VANCOUVER—Enthusiastic applause, two curtain calls and a standing ovation bade farewell to Shen Yun Performing Arts after their last show of the season at Vancouver’s Queen Elizabeth Theatre on Saturday night.
The touring group, which travels the world bringing authentic Chinese culture to the masses, has made Vancouver a regular stop for the past eight years.
“It was really well put together,” said graphic designer Natalie Wheeler of the Jan. 26 performance.
A Shen Yun performance can be as much a history lesson as a night of entertainment. Shen Yun draws upon China’s 5,000 years of history to bring audiences a taste of the country’s rich culture.
“I loved how they did it,” said Ms. Wheeler. “Five thousand years back and they kind of brought it forward. It was really interesting to see the evolution of it throughout the show.”
Shen Yun is the world’s foremost Classical Chinese dance company and through exhaustive touring they have succeeded in reviving this nearly lost art form.
“Such great dancers,” said Ms. Wheeler. “They are so petite and amazing.”
Classical Chinese dance incorporates difficult flips and tumbling techniques, making for a breathtaking visual spectacle.
“When they did the back flips, they were just so light,” she said. “They just did it with such poise.”
Sigrid Lightfoot, owner of Little Rascals preschool, described the show as “very artistic and very peaceful.”
Classical Chinese dance is one of the most comprehensive dance systems in the world and audience members are often astounded at the level of technical skill required to perform the more difficult techniques.
As a fan of dance, Ms. Lightfoot called Shen Yun’s portrayal “beautiful to watch and very graceful.”
“I also enjoyed the men dancing. It’s different and it’s very powerful at times and the jumping is wonderful to see, lots of athleticism.”
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has four touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. 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.
