SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

‘Really Humbling’: Hi5 Star Praises Selfless Teamwork of Shen Yun

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‘Really Humbling’: Hi5 Star Praises Selfless Teamwork of Shen Yun
Laura Brant at Shen Yun performing Arts' afternoon performance on the Gold Coast, Australia, on Feb. 25, 2024. Daniel Teng/The Epoch Times
GOLD COAST, Australia—Television actress and former member of the children’s musical group Hi5, Lauren Brant, said it was “humbling” to see such selflessness and teamwork during the Gold Coast performance of Shen Yun Performing Arts.

“It was just the fact that they were all so together. Their spacing was perfect—their movements were all on time.

“And I loved it because it didn’t, even though they were obviously lead dancers when you watch the group, you watch the whole group, you weren’t just focusing on one person, which was really beautiful because obviously, performers have a way of wanting to be the star and wanting the attention, but no one did that,” she said.

“There’s a strong message that they’re trying to put across, and I think having everybody work together as one helped get the message across because it just showed that they all belong to the same divinity.”

Ms. Brant attended a Shen Yun performance at HOTA, Home of the Arts, in Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast, Queensland, on Feb. 25.

She added that it was rare to see such selflessness in performances nowadays.

“Everyone’s searching for stardom and fame and to get the recognition that you don’t often see such great teamwork, and then when you do, it’s really humbling.”

A multi-talented artist herself, Ms. Brant was amazed to learn that the New York-based Shen Yun comprised eight companies that toured the world simultaneously.

“The costumes and the colors were phenomenal, and just how precise all the performers were – they were so together and so on time with everything. I haven’t seen anything like that, actually,” said Ms. Brant.

Shen Yun’s mission is to bring audiences an authentic vision of China from the pre-communist era. The dancers, singers, and unique orchestra together offer a panorama of 5,000 years of Chinese civilization.

The performers succeeded in portraying the values of peace, harmony, and unity, said Ms. Brant.

In a story-based dance, Shen Yun gives a glimpse of modern-day China, with kind people still holding onto faith and traditional values like truth, compassion, and forbearance—even though one can face persecution for such a thing in China today.

It was “quite confronting,” said Ms. Brant, who previously had little knowledge about the persecution.

‘There Is Still Hope’

Also at the afternoon performance was Fran Avon, CEO of the Rural Doctors Foundation. As someone who loves helping people, Fran found Shen Yun very meaningful.
Fran Avon at Shen Yun Performing Arts on the Gold Coast, Australia, on Feb. 25, 2024. (NTD)
Fran Avon at Shen Yun Performing Arts on the Gold Coast, Australia, on Feb. 25, 2024. NTD
The story dance that particularly touched Ms. Avon depicted the communist regime’s illegal organ harvesting from innocent people of faith.

“Particularly working for a doctors’ foundation where we [are] about saving lives, I think it was really sad to see lives not being treasured,” she said.

Ms. Avon felt that “there still is hope and that there are people that are fighting to stop these sorts of things happening in our world.”

Shen Yun’s portrayal of the spiritual aspect in traditional Chinese culture resonated with her.

“Having been brought up a Christian, I’m very conscious of having something that is bigger than us and something that is looking out for us, and I think it’s lovely to be reminded of that,” she explained.

Ms. Avon also appreciated the introductions given by Shen Yun’s emcees, which gave the audience a “sense” of each performance.

“I didn’t really know what to expect. And it’s lovely to see such storytelling in a way that inspires you and excites you,” she said.

Reporting by Daniel Teng, NTD, and Diane Cordemans. 
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.
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