The positive karma of Shen Yun

Since its inception more than five years ago, Shen Yun Performing Arts has done more to promote traditional Chinese culture than any other performance company in the world and soon enough, Australian audiences will also be able to enjoy this popular show that has left people mesmerised the world over.

Shen Yun brilliantly revives 5000 years of culture and tradition. In ancient China, poets and artists emphasized virtue, studiousness and meditation because they took to heart the ancient Chinese belief that to create true art there must first be inner beauty and purity. Today, the artists of Shen Yun follow this noble tradition of inner cultivation that helps to bring an extraordinary depth to their work. Classical Chinese dance is Shen Yun's hallmark, and is one of the most expressive and demanding art forms in the world. Every year Shen Yun creates an entirely new production with original dancers, costumes and music. By adding the distinctive melodies of ancient Chinese instruments with modern, western orchestration, Shen Yun combines two of the greatest musical traditions the world has ever known.

The intricate costumes and head pieces offer a glimpse into the richness and diversity of china's past. Skilled designers create large scale digital backdrops that whisk the audience away. After countless hours of training and rehearsal, each piece has been mastered with a unique precision. Shen Yun confidently embarks on a world tour.

Greek Orthodox Bishop Ezekiel of Dervis, Assistant Bishop to the Archbishop of Melbourne was in the audience and truly connected with the spiritual aspects of the show. "I was very much impressed, first of all with the performance of the actors on stage, with the colours and, of course, the great message that comes from the whole story. That there is a God and we have to follow certain ways to get to heaven from earth. And this is the way of truth and of acceptance of each other, and we need to do whatever we can in order to do good deeds on earth."

Shen Yun Performing Arts will be performing at The Regent Theatre in Melbourne from 11 April to 15 April 2012, at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney, from 27 April to 6 May 2012 and at the Canberra Theatre in Canberra, from 17 April to 18 April. For more information visit shenyun2012.org