“Loved it. Brilliant,” Ms. Godlee said. “The talent, the choreography, the special effects, the music, the story—everything. [I loved] absolutely everything.”
Today, the New York-based artists are working to revive this lost civilization and bring back to the world through dance and music, the beauty of China before communism.
Mr. Douglas also had a wonderful evening and appreciated the company’s efforts to revive traditional values in a modern age.
He said he believes that regardless of ethnicity, everyone has a history and traditions worth cherishing.
“It’s so important that it carries through to multi-generations,” Mr. Douglas said. “I’m lucky to have grandchildren, and I want them to understand where they come from.”
Mr. Douglas was shocked to learn that fake threats had been made against the theatre and the Australian prime minister prior to Shen Yun’s opening performance on the Gold Coast.
“I am surprised that a dance group could attract that much negativity from other places. It blew us both away,” he said. “I just thought it was entertainment, I didn’t realize how deep it went.”
Ms. Godlee added that they still chose to attend because “it’s important to support culture, performance, and a voice. …[Shen Yun] is such a beautiful show. I’ve heard so many things, and we weren’t going to let some threat stop us.”
“We’re not going to get scared off,” Mr. Douglas said.
Moved by the values conveyed through the story-based dances, he said he is eager to learn more about the artists and what they stand for.
“We will go from here and investigate together further what it all meant and what the story was and what the [artists’] message really was. ...We are actually moved and actually quite invested in watching what’s going on.”
For Ms. Godlee, the lesson she will carry with her from the performance is one of “kindness, compassion, and giving.”
In one of the story dances, the main character “gave to someone that was poor. They didn’t do it for the reward; they did it because they were kind and showed no judgment. They gave without question, which is beautiful. Compassion, kindness—I think that’s really important.”
She said she believes this is the secret behind the company’s 20 years of success.
“It’s the talent, it’s the message, it’s the music, it’s the choreography, it’s the costumes,” Ms. Godlee said. Shen Yun is “breathtaking, incredible, moving, and thought-provoking.”
