REGINA, Canada—Marita Bray attended Shen Yun Performing Arts at Conexus Arts Centre with her mother on Friday night and praised the show as “fascinating.”
“It was phenomenal, just marvellous, really. We just loved it,” said Ms. Bray, a community partnership consultant who works for the Government of Saskatchewan.
“Everyone was so gracious and elegant. It was unbelievable … just so fascinating.”
“I enjoyed it all the way, tremendously,” added her mother, Karin Bray, a retired nurse.
It was the second time Shen Yun has graced the stage in Regina, its debut performance in the Queen City premiering in 2010.
The New York-based classical Chinese dance and music company is known for leading a renaissance of traditional Chinese culture as it tours the world, presenting story-based dances that capture the essence of the five-millennia-old traditional culture.
Seeing the show for the first time, Marita, commended the Shen Yun performers and creators.
“It was very theatrical, the athleticism, it was very impressive—so graceful,” she said.
“A lot of ingenuity went into creating the costumes and the choreography. We thoroughly enjoyed it.”
Audiences are able to get a good understanding of traditional Chinese culture after watching the show, she said.
According to the Shen Yun website, the company’s dances aim to capture the diversity of the various dynasties and ethnic groups in China.
“You get a sense of Chinese culture, definitely. You could see the variety,” Marita said.
Karin said she appreciated getting a glimpse of modern China in the show as well, through some of the dances that depict peaceful resistance to persecution by the Chinese communist regime.
“It was well presented; it was subtle, but very much to the point,” Marita agreed.
Marita highlighted a dance titled Snowflakes Welcoming Spring in which a large group of female performers twirl sparkling handkerchief “snowflakes” as they emulate the eternal change of the seasons through dance.
Karin said she was impressed by every piece and aspect of the production.
“Everything—just everything,” she said.
Reporting by Fany Qiu and Justina Wheale.
Shen Yun Performing Arts, based in New York, has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world, with a mission to revive traditional Chinese culture. Shen Yun Performing Arts Touring Company will next perform in New York City at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center from April 18 to April 22.
For more information visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts
