Shen Yun Displays Universal Values
AUCKLAND, New Zealand—Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company gave a delightful performance at Auckland’s ASB Theatre at the matinee on April 21, according to Craig Wedge and Patricia Shelton.
It was “outstanding,” said Mr. Wedge, a mental health worker. “It’s a really special performance.”
“Beautiful and exciting,” said Ms. Shelton, a secondary teacher. She was pleasantly surprised by the performance, she said, and not what she had expected.
“It’s actually a montage of different stories all put together, so you’re learning about the history and the values. It’s spectacular visually, and I do like the backdrops … things coming out of the backdrops with the person popping up, and there are humorous things too.”
New York-based Shen Yun is a classical Chinese dance and music company that is seeking to revive China’s true, traditional five millennia old culture, which has been almost lost since the Chinese Communist Party came to power in China.
Shen Yun uses hi-tech graphics technology to create animated backdrops that take the audience to another world. Mr. Wedge said it was the first time he had seen this: “It’s very clever, very creative.”
He added, “[It's] beautifully choreographed, music is marvellous, costumes, lighting-really splendid.”
Shen Yun’s unique orchestra comprises classical Western instruments that blend with traditional Eastern instruments, creating a sound that is fresh and unexpected, says the company’s website.
The performance has an underlying theme of “joy and love of life, the oneness of people [and] peace,” said Mr. Wedge.
“There are a lot of universal themes happening on stage which are true to all cultures and in this instance it’s coming through in a Chinese way, but the themes are actually universal.” he noted.
“I’m a little stunned by it,” declared Ms. Shelton. “In a good way … it’s quite visually powerful and musically powerful.”
In concluding, Mr. Wedge said he would recommend that if people are looking for something that was really different, they should come and see Shen Yun.
Reporting by Margo MacVicar and Diane Cordemans.
Shen Yun Performing Arts, based in New York, tours the world on a mission to revive traditional Chinese culture. Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company will next perform in Wellington’s St. James Theatre, April 23-24.
For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts.
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