(Clearwisdom.net) CANBERRA--The Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company played to a full house on Sunday afternoon at the Canberra Theatre, wrapping up its Canberra performances before heading to Melbourne.

Eva Skoczek, a local real estate agent, attended the performance with a friend.

"I absolutely loved it!" she said, after the show. "I enjoyed seeing and enjoying other cultures, and especially the Chinese culture ... So I enjoyed it very much."

Ms. Skoczek said there is always something to be learned from other cultures.

"At the same time, when you delve into other cultures, you realize that all cultures share the same principles, and that is ... the principles of tolerance and respect and loving the natural environment. I think that they are universal principles."

When asked how she would describe the show to others, Ms. Skoczek said, "Go and see it! It's an amazing, wonderful experience. Not only are you enjoying a different culture, but just the energy of the dancers, the choreography and the color, absolutely delightful, and the music, absolutely ... I heard for the first time a combination of Eastern and Western music together today, which was a wonderful marriage."

"I will do my best to be here next year as well to enjoy the show," she concluded. "And bring my friends, absolutely, and tell my family about it who live in Melbourne."

"Great to experience the culture"

Siobhan is a financial advisor, and echoed praise for Shen Yun's performance. 

"I think it is wonderful! It's so different from what we normally get to see. It's great to experience the culture."



"The costumes are fabulous. From a history and educational point it is wonderful ... Just the different areas you have got, different focus on the different traditions. So the tradition, the costumes, I guess the music and the movements. And the size of the cast--there are so many people, it is quite amazing."



The different stories told throughout the Shen Yun performance helped her to better understand Chinese culture. "You actually see a story that ... from beginning to end and you actually feel that you have understood what has gone on in that culture." 



Siobhan said she was moved by the depiction of the persecution of Falun Dafa in the piece, "Nothing Can Block the Divine Path," where a mother and daughter are persecuted in China for their spiritual practice. 



"I think it's meaningful because it obviously is going on and it does need to be brought to people's attention. I think that is important," she said, adding that letting people know about it in this way was effective.



"It did make you think."

Audience Member: Shen Yun Excellent at Portraying Feelings

Kevin Watt, general sales manager for BMW, was in the audience with his wife, and shared his thoughts after the performance.

"I really enjoyed it ... The thing that any good dance company does is to try and portray feelings, emotions, which I experienced. My wife and I really enjoyed that."

Mr. Watt said his daughter used to be a very good ballerina, so he has some experience of classical dance.

He thought that the "lead male dancer is very good," and added that the whole concept of the backdrops and the staging "was excellent."

"I think it's important to look at the character of each segment of the dance, and what expressions that one portrays on stage. And I think that's very, very strong."

Mr. Watt said that the part of the performance that was most emotional for him was the one showing what was happening with Falun Gong practitioners in China. In this piece, "Nothing Can Block the Divine Path," a mother and daughter are persecuted in China for their practice of Falun Gong. The end of the scene shows the heavens watching what is happening.

"I think you've got to believe in the divine, that no matter how things seem to be bad, there's always a happy ending, if one follows one's belief," said Mr. Watt. "No matter, sometimes, you've got to put yourself forward and sacrifice for others. A lot of people don't do that, don't even realize that." He felt that the dance company had certainly portrayed that.

Mr. Watt said he tries to help his children see that we shouldn't take things for granted. "We are a lucky country here in Australia. Sometimes we don't realize that."



Kevin Watt and his wife after Shen Yun's final Canberra performance

Sources:

http://theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/36031/
http://theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/36040/

Category: Shen Yun Performing Arts