Shen Yun Performing Arts continued its Australian tour in Bendigo, performing sold-out shows at the Ulumbarra Theatre on March 2.
Nicole Taylor, owner of Nicole Taylor Dance Taylor Academy of Dance, traveled nearly 100 miles to see the performance. She said she was excited to see authentic Chinese culture presented on stage. “I was blown away by the technique, I thought that was amazing but for me, it was also the education behind it. I actually felt quite emotional. Learning the persecution behind a lot of the culture and then portraying that in dance, I thought that was beautifully done,” Ms. Taylor said after watching Shen Yun.
Shen Yun dancers are trained in Classical Chinese dance—an art form that goes back to ancient Chinese culture.
Through the dancers’ movements, which include the “yun” or inner bearing of an individual, the personalities and feelings of characters through various parts of China’s history are portrayed with unparalleled clarity.
“I learned things today that I didn’t know. I didn’t know that acrobatics and so forth were Chinese culture, so that’s something new for me, so that was brilliant to hear that and see where that originated from, so yes, spectacular,” Ms. Taylor said.
Former dance teacher, Barbara Hines, was also impressed by what she saw.
“I think dance is spiritual, just the way they show their grace and what comes from it. You have to perform from the inner self to make it look like that when you dance,” Ms. Hines said after watching the performance.
“Well, they’re the greatest athletes in the world, I think. As well as gymnasts, if you call it gymnastics, it’s Chinese dance, the acrobatics.”
The live orchestra, which blends Eastern and Western instruments, was a highlight for audience members.
“I thought it was really interesting,” retired music teacher Carol Aylward said after watching the performance.
“You could tell that it was all very Chinese-based music but it was lovely just to hear an orchestra with differences. The percussion sounds were different, the Chinese instruments that came in were really interesting and made the performance a lot more interesting.
“Music in itself is a wonderful thing for everyone’s well-being.”
Ms. Taylor said that she thinks music brings people together.
“I think there’s a lot of angst in this world and if we can bring peace and understanding, and bring the different cultures together, through something like this, that’s a brilliant thing,” she said.
Audience members also appreciated the 5,000-year-old culture presented on stage.
After watching Shen Yun, Rodney Carter, CEO of Dja Dja Wurrung said: “ I think the idea of our cultures and our 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.”
Meanwhile, Ian Nesbitt, a coach and owner of “Be The One,” said the performance was “beautifully coordinated.”
“The story and the history, and finding out about different parts of China and different cultures within China, yeah it was beautiful,” he said after watching Shen Yun with his partner Tia Marcuzzi.
“It is heartbreaking that they can’t do the performances in China, and the show strengthened hope for me, personally in my heart,” Ms. Marcuzzi said.
Commenting on the artistry, Stephen Ansell, a career strategist and partner of Russell Johnson and Associates, added: “Well, art is in heart, and that’s what we just saw, we saw a demonstration of the human spirit manifest in form and movement, in all of those expressions.”
Shen Yun continued its Australia tour in Sydney and Perth.
NTD News, Bendigo, Australia
