(Clearwisdom.net) BRISBANE, Australia--Shen Yun Performing Arts' last show of its 2010 Australian leg of its world tour graced the stage at The Lyric Theatre on Wednesday June 2.
Among the appreciative audience was Alessia Maruca, a university student, who has also had ten years of ballet training. She gave her professional opinion on the classical Chinese dancing in Shen Yun.
In the audience was Alessia Maruca a ballet dancer and university student.
'The show has been very fantastic; I used to be a ballet dancer so I definitely appreciate all the specialized movement and all the training that goes into the show."
According to the Shen Yun website, "perhaps no other art form in the world can boast such strong expressive qualities and diversity of technique as classical Chinese dance. Shen Yun Performing Arts' choreography ranges from grand imperial processions to legions of thunderous drums, with gorgeously costumed dancers moving in stunning synchronized patterns."
"The choreography is very beautiful and really utilizes the costuming; the moving silk number was particularly beautiful," said Ms. Maruca.
The Shen Yun program book describes the dance Flowing Silk, "Silken sleeves flow softly through the air, much like drifting ribbons in the breeze. A lighthearted melody complements young maiden's soft smiles and spins. Dances such as this with what Chinese call "water sleeves" are a favorite in classical Chinese dance. The sleeves' patterns conjure an image of rippling water."
Ms. Maruca highly recommended Shen Yun to others, "Everyone who would like to experience a bit of culture," should come and see Shen Yun.
"It's different from what most people think. A lot of people may have seen it on the website or think its a ballet or something but it's more than that."
Ms. Maruca summed up her experience with one word, "fantastic."
'It was beautifully done' says Dance Student
Ali Phillips, a full time dance student, attended Shen Yun with her mother, Andree Phillips who is a community worker.
Ali concentrates specifically on contemporary dance and ballet. She also studies choreography and the theory behind dance, as well as the anatomy of the body.
Andree Phillips with her daughter Ali Phillips at Shen Yun on Wednesday.
Ali said she felt, "inspired," by the show and its showcase of classical Chinese and ethnic dance, adding that she had never seen that level of discipline in dancers before, "so I have so much appreciation for just how much discipline and practice that they have to go through."
Classical Chinese dance is a comprehensive dance system that is thousands of years old. It involves a high degree of skill and hours of training.
"I thought it was beautifully done, the whole colour of it, the costumes, the light behind was really beautiful," she said saying that the Shen Yun dancers "made it just look so easy."
Ali noted the "fluidity of the movement" saying that they "look like they are floating along the stage". She also enjoyed the "different types of props, like the fans and the sleeves and the drums."
"Its nothing like I have ever seen before," she repeated, "and the way the choreographers used the costumes to almost be part of the choreography was beautiful too, just the flowing dresses of the girls, they just looked so elegant, and the way the pants of the boys just make them look like they have so much freedom of movement. It was beautiful," she said.
Ali's mother Andree Phillips also loved Shen Yun, saying, "Culturally it was very enjoyable, something different, "I chose to ask Ali to come tonight,"she explained,"not only because she is a dance student, and has just learned about Chinese classical dance, so it as a great opportunity, but because it was also a great opportunity living in Australia to have the opportunity to see something like this ... it was formidable, it was great to see."
Ms. Phillips felt lucky that she had been told about Shen Yun by a friend, and she immediately grasped the opportunity.
"It's fabulous. Any opportunity to broaden your scope and see performances such as this of such high caliber from somewhere else, fantastic."
Ali felt others should experience Shen Yun saying, "I would recommend the show. I think it is really beautiful, I have never seen anything like it."
Summing up how Shen Yun moved her, she said, "Just overall joy of watching it, just beautiful."
Source:
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/36778/
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/36805/
Category: Shen Yun Performing Arts
