SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

‘Eye-Opening,’ Shen Yun Gives a Glimpse Into Divine Culture, Says Company Manager

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‘Eye-Opening,’ Shen Yun Gives a Glimpse Into Divine Culture, Says Company Manager
Helga Lucas watches Shen Yun in Perth, Australia, on March 20, 2024. NTD

PERTH, Australia—Helga Lucas, a real estate company manager, eagerly joined her father and sister at His Majesty’s Theatre in Perth on March 20 to experience Shen Yun Performing Arts, a captivating showcase of classical Chinese dance and music.

“It was my father, who used to teach in China, that brought my sister and I to the show,” she said.

Ms. Lucas found herself spellbound by the vibrant colours and quality of the performance.

“It’s been really lovely seeing so much colour and the sophistication of all the dancing. I haven’t seen anything quite like this before. I didn’t really know what to expect. I did expect a bit of colour but it was colour ten times over,” she said.

Having grown up with a fondness for Chinese culture, myths, and legends, Ms. Lucas especially enjoyed the story-based dance scene from the classical Chinese novel “Journey to the West.” Paired with the company’s patented digital technology that seamlessly extends the stage into the 3D world, Shen Yun’s audiences often remark that the special effects bring a whole new level of storytelling.

“As a kid, I watched Monkey King and all those, so that particular story really resonated with me,” she said.

Referring to the spiritual inspiration in the performance, she shared that seeing themes of higher beings coming down to rescue people was novel and intriguing.

“It’s very different to our culture here as Westerners. We’re less steeped in the supernatural in certain ways but I like it,” she said.

Shen Yun’s mission is to rekindle and share with the world China’s 5,000 years of divinely-inspired culture. Its values are deeply rooted in spirituality, something the Chinese Communist Party sought to destroy after taking power in modern China in 1949.
Since then, Chinese traditional culture has been systematically eradicated by the ruling regime. According to the company’s website, Shen Yun returns each year with a brand-new set of programs that showcases the beauty of “China before communism.”

Father Praises Educational Value of Shen Yun

Geologist Andrew Jones watches Shen Yun with his children in Perth, Australia, on March 20, 2024. (Rachel Qu/The Epoch Times)
Geologist Andrew Jones watches Shen Yun with his children in Perth, Australia, on March 20, 2024. Rachel Qu/The Epoch Times
Andrew Jones, a senior geologist, also embraced the cross-cultural aspects of Shen Yun, saying it provided a deeper understanding of China.

He valued the opportunity for his children to gain insight into traditional Chinese culture at His Majesty’s Theatre on March 20.

“Australia has a lot of Chinese people here; we have Chinese restaurants and things, but it’s not actually being part of the culture,” he said. “So to see some of the dancing, I think it’s good for them and opens their eyes to another culture.”

When asked about whether he would recommend the show, he was enthusiastic: “Definitely! Even my 10-year-old asked if they [Shen Yun] come every year and if we could come next year.”

Founded in 2006 by New York-based artists, Shen Yun Performing Arts comprises eight equally-sized companies scheduled to grace over 200 cities this year alone.

Perth is the last stop of Shen Yun’s tour in Australia, with more performances still to come at His Majesty’s Theatre from March 21 to 23. The previous destination was Sydney, where Shen Yun sold out 11 consecutive performances.
Reporting by NTD, Yang Lu, Rachel Qu, and Jessie Zhang.
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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