TOOWOOMBA, Australia—It was wet and misty in Toowoomba, Queensland’s famous city of flowers, when watercolourist Ms Grant saw Shen Yun with her mother at Toowoomba’s Empire Theatre on April 13.
The rainy weather, a welcome reprieve for the once drought-afflicted rural centre, did not keep the two theatregoers away.
“Everything about it was lovely, and I am just delighted that we are here,” said Ms Grant’s mother, Barbara.
A professional watercolour artist, Ms Grant said she had been inspired by Shen Yun, noting particularly the colours.
“I think the colours are magic, coming from an artist’s point of view. I can appreciate all that has gone into the backdrop [and] the coordination of the dance group. Very inspiring!
“An artist looks at colour and immediately thinks about their painting, and that is happening for me tonight, for sure.
“I love the patterning, the continuity of the dance. It all shows through, right down to the shoes they wear. It is all thought out”.
She said that Chinese culture is very ancient. “Definitely something that should be revived and not forgotten.
“I didn’t realise they were losing their own culture [in China], so I think we are probably privileged to be shown that tonight. It is something that should never be lost, so it is nice to think they are trying to revive it through the performing arts.
“If it [traditional Chinese culture] is as good as it is today [in Shen Yun’s performance] then it must have been pretty good back then.”
She added that Shen Yun was “not to be missed. You’ve got everything, you’ve got dance, acting [and] all that colour and art. You’ve got opera, so it is many, many facets rolled into one.”
“I just think exactly the same as my daughter. I think everything is excellent. I think the story with the little girl was very, I won’t say heartwarming, I would say heartbreaking perhaps. It was beautiful,” agreed Barbara.
Like her daughter, she was enjoying the variety in Shen Yun.
“I think everything is wonderful, and I love the stories. I think it is very interesting for us interpreting them for ourselves. I think they are done beautifully.
“I can’t speak highly enough of it,” Barbara concluded.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of the Shen Yun Performing Arts 2009 World Tour. For more information please visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
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