(Clearwisdom.net) Shen Yun Performing Arts International Company amazed Melbourne audiences with its unique program that includes a full orchestra, classical Chinese dance depicting mythical and historical events, all set against a giant digital backdrop with very special effects.

“The artists captured the essence of traditional Chinese culture” -David Wong, vice president of Asian Television Australia Association, Inc.

The show, which brings the ancient myths of traditional Chinese culture to life, was deeply touching for Mr. Wong

David Wong has been interested in preserving Asian culture for many years. He holds the positions of vice president of Asian Television Australia Association, Inc, and chairman of the Australian Chinese Events Committee.

But nothing could prepare him for the splendor he witnessed at the Shen Yun Performing Arts at Melbourne's Regent Theatre on March 1. The show, which brings the ancient myths of traditional Chinese culture to life, was deeply moving for Mr. Wong.

“I couldn’t imagine that I could witness such a beautiful show,” he said, “We are very fortunate to witness such a show.”

Mr. Wong worked for over twenty years as a civil engineer and project manager for the Victorian Government and holds a graduate diploma of Business and Administration. He got tickets for the show after seeing a brief promotional clip—it was enough to thoroughly intrigue him.

“Now I witnessed the real show,” he said, “the artists and the settings and everything is so beautiful.”

Mr. Wong says the artists captured the essence of traditional Chinese culture exquisitely.

“The stories are very real to me and the dancing really transforms into the idea, the meaning of the story ... to let us understand the Chinese culture. To me that is very touching,” he explained.

A feature that stuck out to him was the large-scale group dances in the show. Known for its difficulty, traditional Chinese dance incorporates group dancing, which demands technical perfection from the dancers in order to stay in sync with each other.

“I enjoyed it very much,” said Mr. Wong.

  “It's been great to find out about Chinese traditional dance” - Writer and editor Jackey Coyle

Writer and editor Jackey Coyle (Jaqueline Coyle-Taylor) of Wordy-Gurdy Publishing, attended the second New York-based performance staged at the illustrious Regent Theatre on March 2 and was generous in her approval.

Ms. Coyle has been writing since 1993 and her work has been published in magazines, books, journals and online.

Shen Yun presents China's 5,000-year history, up to the present persecution of the spiritual practice of Falun Gong. “It is quite amazing,” she said, aware of the abysmal human rights problems in China. "I think it’s not surprising because I know there’s some kind of persecution happening … so it’s not telling anything I don’t know, but I’m very pleased that this other side of it is being put across."

The Shen Yun Orchestra’s unique fusion of Eastern and Western instruments was also a surprise to Ms. Coyle. “It seems to communicate quite well to us with a Western ear, but it feels very familiar after traveling in Southeast Asia and China a little bit," she said.

Ms. Coyle, who also has a dance background, expressed great respect for the dancers, saying: "It was beautiful. I know how much discipline goes into what they do. And also, it's been great to find out about Chinese traditional dance in such an environment."

When telling others about Shen Yun, she said she would describe how much action there is, and how she enjoyed the Master of Ceremonies introduction of each performance, and how much she learned about Chinese culture.

“So it's interesting whether you know a lot, or whether you don't know very much. It's absorbing on a number of levels, on a visual level, the dance is beautiful and on a cultural level as well."

In a nutshell, Ms. Coyle would describe Shen Yun as "absorbing, inspiring, larger than life," she said.

“It’s a matter of getting in touch with the divine.” - Clive McCorkel

Clive McCorkel, with his daughter, Bella, at the Regent Theatre on Tuesday, March 1.

Clive McCorkel was at the opening night at the Regent Theatre on Tuesday, March 1, with his wife, Kerry Schonfelder and their young daughter, Bella.

Mr. McCorkel said their daughter was enjoying it so much she was trying to copy the dance moves. “It’s been great so far, very enjoyable,” he said.

Shen Yun, which translates as “the beauty of divine beings dancing,” carries the profound meaning that art is a means of connecting with the higher universe.

Mr. McCorkel said that he has a great deal of respect for Chinese culture and Chinese medicine and the way it relates to the spiritual side. “It’s a matter of getting in touch with the divine and looking after oneself,” he said.

The hi-tech animated backdrops projected behind the performers—a trademark of Shen Yun’s performance—impressed Mr. McCorkel.

“I love the animation, and the combination of animation with the real life people in the back—it’s great,” he said.

“The choreography ... was brilliant. Those costumes were beautiful” – Maori traditional costume designer

Aroha Taunoa attended Shen Yun with her granddaughters, nine-year-old Shiann and Ave-Moana, aged five.

In the audience was Aroha Taunoa, originally from New Zealand, who designs and weaves traditional Maori costumes, and performs on cultural occasions. She now lives in Melbourne and attended the exhilarating show with her granddaughters, nine-year-old Shiann and Ave-Moana, aged five.

Mrs. Taunoa was in awe of the entire program, performed by the world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music company, which includes exquisitely attired artists choreographed to match hi-tech animated backdrop scenes, and a full orchestral ensemble playing a fusion of Chinese and Western music.

“I thought it was spectacular, the vibrancy, and the colour. The whole thing was awesome,” Mrs. Taunoa said of the New York-based Shen Yun.

“I do Maori culture, ‘kapahaka,’ and I do a lot of craftwork, but those costumes were beautiful,” she added. “I thought the choreography and everything was brilliant. I was overwhelmed, actually.”

Mrs. Taunoa was particularly in awe of the lyrics of the songs sung in Chinese, with English subtitles, by sopranos Min Jiang and Feng Ming, baritone Qu Yue and tenor Guimin Guan.

“Some of the messages that came through, especially the last one—he really touched me,” she said of one of China’s most celebrated tenors of recent decades, Guimin Guan, who sang his own composition, Never Lose Your Way.

“I could listen to him again,” Mrs. Taunoa laughed. “I think his messages were really truthful to what’s going on now.”

Her granddaughter, Shiann thought the show was “cool” and the dancers had “a lot of flexibility.” Shiann enjoys modern dance trends, such as break-dancing, but she also learns some ballet at school, she said.

She was impressed by the flexibility of the dancers. “It was cool, and I would like to learn some,” she said, adding that she would tell her friends the Shen Yun dancers were the “most flexible in the whole world.”

Shiann’s grandmother said that if she could bring her family and friends to see Shen Yun she would.

Chinese immigrant: Shen Yun presents Chinese traditional culture

Mr. Chen has lived in Australia for a short time. He watched Shen Yun after a recommendation by a friend. Mr. Chen said excitedly after exiting the theater, “Shen Yun presents Chinese traditional culture. I like the colors of Tang costumes and Yi dancing.

“It is a pity that people in China cannot see such a great show. But I'll introduce Shen Yun to my friends in China.”

Ms. Wang accompanied Mr. Chen. She has been more than ten years in Australia and worked in the financial field. Ms. Wang said, “I come to see Shen Yun every year. I am always so excited after watching the show. I will introduce it to more people. It is truly great!”