QUEBEC CITY, Canada—After seeing Shen Yun Performing Arts’ matinee show at the Grand Théâtre de Québec on Sunday, veteran actress Denise Gagnon said she had found magic.
“I really liked the show. It’s a beautiful show, very colourful, very lively,” said Ms. Gagnon in French, who currently performs with le Théâtre du Trident, a prominent cultural institution in Québec City that presents international masterpieces as well as Canadian, Québecois, and foreign contemporary works.
“It was magical, I found,” Ms. Gagnon added.
As an actress, she also took notice of the subtle movements in the different dance pieces and the distinctive characteristics of the male dancers versus the female dancers.
“This is well defined,” she said, noting the athleticism of the male dancers and the gracefulness of the female dancers.
In particular, she enjoyed Lotuses in Bloom, a piece in praise of the lovely flower that has long been a symbol of purity and divine perfection.
“It was very gracious—very very graceful and evocative,” she said, commending the dancers.
New York-based Shen Yun was in Québec City for a three-show run as part of the renowned dance company’s 2014 global tour.
Its particular brand of magic is breathtaking classical Chinese dance and music, as the company strives to fulfill its mission of reviving 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture.
It is a cultural heritage that has nearly been lost following decades of communist rule in China.
As the hosts of the show explained, Shen Yun cannot be seen in China today.
Also in the audience on Sunday afternoon was Evelyne Tremblay, the owner of Auberge La Muse inn and restaurant.
“It’s magnificent, very grandiose, a lot of talent, a lot of colours, and singing on top of that—soloists,” Ms. Tremblay said. “A lot of surprises, it’s really wonderful!”
Isabelle Brassard, a coordinator at the University of Montreal, was also at the show—with 13 of her family members; her aunt had gotten tickets for everyone to see the show together.
“It’s a beautiful spectacle, very rich in colours, which contrasts with the grey of winter in Québec. We really appreciated the choreography, the synchronization, the harmony, and the exceptional costumes,” Ms. Brassard said.
“I’d say it’s a show for the entire family since, in bringing the kids tonight, it’s a nice introduction to Chinese culture. There’s something for all tastes,” she added.
Reporting by Tina Sun, Weiya Wang, Xie Deping, and Cindy Chan
Shen Yun will now continue on to Ottawa (Jan. 2–4), Montreal (Jan. 6–9), Hamilton (Jan. 11–12), Kitchener-Waterloo (Jan. 14–15), Mississauga (Jan. 16–19), Toronto (Jan. 23–26), and Vancouver (Jan. 23–25) on the Canadian leg of its 2014 global tour.
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has four touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. 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.
