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Jim Birchall, president and founder of Birchall & Associates Public Relations, said Shen Yun Performing Arts staged a fantastic performance Thursday night, Jan. 17, 2013, at Sony Centre for the Performing Arts. (Courtesy of NTD Television)
TORONTO—Jim Birchall, president and founder of Birchall & Associates Public Relations, said Shen Yun Performing Arts staged a fantastic performance Thursday night at Sony Centre for the Performing Arts.
“I really didn’t know what to expect when I came here and I’m thoroughly impressed. I’d love to come back for the next show. It’s amazing,” he said.
He particularly enjoyed Shen Yun’s state-of-the-art digital projections, vividly animated backdrops that sometimes interact with the performers on the stage.
“I loved the way that the characters came from the screen and then they came onto the stage. That was really impressive.”
Mr. Birchall has worked in media and public relations for over 20 years, and was once the assignment editor for a major television network and worked with several large public relations firms before striking out on his own.
Shen Yun was founded in 2006 on a mission to revive 5,000 years of divinely inspired Chinese culture. Many of the dances are mini-dramas that draw inspiration from ancient legends and beloved literary classics that give form to values like loyalty, filial piety, selflessness, and tolerance.
Mr. Birchall said he enjoyed the cultural richness offered that evening.
“I loved the way I learned more about the Chinese culture. I really didn’t know too much about the Chinese culture and I would like to learn more about it,” he said.
He also praised Shen Yun’s entire cast, which includes dancers as well as musical and vocal soloists. The company also tours with a philharmonic orchestra that features traditional Chinese instruments leading the melodies.
“I loved the performers. The performers were just fantastic.”
“There was so much going on. All the dancers and the colours and the music, it was just fantastic,” he said.
Mr. Birchall said there was so much to the show that he would need some time to digest it all.
His friends would need to come and see it for themselves, he said.
“It was really fantastic.”
Reporting by NTD Television and Matthew Little
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. Following 21 successful shows Dec. 20-Jan. 13 in Mississauga, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, Kitchener-Waterloo, and Hamilton, Shen Yun’s New York Company is now playing five shows in Toronto Jan. 17-20, completing its tour of eastern Canada. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
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