SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

‘Heaven on Earth,’ Australian Councillor Says of Shen Yun

May 04, 2023

SYDNEY, Australia—“If you want to see heaven on earth, this is the show you have to see,” Hornsby Shire Cr. Sreeni Pillamarri said of Shen Yun Performing Arts from its full house performance at the Sydney Lyric Theatre on Thursday night.

It was Cr. Pillamarri’s second time seeing Shen Yun, the world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music company that is based in New York.

Shen Yun’s mission is to remind the world of China’s full 5,000-year story by showcasing “China before communism.”

The traditional philosophies of the Middle Kingdom, which Shen Yun’s website explains are rooted in ancient Buddhist and Taoist spirituality, gave birth to everything that Chinese culture remains famous for today—from medical innovations to gymnastics, architecture, and martial arts.

Cr. Pillamarri’s thanked Shen Yun’s artistic director for the “fantastic” production.

“This is something that is needed,” he said, “and you have done things right for the community—the community at large. I’m not talking [about] my fellow brothers and sisters of the Chinese community, but I’m talking about the community at large across the globe.

“Thank you for doing this for all of us and enlightening us.”

Cr. Pillamarri said Shen Yun shares a valuable message with its audience.

“It talks about coming from heaven and how we go back to heaven,” he said. “And very important [to consider] is, why [is it] important for us to come from the heaven? What goodness [do] we have to do here and how good we have to be with the people around [us]? And when the time comes, you have to go back. That’s a very good message.”

“If you want to be with the people and learn something new, and to educate yourself and the generations to come, this is the show you have to attend,” he said.

‘Deep and Ancient’

Blacktown City Councillor Jess Diaz attends Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Sydney Lyric Theatre in Sydney, Australia, on May 4, 2023. (NTD)

Blacktown City Councillor Jess Diaz also spoke highly of Shen Yun after experiencing the performance on Thursday night.

“The show is remarkable … the movements are so refined and at the same time spectacular. It’s a fantastic one. I really, really enjoyed it,” he said.

He said that in addition to the soothing color experience, Shen Yun made him feel transported into the depths of an ancient culture. “And that really is terrific,” Cr. Diaz said.

The former president of the Filipino Communities Council of Australia said that the classical Chinese dancing in Shen Yun called to mind the dances of his own culture.

“When you’re watching this type of show, it calls to mind all the different dances and cultures, different parts of the world. It calls to mind our own dances, the Indian dances, and all [of] that.

“It can open your mind, comparing it, and you see the differences of the movement. And at the same time, you see how deep and ancient this is. That is [what] brings out the beauty,” he said.

Reporting by NTD 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.