Australia: Divine Performing Arts Completes Australian Tour in Sydney

On March 31st, 2007, the Divine Performing Arts performed the last show of its Australian tour in Sydney. The Divine Performing Arts held 12 shows in five Australian cities over a two week period, and more than 20 thousand people enjoyed their performances.

The Audience

More than 400 politicians in Australia enjoyed the shows

Although the Chinese Embassy tried to interfere with the shows, and asked politicians who were invited to the show not to go, more than 400 politicians attended the shows and receptions, including the Attorney General, Members of Parliament, mayors, and diplomats from Holland, England, Switzerland and Mexico.

Mr. Phillip Ruddock, Attorney General, said that the performances were fabulous. The Tang Dynasty style dancing and the stage designs brought the beauty of the Chinese arts to the audience.

Mr. Phillip Ruddock, Attorney General

Mr. Campbell Newman, the mayor of Brisbane, his wife Lisa and their daughters enjoyed the show. They appreciated that the Divine Performing Arts brought such a wonderful show to the people in Australia, and they hope that the people in Australia will have a deeper understanding of the Chinese culture through the show.

Mr. Campbell Newman, the mayor of Brisbane, his wife Lisa and their daughters

The Media intensively report on the shows

Many media in Australia reported the shows, including SBS Cantonese Radio Station, the Sydney Moring Herald, the Daily Telegraph, ABC National TV Station, Canberra ABC TV, South Cross Ten TV, 2Ca Radio, the Canberra Times, BBC World Radio, and Captial Express.

In New South Wales, Channels 7 and 9, TVS, FM 99.3, 96.3 FM, 87.3 FM, Radio Live, 2MBS Radio, Universal Publication, Street Version, the Leader, North Shore Time, Inner West, Parramatta Advertiser, MX and newspapers in the Italian community, Philippians community, Korean community, and Vietnamese community reported the shows.

On March 30th, the biggest newspaper in Australia the Sydney Moring Herald reported the show with many photos. Another major newspaper in Australia the Daily Telegraph interviewed Ms. Li Weina, a dancer in the Divine Performing Art Troupe. The Daily Telegraph reported the show and the interference from the CCP.

The Daily Telegraph interviews Ms. Li Weina, a dancer in the Divine Performing Art Troupe

The Italian newspaper, La Fiamma, published the report of the show and called it China's magnificent cultural renaissance.

The report of the show titled "China's magnificent cultural renaissance" on La Fiamma

Professional artists compliment the shows

Many professional artists in Australia praised the show.

Bona, who has lived in Sydney for 19 years, is a professional dancer. He said: "I think the performances are awesome. It is very traditional. The shows in Mainland China lost the traditional styles and do not have the essence of the Western art either, which really bothers me. The Divine Performing Arts performances are very pure. The hosts of the show are great too. They are humorous and collaborated with each other very well."

Professor Barbara Broom, of the Department of Music, South Queensland University, said that the show helped her experience a sense of gracefulness. She said that the music and dances are beautiful and splendid. She felt that it was a very good and enjoyable artistic performance. She pointed out that she especially liked the solo on the Chinese musical instrument, the Erhu. She hopes that Divine Performing Arts will perform in her hometown next year.

Mr. Guo Ping, a former flute player in Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, said: "the stage design is too beautiful to describe with language. The whole show, including the dances and music, is very professional and much better than I expected."

Mr. Yang Jun, a professional performer in the Central Orchestra of China, said: "I used to be a director in China and organised many shows. But the NTDTV - wow - perfectly melted the whole Chinese history over thousands of years into one show on one stage. This is the most pure and beautiful show I ever watched in my whole life."

Mr. Yang, who used to be a stage designer for 40 years in China, cried during the show. He said: "I am very excited. I devoted my whole life to the stage art, so I can tell the NTDTV's show is very high level, especially the stage design. The show is very pure, which cannot be seen in China anymore. The director of the show is great, and the dances manifested the great image of China. It is really pity that such a good show can only be seen overseas." Mr. Yang cried again.

Joanna Jennen, an artist, said: "The show is amazing. The music and dances are harmonic. Although I am not a Falun Gong practitioner, I feel that Falun Gong is beautiful. I like the Chinese dances. I think the dances in the show combined the style of ballet and acrobatics. I will come next year."

The audience praised the show

The audience was completely amazed by the show. Many of them expressed that every performance was great, so it is hard to say which one is the best. Some of them like the historic stories in the show, such as Hua Mulan's story and Yue Fei's story. Some of them liked the Mongolian and Tibetan dances. Ms. Qin Xiaochen's Erhu performance was very outstanding and touched many people's hearts. Many people were touched by the dance "To the Rightful Place". Mr. Terry Ower, a lawyer in Sydney, and his wife Lauria said: "we were very sad that Falun Gong practitioners were beaten to death. We are also sad that such a good show can not be held in China." Their daughter Lucinda said that she believes in the principle "good is rewarded with good and evil is met with evil" which was manifested by the performance.

