AUCKLAND, New Zealand—Shen Yun Performing Arts left a deep impression on Marilise Van De Venter and her daughter Daniella when they attended a matinee performance at the Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre in Auckland on April 22.
Ms. Van Der Venter, who is an accounts administrator at OptiMed, a large company that sells optometry equipment wholesale, was struck by a piece titled “Unprecedented Crime,” which depicts the CCP’s crime of organ harvesting.
“The organ one; it was so sad,” said Ms. Van De Venter. “The one where they steal the child and the mother.”
“We don’t really see this stuff,” said Daniella, a military school student. “Obviously, we live in this country that’s so wonderful.”
“A little bit of like a cocoon you know, New Zealand ‘cause it’s so far away from everything,” Ms. Van Der Venter added.
“So it’s very wow! [It] really opens your eyes and stuff,” her daughter added.
While tragic, Ms. Van De Venter noted that the piece was “hopeful at the same time.” According to Shen Yun, the piece depicts how the strength of the family’s faith “shines a ray of hope, and an inspiring scene unfolds.”
Ms. Van De Venter noted how all these elements came together so seamlessly that “you sort of don’t even realize.” “We don’t see the orchestra or the backdrop as separate,” she said.
“It’s so smooth, the transition,” Daniella chimed in, referring to the dancers can interact with the backdrop, appearing to fly off the stage.
Ms. Van Der Venter and Daniella had high praise for the performers, and Shen Yun’s artistic director, D.F.
“They are fantastic,” said Ms. Van Der Venter. “They are absolutely fantastic.”
“It’s absolutely fantastic,” said Ms. Van De Venter. “It’s so gorgeous. Absolutely stunning,” added Daniella.
‘It’s Magnificent’
Amanda Simmers, a dentist, gushed about her experience attending Shen Yun on April 22.
“It’s magnificent,” Ms. Simmers said during intermission. “I love the colours of the costumes, and the dancing is amazing.”
Ms. Simmers was particularly impressed by “Water Sleeves,” an imperial dance marked by “the ladies’ soft and trailing water-like motion.” According to Shen Yun, in this piece, the dancers use their long, flowing sleeves to extend their expression “beyond the body, inbuing the air with the resplendence of a bygone civilization.”
“I love the way they coordinate those longer sleeves,” Ms. Simmers said, and the male dancers, she added, had “so much energy!”
Overall, Ms. Simmers described Shen Yun as “just a lot of positive energy.” “You could just see they were having lots of fun,” she said.“ I quite enjoyed that.”
“The stories are very interesting,” said Ms. Simmers, who noted her appreciation of getting an insight into the traditional values of Chinese people. “It’s nice to learn a little bit more about the Chinese culture. I quite enjoyed that.”
The performance in Auckland featured solo performances by baritone Chao Wang singing “Hope Cannot Be Suppressed” and a soprano Min Jiang singing “The Fulfillment.” They were both accompanied by Jingya Mahlen on piano.
“We always love the orchestra and even the piano,” Ms. Simmers said. “The piano was also good.”
“It adds a lot of atmosphere to the show,” she added. “It’s lovely.” Ms. Simmers encouraged others to see Shen Yun: “It’s just worth it. Do it.”
