GOLD COAST, Australia—A Queensland Member of Parliament has extended his deepest gratitude to Shen Yun Performing Arts for sharing the magical world of ancient China with the Gold Coast, at the city’s third and last show on March 13, 2019.
Queensland Member for Bonney Sam O’Connor thanked the entire New York-based Shen Yun dance company for showcasing 5,000 years of Chinese civilization at the Gold Coast Home of the Arts (HOTA) on March 12 and 13.
“Thank you for coming and putting on such a great show, it was very professional and I thought they were all exceptional in what they did and we look forward to having them back,” said O’Connor who is the shadow assistant minister for youth and the opposition leader. “It was wonderful, it was an extraordinary display and it was fantastic to have something like that here on the Gold Coast … this is a real honor for our city to host this and [I am] very proud to see it today.”
When asked how he would rate Shen Yun’s world-class classical Chinese dance, live orchestra music and 3-D animated backdrops, he could not fault the show.
“100 percent, they did a fantastic job of conveying that and showing that spirituality through the art,” O’Connor said. “The whole thing was just mind-blowing especially some of the acrobatics, it was extraordinary to see … It was a very impressive performance and especially with that moving backdrop that was great to see how that linked-in with all the dancers and everything—it was wonderful.”
He commended Shen Yun’s mission to revive China’s lost traditions.
“Oh wonderful, it’s a fantastic mission [to revive China’s lost culture],” he said. “Good to see at our show with audiences all around the world.”
O’Connor also found the show to be valuable in discovering the divine origins of Chinese culture.
“I’ve never seen anything like that, so it was fabulous to see,” he said. “I wouldn’t have even known that that existed without this sort of a show. I wasn’t even aware that it was being lost.”
He felt compelled to see the show when he learnt the show was being presented by local Falun Dafa practitioners, a peaceful spiritual group in his electorate that he and the Gold Coast City Council has supported many times in the past.
“To see some of the Falun Dafa there was incredible to see just what goes on over in China, to show that to an audience I believe is very important,” O’Connor said.
‘World Leaders Should Welcome Shen Yun’
After watching the second performance at HOTA Michael Kaff, who is standing for election in the federal seat for McPherson, said Shen Yun should be embraced in every country of the world including Mainland China.
He was thrilled to see Shen Yun and loved the world-class entertainment it offered.
“I loved it, I thought it was beautiful, I thought it was elegant, it was funny. … I love the Western music, the Chinese instruments, how they come together beautifully, seamlessly, in fact—a wonderful, wonderful production,” said Kaff who was previously a stage performer in various Australian productions and appreciates how much time and effort goes into the choreography, music, and dancing at each show. “It’s just amazing.”
He commended Shen Yun’s high caliber classical Chinese dance, live orchestra music, and 3-D animation that combine to showcase 5,000 years of Chinese civilization.
“It brings out the Chinese culture wonderfully,” Kaff said. “The music, the characters, the history was fascinating.”
Kaff felt sad to learn from the bilingual emcees that Shen Yun cannot be shown in China today.
“Its very, very sad,” he said. “I can’t understand why the Chinese government isn’t proud of this show, isn’t proud of the people [and] instead trying to stop the show being performed around the world.”
While it may seem difficult at the moment for Shen Yun to be organized despite attempts to stop it by the Chinese regime, Kaff believes the results are well worth the effort.
“I think the effort is very much worthwhile,” he said. “More people should see and hear and laugh with these sorts of productions that tell you all the best parts of the Chinese culture … they will learn a lot more about it, they will have a better understanding and embrace it like I do.”
He described the traditional values promoted through the show as absolutely fantastic.
“They are genuine, they are honest,” he said. “They are values that we should all process everyday and its wonderful how it depicts these values.”
Kaff also found the performance had a profound message about the divine origins of Chinese culture.
“The divine is everywhere, the divine is part of who we are, which created us and guides us,” he said. “This production helps you to understand how we are all one and we are all connected, people should not feel like they are alone or that they are not being guided, or not being helped or supported in anyway by the divine, because they are, at all times.”
He revealed his ongoing support for the local Falun Dafa group was a factor in his decision to come to see Shen Yun, and encouraged others to come and experience the performance for themselves too.
“Take your children, take your parents, take your friends and go and see it, I totally recommend it,” Kaff said.
Drama Teacher Applauds Beauty of Shen Yun
Drama Teacher Angel Bach could not commend Shen Yun more highly for a spectacular show.
“Bravo, bravo, bravo. Just encore, encore,” she said. “Just keep doing what they’re doing. They’re beautiful, absolutely beautiful.”
Bach, who runs her own business, was impressed by the high-caliber of Shen Yun dancers.
“The acrobats are not just like gymnastics, they’re just so natural and flowing, just spectacular,” she said. “Just ‘wow, yeah’ and costume’s beautiful.”
She appreciated the effort performers put into providing the audience with an authentic experience.
“I could see the expression in the emotions, like when they were being sad and crying,” Bach said. “There was a lot of theatre and dramatics there as well as the incredible dance movements as well.”
Bach took away a message of hope from the performances.
“It’s about the heart and in this world we need more love, and they show this in this production,” she said. “To give more love, and to give more heart, that’s what I can see.”
With reporting by NTD Television, Nina Yan, and Richard Szabo.
The Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time and has covered audience reactions since the company’s inception in 2006.
