MISSISSAUGA, Canada—Nasser Dabirian owns a small list of companies in everything from solar power to real estate development. And among his wide range of interests is classical Chinese dance, an art form that has been passed down and enriched for thousands of years.
But despite that long history, only one company tours the world each year with an internationally acclaimed program of classical Chinese dance, and Mr. Dabirian has seen it three times on two continents.
“I can’t comprehend how beautiful it is—just beyond anybody’s imagination,” he said Thursday after taking in his third Shen Yun performance, this time at the Living Arts Centre.
“The rich history of China—that’s absolutely gorgeous. I’m fascinated by the civilization and the history.”
Mr. Dabirian has seen Shen Yun twice in Canada and once in Paris, France.
“We love it. I don’t need to explain, I love it,” he said.
Shen Yun’s extraordinary beauty and captivating representation of Chinese history is what keeps him coming back, Mr. Dabirian said after the Jan. 16 show.
Shen Yun was founded on a mission to revive classical Chinese culture, a 5,000-year heritage largely lost after 60 years of communist rule in China.
It’s a mission Mr. Dabirian said was particularly welcome in a young country like Canada with relatively little history.
“By looking at this show it explains the richness of Chinese civilization and foundation of all cultural movements that is lacking in this part of the world. That is very educational,” he said.
He said Shen Yun’s effort to share the culture and the values it was born out of was “amazing—first class.” Shen Yun is simple and yet complex, he said, and entertains with its fascinating display of culture.
“I just love it,” he said.
Mr. Dabirian’s wide range of business include rail, aviation, real estate, solar power, steel and more. His development projects include Lakewood Estates, a multi-million dollar project in Hagersville, Ontario.
Reporting by Lisa Ou
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has four touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. Shen Yun’s World Company will perform four more shows in Mississauga, finishing on Jan. 19 before continuing on to Toronto to play five shows at the Sony Centre Jan. 23-26. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
The Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time. We have proudly covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.
