ADELAIDE, Australia—The Shen Yun Performing Arts finale, a story dance named, “Hope for the Future,” brings a sigh of hope to those watching the world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music company’s performance.
From the program book we learn that practitioners of Falun Dafa take the book, “Zhuan Falun,” as a guide for spiritual elevation, but these teachings, though peaceful, are now banned in China. Communist Party policemen then appear, signaling the onset of nationwide persecution. Just when it seems like all hope is lost, a holy scene appears and a new era begins.
For Michael and Trish Kalleske, who saw Shen Yun at Adelaide’s Festival Centre on Feb. 9, the exhilarating performance that drew a full house, touched them deeply.
“I think it was just beautiful, the colour, it’s fabulous, it’s just a beautiful show, the dancing, … a lot of happiness. Very uplifting and sad at some parts about the persecution,” Mr. Kalleske said.
“Just lovely, really good. I recommend everyone to go see it,” he said.
Traditional Chinese culture is said to be bestowed on mankind as a gift from the heavens, and thus deeply spiritual. Shen Yun has a mission to revive that five millennia traditional culture through the performing arts.
The company, originally formed in 2006, produces performances that are varied, with classical Chinese dance, folk and ethnic dances, an erhu (the “Chinese two-stringed violin”) solo. Classical Chinese dance tells stories from various dynasties and legends.
“Although it was sad, it was also very happy, very uplifting, and rather spiritual I thought,” Mrs. Kalleske said.
“Beautiful, just so good,” her husband said. “I see some message of hope there, hope for the future and we can all hope for the future, even in Australia we need to hope for the future. Hope for a better life and everybody getting on better together.”
In regards to the persecution, Mrs. Kalleske explained that being able to express individuality and freedom of belief was important.
“I think we need to be individuals and have freedom of belief, so that we can maybe work out how we can all get on so much better,” she said.
Mr. Kalleske said he understood Shen Yun could not perform in China, “because [Shen Yun] was showing a new China without persecution, without getting rid of the old, and [the CCP] obviously wouldn’t want that over there. They want to keep the people, down, down, down.”
Mr. Kalleske said he would like to see China become more open and give its people more freedom.
His wife said, “If all the people keep speaking out, then maybe it will make a difference.”
Mr. and Mrs. Kalleske own a riding school, Templewood Horse Riding Centre, situated on a 200 acre property nestled in the Adelaide Hills.
The Riding Centre boasts a junior school of ponies and a senior school of horses. Beginner riders right through to competition level are catered for, and you don’t need to own your own horse.
Reporting by NTD Television and Raiatea Tahana-Reese
After four performances at the Aotea Centre in Auckland Shen Yun Performing Arts World Company will perform in Wellington from the 16-17 February with 2 evening performances and one matinee.
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has four touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit Shen Yun Performing Arts.
Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time. We have proudly covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.
