‘Magical’: Shen Yun Transported Business Owner to a ‘Different World’
Mar 22, 2024
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Christa Lourens attends Shen Yun performing arts at His Majesty's Theatre in Perth, Australia on March 22, 2024. (NTD)
PERTH, Australia—Watching Shen Yun present 5,000 years of Chinese civilisation live on stage was a “magical experience,” said business owner Christa Lourens after watching Shen Yun perform at His Majesty’s Theatre on March 22.
“It transports you to a different world,” Ms. Lourens, who owns Elohim Wellness Ozone Plus, said.
“It was awesome. The movements, the dancers are energetic, and, I could sit here for six hours.
“Everything is so bright and it’s really—it was almost like a healing experience. The music and everything is so vibrant.”
According to the company’s website, the New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts, are based on traditional aesthetics and styles.
For instance, the ancients believed that Chinese attire was inspired by the heavens, which was reflected in China’s different dynasties, regions, and ethnic groups.
Coupled with the dancers, world-class orchestra, and animated backdrop, the performance provides a feast for all the senses.
In addition to the bright colours, Ms. Lourens said she was touched by the storylines, which showcase stories of courage and sacrifice, integrity and loyalty, compassion, and virtue from ancient China through to modern times.
Ms. Lourens was particularly moved by a present-day story about the persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners in China.
“It was about communism and organ harvesting. It really touched me. I almost felt like crying. It’s really touching to know that the Chinese people are really struggling, and it really brought home how amazing the people are from China—to endure all of this and actually to survive all of this.”
Ms. Lourens also resonated with the spirituality of traditional Chinese culture that was presented on stage.
“We are all interconnected, and they’re spiritual. There’s definitely a Creator, and it was awesome. It was very touching.”
‘Art in Its Purest Form’
Also in attendance was Surminski Teun, owner of Skygrove Media. Mr. Teun watched Shen Yun on March 23 with his wife and son and said the performance was nothing like he had seen before.
Surminski Teun (R) attends Shen Yun performing arts with his wife and son at His Majesty's Theatre in Perth, Australia, on March 22, 2024. (Wade Zhong/The Epoch Times)
“It’s really beautiful, and it reminds us of how stories were told back in the days,” Mr. Teun said. “We watch these big cinema movies these days, but I think that going to the theatre, watching these incredible artists perform like what they did today is art in its purest form.”
According to Shen Yun’s website, ancient people believed that art was meant to uplift, which would, in turn, bring joy to both the artist and those who experienced it. In order for art to uplift, artists as well as those in various professions, looked to the divine for inspiration.
“When I saw the synchrony of the colours, the movement, and the gracious way of how all the artists performed, I think that is indeed divine. And that is what divine stands for. It is a combination of the movement, a combination of the synchrony, the colours … it is incredible how divine that comes across, sitting in a theatre like that.”
Mr. Teun was also touched by the company’s mission, which is to revive China’s authentic culture—a culture that was almost lost under communism.
“What shocked me a little bit was the fact that this show cannot be performed in a country like China.
“So I think what is really important is that we have to preserve the art; we have to preserve all the beauty that has been around for so long. And it would not make sense to censor or forbid this art form in any country in the world.
