was deeply impressed and touched by Shen Yun Performing Arts’ presentation of traditional Chinese culture—a China before communism.
“We’ve been taken on this miraculous journey from the heavens over the last 5,000 years,” he said after the performance at the Festival Theatre on April 8.
“I must commend the production … to get a glimpse of what life was like before communism in China,” he said, “to see that artistic culture, has been so impressive and such a stirring journey for me, personally.”The New York-based company performs classical Chinese dance, ethnic folk dances, and story-based dances, accompanied by a unique orchestra that blends traditional Chinese instruments with classical Western instruments.
According to the company’s website, Shen Yun has preserved the true aesthetics of this classical dance system—the way it has been passed down from antiquity— and presents this authentic culture in its purest form.
As a “powerful tool” for artistic expression, the international language of dance and music was “so very thrilling to see,” said Mr. Coxon.
“Shen Yun speaks to my heart,” he said.
Along with myths and legends from ancient times, Shen Yun presents story-based dances portraying the persecution of Falun Dafa, a meditation discipline based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance.
In 1999, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) launched a persecution campaign against the spiritual practice and adherents have since been subjected to unprecedented imprisonment, torture, and abuse.
“I think it’s absolutely courageous of the team to put this production together and to be able to inform everyone in the Western world about some of the atrocities that are occurring for the local people in China,” said Mr. Coxon.
“These kinds of messages are so important because they raise awareness … of the importance of things that all people should be entitled to,” he said, “and that is democracy and freedom.”“We’re trying to increase democracy all around the world, and this goes a long way,” he added.
Reporting by NTD and Jennifer Schneider.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.
