SYDNEY, Australia—Australian lawyer Danny Eid had high praise for Shen Yun Performing Arts upon seeing the world's premier classical Chinese dance and music company perform at Capitol Theatre on Feb. 27.
"I think it was just absolutely brilliant," Mr. Eid said. "It was synchronized, majestic beauty, just stunning elegance, and I encourage everyone to come and have a look.
"I congratulate the production for doing first class, first class entertainment. It really is."
After decades of communist rule, much of the essence of China's traditional culture has been suppressed, even lost. Founded in 2006, Shen Yun took on a mission to change this.
Mr. Eid commended Shen Yun's vision for a cultural and artistic revival. The New York-based company now tours the world with all-new choreography each year in the hopes of reviving to its full glory "China before communism," including celebrating aspects of Chinese culture that are censored in modern-day China due to an oppressive ruling regime.
"I think everyone should fight for traditional culture. In this case, the Chinese should do that," Mr. Eid said. "Absolutely, break communism, bring on beautiful traditional culture."
Mr. Eid said that in Shen Yun, he sees that the spirit of the Chinese people is unbreakable. "Where there's a will, there's a way," he said. "And I think the Chinese should continue and try and fight for tradition, and break the modern China as we know it."
And what can break through communism? Mr. Eid suggested the "elegance, beauty, serenity" of China's own authentic traditional culture, as showcased by Shen Yun. "It's just absolutely gorgeous. It's a gorgeous show."
Catholic Priest John Ho, who fled from communism in Vietnam, also commended Shen Yun's mission to revive traditional Chinese culture.
"Because I come from a communist country too with some persecution ... you're bringing back all the dance, everything before the communists, I think that is excellent," he said in a message to Shen Yun's performers.
Father Ho said that for every country, and in people's lives, "spirituality is very important."
But spirituality is suppressed in communist countries "because spirituality is the soul of a country," he said.
"If you take away the spirituality, if you take off the religion, you look like a skeleton. You look like a body without a soul in there," he added.
From stories inspired by the timeless philosophical works of Lao-Tzu to dances that transport you to spectacular scenes of heavenly realms, Shen Yun offers its audiences an experience into the extraordinary depth and breadth of genuine Chinese culture.
"Just come and see it, and go with it and feel the good spirit," Mr. Eid said.
