SYDNEY, Australia—Tania Taylor, CEO of a children’s mental health charity, attended Shen Yun Performing Arts’ March 21 matinee at the Sydney Lyric Theatre and had a wonderful time.
“The production’s been incredible,” Ms. Taylor exclaimed. “The colors and the passion that the dancers display when they are dancing is just really fabulous.”
Shen Yun is the world’s top classical Chinese dance and music company. Presenting a brand-new set of programs each year, the company has been delighting audiences around the world since 2006.
Before the communist party’s spread of atheism, Chinese people were very spiritual and had a deep belief in the divine. For thousands of years, their values and day-to-day actions were strictly governed by the teachings of Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism.
In the decades since the communist regime seized power, Chinese culture was forced to the brink of extinction. The New York-based artists are seeking to revive China’s 5,000 years of divinely inspired culture and showcase to the world the beauty of China before communism.
Ms. Taylor was especially moved by one of the story-based dances depicting the Chinese Communist Party’s persecution of Falun Dafa, a peaceful meditation practice whose practitioners seek to adhere to the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance.
“It was very emotional, actually. It was really well portrayed,” she said. “It’s given me a really big insight around what the dance is about and what the production is about.”
“I just think [Shen Yun] a great way to share what Chinese culture is about, and for us to see the beautiful colors, the landscape. I love the way that they’ve integrated the [digital] screen as well. It’s just a really good way for us to get some insights into Chinese culture.”
According to the company’s website, Shen Yun’s innovative digital technology creates seamless interaction between the backdrop projection and the performers on stage. “By extending the stage to infinite realms,” this patented 3D invention brings to the audience “storytelling without limits.”
Ms. Taylor was also impressed by the dancers’ skill and artistry.
“The precision with which the dancers move, and also their hand movements, the way that they express themselves, the facial expressions,” she shared, “it’s sort of a whole-body experience. It’s not just hands and arms moving.”
Summing up her experience, Ms. Taylor said, “It’s incredible to just watch and learn something new every day.” “The storytelling is beautiful. It’s really gracefully done. I really enjoyed it.”
