SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

After Seeing Shen Yun, IT Professional Reflects on Faith and Life

Mar 07, 2026

3/7/2026Updated: 3/7/2026

MELBOURNE, Australia—“There was a lot of spirituality in the performance. I thought it was very respectful, and it really made me reflect,” said Unal Altay after attending Shen Yun.

Mr. Altay works in the IT industry and serves as the chief information officer at a company. On the evening of March 6, 2026, he attended the opening performance by Shen Yun New Era Company at the Plenary Theatre of the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre in Melbourne, Australia.

Sharing his overall impression of the performance, he said he thoroughly enjoyed the evening.

“I really enjoyed all of the performances. They were really fantastic—very professional,” Mr. Altay said. “I also thought the way the show linked back through thousands of years of culture was really good. I even learned a few things tonight myself.”

Based in New York, Shen Yun is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music company, with a mission to revive 5,000 years of China’s divinely inspired heritage and share with audiences the beauty of China before communism.

Several elements of the production stood out to him, particularly the choreography and costumes.

“The choreography was stunning, and the costumes were fantastic,” he said. “The whole elegance of it all really struck me.”

Mr. Altay added that seeing the show made him appreciate the dedication required to create such a production.

“I was really taken aback by the amount of effort that goes into it.”

With his background in IT, Mr. Altay was especially intrigued by Shen Yun’s use of animated digital backdrops, which synchronize with the live performance on stage, creating a visually engaging experience.

“I loved it,” he said. “Coming from IT, I even noticed that you’ve got a patent on it. The choreography that coincides with the timing of the backdrop was really enjoyable. Very well done—excellent.”

Throughout the performance, Mr. Altay said he could clearly see traditional values being presented on stage.

“I think it’s very important, because you’re passing on a message—you’re passing on culture,” he said. “That’s important for people.”

Mr. Altay also noticed scenes showing students demonstrating respect toward their teachers, a value he believes is important for society.

“That comes through very clearly,” he said. “Those are the types of traits we need to carry on to future generations. You look at the world today, and I think we could apply some of those learnings.”

Shen Yun cannot be freely presented in China, a fact that many audience members learned from the emcees, which came as a surprise.

“It’s such a shame that you’ve got such a beautiful practice, and they’re not allowed to perform in their own home country,” Mr. Altay said. “A lot of people are missing out, and the younger generation may grow up missing part of their culture.”

Some of the stories also depict the Chinese communist regime’s ongoing persecution of the spiritual practice Falun Dafa in China, a peaceful meditation practice whose followers strive to live by the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance. Mr. Altay said they added another meaningful dimension to the performance.

“A lot of the spirituality—whether it links to Falun Dafa or to Buddhist beliefs—I thought it was very respectful.”

In closing, Mr. Altay shared a message for Shen Yun’s performers and artistic director.

“Just thank you. Keep going,” he said. “It’s clear that everybody believes in this wholeheartedly. Don’t let any pressure stop you or take you away from your true north.”

Reporting by Michael Dang and Olivia Li.

The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.