MELBOURNE, Australia—On this warm autumn afternoon Melbourne theatregoers hurry along the boulevard and into the State Theatre to watch Shen Yun Performing Arts present the 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture in music and dance. The New York based company is on a whirlwind visit to Australia as part of its 2014 International Tour.

Among those enjoying the evening out was Angelo Kaissidis–Rodafinos, a professor in psychology, an author, professional speaker, and program director at Swinburne Online in Melbourne. Speaking after the performance he said he was pleasantly surprised at the outstanding quality of Shen Yun.

“It was more than I expected. Very colorful, elegant,” he said.

“Shen Yun weaves a wondrous tapestry of heavenly realms, ancient legends, and modern heroic tales, taking you on a journey through 5,000 years of Chinese culture,” the Shen Yun website explains.

Mr. Kaissidis-Rodafinos said he found “the stories very entertaining and interesting.” He “was impressed by the projections in the back and the music”.

According to the Shen Yun website, the “state-of-the-art” graphics technology used by Shen Yun’s digital-backdrop team “creates vividly animated settings, extending the stage and transporting the audience to a world where heaven and earth are one.”

Mr. Kaissidis-Rodafinos said “It was very good to see the Chinese tradition, and the music.” Although not a musician, he appreciated the bel canto soloists.

“Their impassioned songs give voice to the hopes that have shaped Chinese culture for centuries,” says the website.

As a consultant and an author of several books on stress management, Mr. Kaissidis-Rodafinos said he understands that Shen Yun is also trying to revive lost values to make life better and that Shen Yun has whetted his appetite to dig deeper.

Shen Yun’s performance not only showcases classical Chinese art forms, but also seeks to revive traditional values that have been lost.

“I was able to get a glimpse, a tiny glimpse, of the whole story, not just the performance, but what is happening in China.”

Mr. Kaissidis-Rodafinos said he has thousands of friends on Facebook and Linkedin and will not forget to tell them about Shen Yun.

Reporting by April Sun and Philippa Rayment

New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has four touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit Shen Yun Performing Arts.

The Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time. We have proudly covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006