‘Bravo’: Actress, Producer, and Theatre Director Praises Shen Yun
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Actress, producer, and theatre director Lucy Miller attended Shen Yun at Sydneys Lyric Theatre, on April 8, 2022. NTD)
SYDNEY, Australia—Actress, producer, and theatre director Lucy Miller was touched by Shen Yun Performing Arts’ efforts to revive China’s 5,000-year-old traditional culture when she attended the performance at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre on April 8.
The founding member of Sydney’s Greek Dionysus Theatre Company had high praise for the New York-based Shen Yun dancers after experiencing the performance.
“It was impressive. The synchronisation, the colours, the way the actors were dancing and acting as well,” Ms. Miller said. “The stories were amazing. I loved the whole thing. It was excellent. Amazing.”
The Shen Yun Orchestra, which performs live alongside the dancers, is the first in the world to combine classical Western and Eastern instruments, the company’s website says.
“You don’t believe that there are people playing live there,” she said, of the orchestra. “It’s really amazing. Bravo to everyone.”
The depiction of China’s authentic culture, which Shen Yun aims to revive after it was almost lost under the tyranny of communism, was most moving for Ms. Miller.
Because it's a very ancient, very deep, and very excellent culture. And we don't see this in China anymore, and that's very sad.
— Lucy Miller
“Because it’s a very ancient, very deep, and very excellent culture. And we don’t see this in China anymore, and that’s very sad,” she said, of why she found it moving. “It touched me. It was emotional.”
In fact, Shen Yun says it presents “China before communism.”
Traditional Values ‘What the World Needs’: Marketing Agency Owner
Nikhil Rughani and his daughter Saandi attended Shen Yun at Sydney's Lyric Theatre, on April 8, 2022. NTD
Shen Yun has had to overcome tribulations on its journey to revive China’s authentic culture, with the Chinese regime often attempting to interfere with performances and pressure theatres.
Nikhil Rughani, the owner of a Sydney marketing agency, was stunned that Shen Yun isn’t allowed to perform in China.
“I'd never explored the Chinese culture before. But just to see what’s been available for the last 5,000 years, it’s just amazing to witness it. It was just wow ... I don’t even know how to describe it. It’s magical. It really was,” Mr. Rughani said.
Saandi, Mr. Rughani’s 12-year-old daughter, accompanied him on Saturday night. She said she felt happy after the performance and would recommend it to her friends.
“I liked when they were doing dancing and how they were expressing it during the dance. And how the people were singing too,” she said.
The art form at the heart of Shen Yun is classical Chinese dance. The company also performs ethnic dances, story-based pieces, solo performances, and scenes depicting modern-day China under communism.
Mr. Rughani was struck by a modern-day scene, where a Falun Dafa practitioner is targeted by the Chinese regime for her faith.
While he was a little bit familiar with Falun Dafa, whose learners strive to live by moral teachings based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance, he said he was inspired to learn more.
“It just sounds like such a wonderful ... beautiful spiritual movement,” he said.
Mr. Rughani said that while he knew China “had a very deep spiritual culture,” he didn’t realised that “it was suppressed this way” under communism.
“That’s actually sparked a lot more curiosity. I’m inspired to find out more. I’m inspired to learn more,” he said.
One of the things Mr. Rughani found most inspiring was Shen Yun’s mission to revive China’s traditional culture.
“I think traditions, I believe they’ve got a place in the modern world,” he said, adding that the values displayed in Shen Yun’s performance are “what the world needs right now.”
“You know, some values like compassion, truth, and happiness—it seems to be lost in the modern world. And just to be reminded of that, I think it is really important. You know, we lack it [but] we need it right now,” he said.
Despite the uncertainties of the world, Shen Yun left Mr. Rughani with “a sense of hope” that China won’t live under communism forever.
“I think with such a deep and beautiful culture there, it’s not something the Chinese people should let go of,” he said, adding that the Chinese people “really need to stand for that.”
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