VANCOUVER, British Columbia—David Suzuki was among the audience members that shared their thoughts about Shen Yun Performing Arts after watching the Chinese classical dance group perform at Vancouver’s Queen Elizabeth Theatre on Saturday night.
“It’s quite staggering—the costumes are sensational. The physical athleticism of the performance is quite impressive,” said the world-renowned environmentalist.
Dr. Suzuki discussed the drums used in the piece Drummers of the Tang Court, which features the thunderous Tang drum born in China during the Tang Dynasty. That drum later immigrated to Japan, and Dr. Suzuki recognized it as the Japanese-titled koto drum. In China, these drums would accompany soldiers into battle to boost morale, show power, and relay commands.
“They’re very impressive. These men, they’re not just drumming but they are performing some very great physical feats.”
Dr. Suzuki said the music was great and that he enjoyed the use of animated backdrops, which provide a living scene in which each dance unfolds, and sometimes interacts with.
“The use of the backscreen with actual moving figures [was] very, very well done. To see people coming out of the sky and then coming up onto the stage. Very enjoyable performance.”
Dr. Suzuki is perhaps best known for his work on the long-running CBC program, “The Nature of Things.” In addition to earning his doctorate in zoology from the University of Chicago, he has received 22 honourary degrees and a number of international awards, including Canada’s highest civilian honour, the Order of Canada, to which he is a Companion, the highest of the three ranks to the order.
“What they’re doing with their performance and pirouettes, very impressive physically. My sister was a dancer in New York with Martha Graham, so I know the kind of athleticism that is needed to do those kind of dances.
“It’s very impressive.”
With reporting by New Tang Dynasty Television
After completing its seven-show run in Vancouver from April 3 to April 8, Shen Yun Performing Arts will perform in Calgary, Edmonton, and Regina.
For more information, please visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
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