Australia: Falun Gong Practitioners Celebrate Chinese New Year with VIP Guests

On January 25, 2003, a Chinese New Year dinner sponsored by Friends of Falun Dafa Australia for VIP guests was held at a Thai restaurant on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. Among over 60 guests were a very supportive State MP, Mr. Lex Bell, a professor of film-making from Bond University and a barrister. An easy and joyous atmosphere permeated the entire evening. The guests had a good chance to share with each other and gained a deeper understanding of the goodness of Falun Dafa.

Guests sitting together

The practitioners showed a three-minute video of Australian practitioners performing the exercises at various beautiful venues, bringing the guests a harmonious atmosphere. The video was well received by the guests and some one immediately requested exercises instruction videotapes. Falun Gong practitioners had a heartfelt sharing with the guests in a friendly and happy atmosphere.

Prior to the performance, The Queensland spokesperson gave a short history of Falun Dafa, both in China and in Queensland, focusing on the positive aspects of the practice. Following this was a performance by an eleven year-old Taiwanese boy of two Chinese pieces of music on the er hu, a traditional two-stringed Chinese instrument. Next was a rendition of "Falun Dafa is Great" by two Lebanese brother-sister practitioners who harmonise very beautifully together. One Western and two young Chinese practitioners performed a graceful dance in traditional Chinese costumes, which was choreographed by Dafa practitioners.

Young practitioners perform "Falun Dafa is Great"	Performance in Tang Dynasty costumes	A young practitioner's dance, "Flowers Blossom"

Then three young Dafa practitioners (aged 8-9 years old) performed "Falun Dafa is Great" accompanied by a 14 year-old practitioner playing the xiao, a vertical bamboo flute. They sang very well and were warmly received by the audience. Following this, two Western and two Chinese practitioners paraded colourful, traditional Tang Dynasty costumes to the delight of everyone. Finally, a young Chinese practitioner performed a solo dance. All of the music used during the performances was written and recorded by Dafa practitioners. Dafa practitioners presented each guest with a CD of 17 compositions at the end of the evening.

All the guests responded very positively to the evenings activities. Their hearts were deeply touched by the goodness and beauty of Dafa and all left in a peaceful and happy mood.