(Clearwisdom.net) MELBOURNE, Australia--The Arts capital of Australia once again welcomed the return of Shen Yun Performing Arts on Tuesday, May 25, as the first of seven shows opened at the Arts Centre State Theatre.

Emmy Award winning filmmaker and actor Tahir Cambis was in the audience to attend Shen Yun's opening performance in Melbourne.

Emmy Award winning filmmaker and actor Tahir Cambis

"I found it very moving in parts, and quite inspiring," Mr. Cambis said, responding to the thought provoking and moving production.

He appreciated seeing classical Chinese dance and traditions, and the profound insight into traditional Chinese culture. "What I was interested in ... I was looking at it as a Westerner and thinking ... what sort of information will this pass on to Western people. People who have most of their ideas of China pass through, say, mainland China, and so I was trying to see how the references to the Tang Dynasty and traditional culture would communicate themselves to Western audiences."

Mr. Cambis said: "In terms of giving Western people a chance to connect to something and say, ok I see there's kind of a movement happening of both artistic, philosophical, as well as a spiritual one that has global implications, and that it's operating outside of the mainstream Chinese government's ideas of what Chinese culture should be, which is good."

Mr. Cambis believed that "it's healthy to have alternative and diverse ideas about spirituality and culture in any society."

Mr. Cambis' film, Exile in Sarajevo won an International Emmy Award, as well as Best Documentary at the Melbourne Film Festival. Mr. Cambis travelled to Sarajevo during the siege by Bosnian Serb forces in 1995, spending months in the war torn area and documenting the impact of the war on the citizens of Sarajevo, particularly the children.

'Absolutely Magnificent'

"Absolutely superb, aren't they?" said Ms. Marilyn Jacka, director of a dance school with 15 staff members and 300 pupils. before She was greatly impressed by the high quality of the Shen Yun Performing Arts production she had just seen at the State Theatre on May 26.

Marilyn Jacka, director of a dance school.

"Just so colourful, and the way they move is just absolutely brilliant. I love the dynamic movement, ... and the intent is so strong. I think that's fantastic. I love the music," she said.

Then Ms. Jacka said every aspect of Shen Yun's performances was exceptional. "The music, the lighting, the actual performance quality, the setting, the background." she said. "When I look at a performance, all those elements have to work together. So I think collaboration, teamwork, is apparent in this performance, and it's been successful," she said.

Ms. Jacka's nearly 60 years in dance means she was well equipped to appreciate Shen Yun. "All the patterns are just brilliant, the height level. And I love the use of those long scarves for the sleeves; I'd love to do something like that with my own children," she said. "And as I said, the elements and music come together beautifully. The highs, the lows, the contrasts; and the choreography has really worked beautifully with the music."

The costuming was "just magnificent, absolutely magnificent," praised Ms. Jacka.

Ms. Jacka said: "I did like both of the pieces with the long sleeves, the scarves. I thought that was really spectacular. And I liked the one with the plates, the Mongolian one [Mongolian Hospitality]. The extra sound they created ... I'm loving it." she said.

Source:

http://theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/36240/

http://theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/36241/