SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Shen Yun ‘Where Magic Happens’: Public Servant

Apr 15, 2023

WELLINGTON, New Zealand—Audrey Trotman, a policy advisor with New Zealand’s Ministry of Education, was singing praises for Shen Yun Performing Arts on April 15 after another sold-out performance in the capital city.

The performance was “magical,” she said, and impressed her with its powerful message, vibrant colours, and the dancers’ flowing movements.

“You get the opportunity to be taken away into a colourful and fantasy-like world, and one where magic happens—where we thrive, where the Gods are present, and where human history and the universe come together,” Ms. Trotman said.

New York-based Shen Yun has become known for its explosive colours, messages of hope, and its celebration of China’s 5,000 years of divinely-inspired culture—much of which has been destroyed or forgotten in modern-day China.

Shen Yun’s message about humanity’s link to the divine resonated with Ms. Trotman. She said this is an important point to remember as we live our lives.

“The more we get taken away from being grounded and the things that matter, the more likely it is we lose sight your ourselves,” she said. “And the divine helps us to reconnect with that ... It’s important to be connected to the universe.”

“I feel like my cup is filled,” she described after watching the two hour performance.

She recommended to everyone to go see Shen Yun.

“I hope all of the world gets the opportunity to see what we’ve seen today … People get to remember the importance of them [being] connected to something far greater than themselves.”

A Family Affair

The Dawber family were also in the audience on April 15.

Lynn Dawber, a GP, said one of her favourite items in the performance was the baritone soloist.

“I really liked the line where he said that atheism is harmful to mankind and [how] it robs you of hope … I really liked that line because I see in people who I know are atheists, they lack that hope in their lives.

“Having a belief and being theistic, having a faith is what gives us hope to survive every day,” she said.

Dave Dawber (R) and wife Lynn (L) with their children attend Shen Yun Performing Arts at the St. James Theatre in Wellington on April 15, 2023. (Li Xuan Ya/The Epoch Times) — Dave Dawber (R) and wife Lynn (L) with their children attend Shen Yun Performing Arts at the St. James Theatre in Wellington on April 15, 2023. Li Xuan Ya/The Epoch Times

Husband Dave Dawber, a family services counsellor, said that Shen Yun had left a “deep impression.”

“Spirituality is missing from this world everywhere. So that was a really nice touch,” he said of Shen Yun’s sharing of China’s divinely-inspired culture.

“That’s a great performance and it’s really nice to see the Chinese version of history coming through in the dance. Incredible.”

Shen Yun is currently touring New Zealand with its all-new 2023 program showcasing “China before communism.” After Wellington, it travels to Auckland to perform April 20-23, and then continues its tour in Australia.

Reporting by Li Xuan Ya and Melanie Sun.

The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.