BENDIGO, Australia—Charlene Le, an insurance broker, travelled two hours from Melbourne to Bendigo with her daughter to see Shen Yun Performing Arts on its 2024 tour of Australia.
Ms. Le said she was lucky enough to get the tickets at the Ulumbarra Theatre for the middle seats in the row just behind the orchestra.
There, “all the viewers were like, ‘Wow,’” she described the sensation of being in the front row. “I just get my glasses and watch everything and did not even blink.”
“I was amazed,” she added.
“All the values that were reflected in the show are really helpful,” she said.
The central theme Ms. Le identified in the performance was a reminder to be nice and kind to people.
‘Chinese Culture at Its Best’
Also in the audience on Friday evening was Rodney Carter, the CEO of the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation, which is a representative body for the Dja Dja Wurrung People.
“It’s fantastic to see Chinese culture represented internationally, and for us here in central Victoria, it’s very exciting,” he said. “I think the idea of our cultures and traditions as all peoples around the world is really important for us, to be proud of who we are, and what we’re seeing tonight is an example of Chinese culture at its best.”
What resonated with him from the performance was a vignette called “The Restaurant,” in which a restaurant is almost shut down by a health inspector, spurring its otherwise indifferent employees to rally for success in a display of teamwork and determination.
Mr. Carter said the piece was an example of how people can shape culture through loving each other.
‘Renewing Old Traditions’
Husband and wife business owners Jason McKoy and Nadia Friso commended Shen Yun’s performers on their hard work and training to put together an “impeccable” performance on Friday night.
“That’s the proper way to behave and the proper way to carry on your life,” he said.
“I love the word compassion; I think that’s very important. If you show compassion in the world, it’s just a better place.”
Mr. McKoy ended by saying that they were grateful to Shen Yun’s director for the work and effort in bringing the world’s premier classical Chinese dance performance to Bendigo.
“[We] enjoyed it greatly,” he said. “Very grateful. Thank you.”
