MELBOURNE, Australia—Theatregoers were mesmerized by Shen Yun Performing Arts in Australia’s cultural capital at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Jan. 16.
Andrea Curcio, a professional landscaper and owner of her own company, had nothing but praise when describing the dancers.
“It’s so exquisite, you'd think that they’re just walking on air,” she said.
They were not only highly technically trained in dance, Ms. Curcio said she also saw that they embodied the universal values of truth, compassion, and forbearance in their art.
“The artistry and the soul of the people there—you can tell that they mean what they’re doing, they’re doing that because they love that, that’s what they want, that’s coming from inside of their soul,” she said.
“We need that faith and that hope, and we don’t need to see to know something’s there,” she said.
The grandmother hopes her six-year-old granddaughter will stay connected to her spirituality as she grows up.
“I do believe that with science these days it is tending to push the spiritual side away, and I like that to come back,” she said.
For the couple Blade Ace, a service officer for the Australian Taxation Office, and Nerida James, a naturopathic physician, Shen Yun was an uplifting and peaceful experience.
“I feel not as heavy. You know, day-to-day life is so heavy and harsh and fast. This is still very energetic, [but it is also] light and not forceful,” Mr. Ace said.
“This is very spiritual, light, and towards the heavens.”
Ms. James felt that the music was elevating.
“The wavelength of the instruments and the music elevates someone’s emotional tone and spiritual awareness,” she said.
This impressed Nicolas Fleury, the principal horn at the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, with how seamlessly the sounds are integrated.
“It was very, very cleverly mixed, and we could really hear the Chinese instruments despite the orchestra,” he said.
“It was probably the highlight of the show … two strings but yet so much emotion can be shared with this instrument,” he said.
After learning that Shen Yun cannot perform in China, the French horn player felt it was fortunate that the rest of the world is able to experience such a show.
“I think they’re very brave to express themselves in that way and I hope one day they can perform in their own country. I think each Chinese [person] should be very proud to have this tradition.”
