“Brilliant. It was fantastic,” said Mrs. Harris, a kite maker who attended with her daughter Zoe and friend Ilda.
“I liked everything,” said Ilda. “The dancing, the costumes, the scenery.”
Mrs Harris was particularly fascinated by “Ladies of the Manchu Court,” a dance demonstrating the refined grace and high upringing of the courtly ladies of the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). The dancers glided across the stage in elaborate headdresses and raised shoes.
“I live in England and I really enjoyed learning about the Manchurian women who lived in the 1600s. [In England] this was when Queen Elizabeth was on the throne. Just near us, we have a castle from Sr. Walter Raleigh [prominent Elizabethan courtier]. It was really interesting. The Manchurian culture was certainly superior to the Elizabethan court. I visited the castle, and in comparison, even their dress would be uncivilized,” she said.
As a kite maker, Mrs Harris has taken part in Britain’s Glastonbury festival, the largest greenfield music and performing arts festival in the world, where she presented a display of kites. Her theatrical kites portray wizards and dragons—the largest being a 27-meter long dragon kite. She said she has a great interest in China because that is where kites originated.
Her daughter Zoe, a translator, said she saw Shen Yun in Paris and was happy to be back in Toronto to see it with her mother.
“It’s fantastic…. It was so colourful. I like very much the fact that you learn about Chinese traditions and history as well. There’s the culture from the past as well as the modern elements where there is hardship and persecution,” she said.
“It’s a very good balance between everything,” she added. “The music is wonderful; the mix as well with the dance and the drums. I love the drums. Plus the singing, plus the orchestra. It’s a really good mix.”
Her mother was also impressed by the music. “I enjoy classical music, European classical music and ballet, and I was very impressed with this and I found the modern and old combined very good,” said Mrs. Harris.
Shen Yun uses an innovative animated digital backdrop which adds another dimension to the activity onstage, something that Mrs. Harris particularly liked. She referred to “The Five Millennia Begin,” in which divine beings descend to earth in order to impart the gift of culture.
“I collect Chinese immortals and so seeing them all come for the clouds was a great experience,” she said.
Mrs. Harris would be happy to see Shen Yun again when the show returns to Britain. “I would certainly make an effort to go see them in London,” she said.
Shen Yun Performing Arts will present two more shows in Toronto, ending its run on Sunday. The dance company is scheduled to return in January with its all-new 2010 program. For more information visit www.ShenYunPerformingArts.org.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts.
