SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Shen Yun Is ‘Absolutely Brilliant,’ Says Australian Theatergoer

Mar 12, 2026

3/12/2026Updated: 3/12/2026

MELBOURNE, Australia—Bruce Hood and Yvonne Hood saw Shen Yun Performing Arts on March 11 at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Plenary Theatre.

“The show was absolutely brilliant. It all just flowed together so well that it’s hard to tell what was fantasy and what was real,” said Mr. Hood, a retired engineer.

Shen Yun, based in New York, is on a mission to present “China before communism,” and revive people’s connection with 5,000 years of Chinese civilization and culture.

“It’s amazing, really. This country here is only 200 years old? And you compare it to 5,000 years, you can’t compare it really, can you?” Mr. Hood said.

Mr. Hood shared that his heritage is part Chinese. Seeing Shen Yun reminded him of how his grandfather fled from China at the age of 18.

Shen Yun uses classical Chinese dance to tell stories from China’s five millennia. Its dance stories also portray the modern true story of Falun Dafa practitioners being persecuted for their faith in China. Falun Dafa is a peaceful practice that teaches the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.

“It takes a lot of courage, and I don’t know how they could do it. They’re putting their lives at risk,” Mr. Hood said.

“Everybody should be free to do what they feel in their heart,” said Mrs. Hood, who practiced natural medicine before retirement.

Shen Yun’s website states that Classical Chinese dance training includes three main components—technical skill, form, and bearing, which is one of the many ways that classical Chinese dance is different from ballet.

“The dedication is obvious. They’re so well-trained and coordinated. It’s truly a discipline, which I think is reflected in the whole culture.

“Please let the dancers know that they were just perfection,” said Mrs. Hood.

The purity in Shen Yun moved Mrs. Hood. She expressed her hopes for more people to see Shen Yun.

“I think everybody should see it for the purity of the art form that it is in and the message that it gets across. When I was watching it, I was in a different space. It just took me to a different space. That divine message is lovely,” Mrs. Hood said.

Reporting by Lucy Liu and Maria Han.

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