PERTH, Australia—When a retired teacher who used to work in New York City teaching English as a second language saw New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts, he said he was astonished by the flawless quality of the show.
But what really rang true for him and brought a little mist to his eyes was the way this classical Chinese dance company communicated the wrongfulness of the Chinese regime’s persecution of a spiritual group called Falun Dafa.
“I’m blown away,” said Leslie Pulé, about the company’s mission to restore the authentic, traditional culture of China through the arts..
Mr. Pule saw the performance on Feb. 6 at the Regal Theatre in Subiaco, Western Australia. He now lives in Fremantle, where he is originally from.
He said he realized that the performance was partly to show support for group that currently faces persecution, Falun Dafa, a meditation and cultivation practice that espouses the values and spiritual ideals of China’s ancient past. The practice combines ancient Chinese teachings with meditation exercises.
The Shen Yun performers draw inspiration from this spiritual practice and their own divine culture, which spans 5,000 years. This spiritual connection is at the heart of their soul stirring dances, states the Shen Yun website.
“It’s a living testament to the wholesomeness and the rightfulness of the whole movement,” he said, adding that it was translated into a beautiful art form.
As a dance enthusiast who has seen various productions, Mr. Pulé was very impressed with how well-trained the dancers were, commenting that their dancing was “very tight.” But it wasn’t just the dancing alone that made for what he described as a consummate performance. It also was the costumes, the colors, the set, and the technology.
Audiences the world over have frequently been in awe over the vibrant-colored costumes recreated from traditional attire worn by emperors, ministers, and even heavenly fairies.
Each mini drama features various props such as flowing sleeves, beautiful fans, or a Taoist’s whisk. For an extra-added effect, divine beings can be seen flying down to earth from the heavens via a state of the art digital backdrop.
Through the magic of animated settings, audiences are transported to a heavenly world inspired by the myths and legends of China’s traditional divine culture.
During intermission, Mr. Pulé expressed how amazed he was by the performance and its message. He was equally pleased after watching the second half of the show.
“Well the second half confirmed what I was feeling already in the first half,” he said. In fact he loved it just as much as the first half.
But what struck him the most was the Chinese regime’s oppression of Falun Dafa.
“I think it needs to be brought to the world’s attention,” he said. “It’s completely unjust.”
Reporting by NTD Television and Arleen Richards
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.
