‘It surprises me with every second that I watch it’

TORONTO—Having done costume and set design for theatre, Alina Lapteva kept a keen eye during the Shen Yun Performing Arts production she attended Saturday at Sony Centre.

Shen Yun’s costume artists collect countless designs of traditional attire, ranging from those of emperors, ministers, and generals to the everyday clothing of the common people.

“The costumes are so bright, so visually stimulating, amazing little details. I am a detailed person so I really enjoyed the details—the colours and also the fabrics, because the fabrics are so flowy. It’s just all so energetic,” Ms. Lapteva said during intermission.

“Especially since there is a big amount of people on stage, you can see how it just opens up in front of you, so many people and all this fabric flowing. It creates such a great feeling.”

She added that, “For some reason, it also relaxes you at the same time. You forget about everything else. You’re just watching these details, you’re just watching these colours.”

According to Shen Yun’s website, the New York-based company’s mission is to revive the essence of the true traditional culture of China—refined over the Middle Kingdom’s 5,000-year history—through classical Chinese dance and music.

Ms. Lapteva, who works as a personal trainer, said Shen Yun “was really different.”

“You can see the traditional dance and I find it’s different. It’s different choreography, it’s different techniques, it’s high jumps,” she said, noting that she can relate it to her own Russian culture.

It creates such a great feeling. For some reason, it also relaxes you at the same time.

—Alina Lapteva

In addition, “It kind of brings me back to my culture, which is funny.”

“I think it’s really even educational,” she added.

She also noted the diverse audience in attendance.

“Another thing that I really liked is that in the crowd of people there weren’t only Chinese and Asian people, there were people from all over the world enjoying the differences, how much different it can be and experiencing a different culture. It’s just amazing.”

Ms. Lapteva said she found the show full of surprises.

“The good part of it is that it’s something that I did not expect. It surprises me with every second that I watch it, it gives me more and more surprise, with every single performance, with the different dances—they’re so different.”

She highlighted one of the dances in which sound effects were produced by delicate metal pieces sewn into the female dancers’ costumes.

Another dance featured “water sleeves” used in classical Chinese dance. The long silk sleeves serve as extensions of a dancer’s arms and linger in the air long after a movement is completed, creating a fluttering wings or trailing ripples effect.

“Each dance has this little idea that surprises you and you’re just enjoying that particular moment. I think it’s going to surprise us more and more,” she said, anticipating the second half of the show.

‘Everything is just fabulous’

Sally Ifill, general manager of the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel in downtown Toronto, came to see Shen Yun with her husband, Winston, and their children.

It is Mrs. Ifill’s first time at Shen Yun and she was impressed.

“It’s just phenomenal, just spectacular,” she said.

“Breathtaking. I can’t even describe it. It’s amazing!” she added, noting that “the children have really enjoyed it, which is spectacular.”

“My young ones like dancing a lot,” said Mr. Ifill, who is a stay-at-home dad. “Beautiful colours, the dancing, the singing, everything is just fabulous.”

From her perspective of being in the hospitality business, Mrs. Ifill expressed a wish.

It’s just phenomenal, just spectacular.

— Sally Ifill

“I wish I could have uniforms for my staff like [the costumes of Shen Yun],” she said. “It’s just so colourful … it’s just beautiful.”

She also noted that it was very interesting for her whole family to learn about authentic traditional Chinese culture through dance.

“Also the story behind it,” said her husband.

Story-based dances inspired by ancient Chinese myths and legends and tales of faith and courage in modern China are a highlight for many audience members, and Mr. Ifill was no exception.

The couple also thoroughly enjoyed the presentations of classical Chinese dance and Chinese ethnic and folk dances.

“Everyone was so in sync while dancing. I find it to be something very amazing,” Mr. Ifill said.

Mrs. Ifill found the dancing very “cultured” and noted how the dancers were “obviously enjoying what they do as well.”

“I would definitely recommend [Shen Yun],” she said, adding that “most definitely” she and her family will come again next year.

Reporting by NTD Television, Allen Zhou, Joan Delaney, and Cindy Chan.

Shen Yun Performing Arts International Company is in Toronto for two more performances Saturday night and Sunday afternoon at Sony Centre for the Performing Arts.

For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org.

The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts.