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Harry Tehranchi, president and CEO of a major Toronto real estate development firm, thoroughly enjoyed the Jan. 18 performance of Shen Yun at Sony Centre. (Matthew Little/The Epoch Times)
TORONTO—Torontonians marvelled at the unique performance put on by Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Sony Centre for a second night as the New York-based classical Chinese dance and music company continues its five-show run in the city.
Harry Tehranchi, president and CEO of a major Toronto real estate developer, thoroughly enjoyed the Jan. 18 performance.
“The performance is quite nice … everything is very good,” he said, pointing to the different aspects of the show, including the dancing, the live orchestra, the animated backdrops, and the wide array of colourful costumes.
“The orchestra’s performance is very much in harmony with the dancers,” Mr. Tehranchi said. “They are very good; everything is matching.”
He thought the digital backdrops and their interaction with the stage were quite impressive as well.
‘It was lovely’
Shen Yun has taken as its mission to revive 5,000 years of China’s divinely-inspired culture.
Linda Riverso, a communications consultant, said she enjoyed the presentation of China’s culture through music and dance. (Matthew Little/The Epoch Times)
Linda Riverso, who was among the audience on Friday evening, enjoyed the presentation of China’s culture through music and dance.
“It was lovely,” said Ms. Riverso, a communications consultant.
The movement of the dancers particularly impressed Ms. Riverso.
“I love the way they moved, especially the women,” she said. “It’s like they’re floating; it’ s fluid, it’s graceful, it’s beautiful.”
Shen Yun’s dancers have been impressing audiences with their astounding physical feats. Their ability to make these movements seem completely effortless is a by-product of years of arduous training in the ancient art of Classical Chinese dance.
Along with the skill of the dancers, the costumes were a source of amazement for Ms. Riverso, who described the handmade garments as, “colourful, stunning, and beautiful.”
The piece An Early Spring uses bright costumes and handkerchiefs as flowers to portray the arrival of spring. Dancers’ twirling handkerchiefs evoke the annual change of seasons in a vibrant northeastern folk dance, according to the program guide.
“The ones with the flowers, they made those come to life, everything was just so vivid,” said Ms. Riverso.
She attended the show with her friend, Anna Volp, who said she left the theatre with a feeling of peace.
Reporting by Matthew Little and Ryan Moffatt.
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 will play five shows in Toronto Jan. 17-20, completing its tour of eastern Canada. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
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