GOLD COAST, Australia—Zoe Slater, owner of Freedom Choice Academy, said she was moved by Shen Yun’s revival of authentic Chinese culture.
“We’ve lost the essence of what China really is,” Ms. Slater said after watching Shen Yun’s matinee performance at Home Of The Arts (HOTA) theatre on the Gold Coast on March 15.
“And how it’s gone to communism. But really, at the bottom level, the culture is beautiful—it’s about being peaceful, it’s about being kind.”
The New York-based company achieves this mission by presenting live on stage a variety of dance pieces that showcase China’s authentic culture, from ancient myths and legends to modern-day events.
“From our culture, being Greek, we look after our family. And, I think that that’s a good thing about cultures as well, is that we understand that it’s generations, and without the generations, we lose the essence of who we are.”
Ms. Slater said that she did not expect to learn about another side of China.
“I learned more about the softness of the Chinese culture. I think that sometimes, there’s a lot of hardness about it, and a lot of rules and a lot of restraint,” she said.
“I just think that there’s more beauty for us to admire.”
Revival of a Culture, Nearly Lost

“I think it’s important to hold on to your roots and to understand where you really come from and your belief system,” Ms. Mora said. “And I think it’s a beautiful part of Chinese culture that should be showcased so that people can appreciate it and love it more.”
“I think today’s society is really disconnected, right? And then bringing back to tradition allows people to be more connected to each other, to their communities, and to their culture. I think that’s important.”
Meanwhile, Jon Avila, a government lawyer, said he appreciated the messages shown through the performance and encouraged people to have an open mind when watching Shen Yun.

“I think that there needs to be more tolerance everywhere in the world,” Mr. Avila said of Shen Yun’s efforts in reviving traditional Chinese culture. “And I think that should be the message that is spread out everywhere.”