MONTREAL—Lucien Bouchard and his wife, Monique, found Shen Yun Performing Arts nothing short of delightful after seeing the show at Place des Arts in Montreal on Jan. 4.
“We loved the show very much,” said Mr. Bouchard, owner of Acier Bouchard Inc., a company involved in the commerce of steel based in Quebec City.
“Frankly, the colours impressed us. Especially at the beginning, the opening with all these colours. It was extraordinary. And afterwards it continued. The performances—we loved that because they changed fast. I loved it till the end.”
Shen Yun showcases the essence of China’s 5,000-year-old culture through music and dance. The hallmark of the show is classical Chinese dance, an ancient dance form that stresses refinement of inner character as well as physical technique.
“The dancers particularly impressed me through their speed and agility. And the gentlemen with their sword plays—it was like they were battling, like battles. It was all a performance, but it was very well-done,” said Mr. Bouchard.
According to the Shen Yun website, China’s traditional culture was divinely inspired, and Mr. Bouchard said he detected that in the show.
“One would have to say that there is definitely something divine there. From beginning to end, one can see this rhythm. It’s a message, a divine message.”
Shen Yun is known for its wide array of handmade costumes, which are rich in both colour and detail.
“Colour has always attracted me,” said Mr. Bouchard. “[In this show] there is an abundance. You can see all these hues with these young dancers. One can say that [the creators of the show] find new colours all the time. It’s amazing to see this unfold. The costumes are beautiful.”
He added that the colours seemed not of this world.
“The one who creates this is extraordinary, for sure. Because these are not natural colours that you can see every day, particularly the colour combinations.”
Mr. Bouchard appreciated the high calibre of the artists and their flawless skill in presenting large-scale, synchronized dances.
“I think they must have worked very hard. It’s hard work, because they do all their performances together. It’s original, and then at the same time, they work together. You can feel there’s no error allowed.”
He gave as an example An Early Spring, a folk dance from northeast China in which the dancers deftly twirl handkerchiefs to evoke the annual change of season.
“[The handkerchiefs] have to fall in the same place,” he said.
Reporting by NTD Television and Joan Delaney
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. Shen Yun’s New York Company will play five shows in Montreal Jan. 3-6 and one show in Quebec City Jan. 8 before going on to Kitchener-Waterloo, Hamilton, and Toronto in its tour of eastern Canada. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
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