GOLD COAST, Australia — Shen Yun Performing Arts kicked off its Australia tour at the Gold Coast’s Home Of The Arts on Feb. 25-26. Theatergoers were amazed by the culture and art on display.
“It’s a Chinese experience, which we don’t often have on the Gold Coast. So very unique in that sense. To be able to experience something like this here on the Coast is really quite lovely,” Alison Dean, a property consultant, said.
“It’s just been brilliant to be able to feel the culture and the traditions of China. It’s been brilliant,” added Arun Lambert, a retired army lawyer.
New York-based Shen Yun showcases 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture, portraying China’s rich cultural and spiritual tapestry before the tyranny of the Chinese Communist Party.
Through a series of vignettes, Shen Yun performs ethnic, folk, and story-based dances, accompanied by a live orchestra that blends eastern and western instruments, along with soloists, and a state-of-the-art animated backdrop.
Carolyn Heward, a senior lecturer in psychology at James Cook University, said in Shen Yun, she found “a recognition that there’s so much that — as an Australian woman, as a westerner — I don’t actually know. But certainly a very ancient culture, a very noble culture, and something that I’d be happy to learn a lot more about.”
Solicitor Scarlett David added: “Obviously, it’s communist now, it’s a little bit different isn’t it? But I still think China’s a beautiful country and all their traditions still live.”
Lambert said he found it interesting to look at some of the political issues that are currently occurring in China.
Audience members said they were impressed by the orchestra, which blends both eastern and western instruments.
“Precision is amazing,” Christine Leah, a retired music teacher, said.
“We also like the orchestra because, obviously with being a musician myself, I love hearing the orchestra, particularly with the Chinese instruments and the Erhu. We love to hear the solo, so we just love the whole experience.”
David added that the performance was quite “emotional.”