Mr. Terry Ower said that they liked the Chinese dances, which can manifest a story in 10 minutes. Ballet cannot do it.

Mr. Jason Lin, a city representative from Sydney, said: "all the Chinese people who came to the show will think of the long history of China during the show, and Westerners will learn the beauty of Chinese culture."

Ms. Zhang Yuzhi, the chief of The Chinese Educational and Culture Centre in Sydney, said: "I am very touched. I like the hosts of the show, because they are very humorous. I came last year, but I was more touched this year. I wish the show a bigger success."

Ms. Xu Bojin, a member of Chinese Association in Sydney, said: "the show this year is more professional and more successful. It greatly promotes the Chinese culture and Falun Dafa. I watched every performance and like all of them."

People from different cultures enjoy the show too

Many Westerners from different cultures enjoyed the show too.

Mr. Aedenn Jirene and his wife Row An are Aborigines. They liked the show very much, especially the themes that the show tried to manifest, such as loyalty and family values.

Mr. Aedenn Jirene and his wife Row An said that those values manifested by the show are very similar to the ones in their own culture. For example, the first dance "Creation" tells how the gods come down to the world and created the human culture. In the native Australian culture, people also believe that human beings are from a place called "State of Dream" in the heaven. They come to the world for a short period, and eventually they will go back to heaven. Mr. Jirene said that they believe the principle of "good is rewarded with good and evil is met with evil" and it is sad that modern Chinese people don't believe in it.

Mr. Jirene said that the principle of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" is really beneficial for Chinese people. They said that Chinese people should have their own belief otherwise China will be very chaotic.

Ms. Victoria Vitner migrated from Russia a long time ago. She liked the first performance of the show. She said: "I cried, because I know some information of Falun Gong. A Falun Gong practitioner and her daughter in Russia were deported back to China last week. It is horrible. I hope that I can help them, because they might be persecuted to death in China." She cried again.

The show is a bridge between different cultures

Many Australian-born Chinese children came to the show too. They look like they are ethnic Chinese, but know very little about Chinese culture. Their parents took them to the show and hoped that they will learn some Chinese culture through the show.

The parents and children expressed that show is fantastic, pure and full of energy. They feel that they learn a lot about Chinese culture through the show. Some of them expressed that the show cannot be better, and they will recommend it to their friends and come again next year.

The Chief of Human Rights Organisation: The message that the show delivers has the universal values

Ms. Shelley Wilkins, the chief of Citizens Commission on Human Rights in Australia, and her husband Mr. John Wilkins enjoyed the show. They strongly felt the spirits in the show. They expressed that the values that the show tried to manifest are universal and very traditional. Mr. Wilkins likes the song "Looking for the truth." He said that the values in the show are beneficial to everybody, so everybody is able to enjoy the show.

Ms. Wilkins said the dance "To the Rightful Place" is her favourite, because she believes in the principle of "good is rewarded with good and evil is met with evil." She said that it is amazing that the principle can be manifested by dance.

Mr. and Ms. Wilkins knew about the persecution of Falun Gong. Ms. Wilkins said that in Melbourne, a Falun Gong practitioner gave her materials exposing the CCP's harvesting organs from living Falun Gong practitioners. She felt horrible. She said that it is pity that many governments and organisations keep silent about it although they know about it, and it is also pity that due to the CCP's brainwashing, many Chinese people don't have the traditional values anymore.

Mr. Wilkins expressed that people from different culture are able to enjoy the show, and learn the traditional Chinese culture from it. The values manifested by the show, such as compassion and forbearance are universal in different cultures. They expressed that they will recommend the show to their friends and will come to it next year.

The best gift

Mr. Lesmont Gonery is 80. He told reporters that the show is the best birthday gift he ever got from his children. He liked the show very much and highly recommends it to everybody.

Delphine bought the ticket of the show as a gift to her husband Anthony. She liked the colourful ribbon dancing because it is pretty and full of energy. Anthony liked the drum playing the best. To surprise her husband, Delphine didn't tell Anthony what gift she bought until they came to the theatre. Anthony laughed and said this is the best gift. Delphine said that they have the predestined relationship with Buddhism, and they believe in reincarnation and karmic relationship. Although they have never been to China, they are interested in Chinese stuff and movies.

The show gave them very special feelings. It has special energy which made them feel peaceful. They felt sad about the persecution of Falun Gong. Delphine and Anthony said that the story of the dance "To the Rightful Place" is sad but is the truth. They believe that a power in the universe is watching human beings.

After 12 shows in five cities in Australia, the Divine Performing Arts will go to New Zealand and Taiwan next. The audience in Australia awaits next year's show.