SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Jewellery Designer Praises Shen Yun’s Surreal Beauty

Apr 23, 2016
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Jewellery Designer Praises Shen Yun’s Surreal Beauty
Valentina Morgenshtern and Dmitry Nikiforov enjoyed Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Sony Centre in Toronto on April 21, 2016. (Dongyu Teng)

TORONTO—Jewellery designer Valentina Morgenshtern makes a living by appreciating beauty.

But she wasn’t quite prepared for the level of stunning beauty that flowed from stage during the Shen Yun Performing Arts performance at Toronto’s Sony Centre on April 21.

“The costumes are unbelievable and the colours are amazing, all the colours together,” she said during the intermission.

“I am glad I sat so close so that I could see all the details—unbelievable.”

According to Shen Yun’s website, “Every detail is given meticulous attention and is a result of artistic inspiration and careful polishing.”

Ms. Morgenshtern attended the performance of classical Chinese music and dance with her partner Dmitry Nikiforov, manager of audio-visual services at Centennial College.

Mr. Nikiforov was impressed with the digitally animated backdrop—an interactive screen that displays vivid scenery to accompany each piece and creates the illusion of depth in that performers on stage appear to leap in and out of the scene.

“It’s perfect—very bright colours and very advanced technology,” he said, “I couldn’t wish for more.”

“This is the first time I have seen that kind of background where they are jumping in and out and it’s so real,” added Ms. Morgenshtern.

“These digital backdrop designs complement and synchronize all aspects of the performance: the characters, color of the costumes, specific dance movements, props, lighting, the story being told, particular notes played by the orchestra, and special audio effects,” according to Shen Yun’s website.

New York-based Shen Yun has been travelling the world for the past 10 years, on a mission to revive China’s divinely inspired culture. This culture—forged over 5,000 years by Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism—was destroyed under the Chinese communist regime, during violent campaigns like the Cultural Revolution.

Both from Russia, Ms. Morgenshtern and Mr. Nikiforov commended Shen Yun’s artists for their lofty mission to reclaim China’s traditional culture.

“Most important is the history of China, [Shen Yun shows] many things that people don’t know,” said Ms. Morgenshtern.


Reporting by Dongyu Teng and Justina Wheale

New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has four touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. Shen Yun’s International Company is currently touring Eastern Canada. For more information, visit Shen Yun Performing Arts.

Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time. We have proudly covered audience reaction since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.