MONTREAL, Canada—Michèle Langevin, president of health food company Activa Nature, was in awe after taking in Shen Yun Performing Arts at Place des Arts on Tuesday night.
“Oh my god I thought it was just wonderful. I saw the sun, I saw the nature, I saw everything that God has given us. It was wonderful,” she said.
The internationally renowned Shen Yun has stopped in Canada as part of its 2014 world tour, presenting performances of classical Chinese dance, along with folk dances and ethnic dances from China’s diverse peoples.
Founded in New York, the company has set out on a mission to revive China’s divinely inspired 5,000 year old civilization.
Colourful costumes and a vividly animated digital backdrop add to the richly visual performance. They are accompanied by a unique orchestra that combines both classical Western and Chinese instruments in a refreshing sound. Shen Yun also features musical soloists performing original compositions of bel canto works.
For Ms. Langevin, classical Chinese dance was a new experience, and offered images she hadn’t seen before, she said.
“It was just fantastic ... just beautiful. I’m really glad we were here,” she said.
Along with dances that offer mini-dramas based on Chinese myths, legends, historical figures, and literary tales, Shen Yun also offers an insight into contemporary China.
The New York based company aims to bring about a renaissance of traditional Chinese culture, much of which has been lost in its country of origin today, particularly during the last six decades of communist rule.
When asked if she would recommend the show to her friends, she said she would go as far as to buy them tickets.
“I would buy for them and give to them. That’s what I would do. This is really amazing … I’m very pleased to have seen that.”
With her was friend Celine Martel, a medical herbalist who also appreciated the show.
“It was beautiful, wonderful, most wonderful,” she said.
Ms. Martel said she’s always felt a deep connection to Mongolian people and was touched by the Mongolian dance presented that night.
“I feel very close to these people,” said Ms. Martel.
“What I wear was made by Mongolian ladies—it’s all made by Mongolians. I’ve always been attracted to that since I was very young. I always had a kind of attraction to Mongolian culture,” she said.
Ms. Martel also praised the music, particularly erhu virtuoso Mei Xuan, and said it left her feeling like she had meditated.
“The erhu was wonderful, was divine,” she said.
Shen Yun’s journey through Chinese history, and realms both divine and earthly made an impression she described as uplifting.
“That life is much more colourful and wonderful than we are used to thinking of. It’s magical.”
The two friends both celebrated birthdays and decided to come to Shen Yun to mark the occasion.
With reporting by Fu Ming
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has four touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. Shen Yun’s World Company will perform in Montreal until Jan. 9 before going on to Hamilton. For more information, visit Shen Yun Performing Arts
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.
