Lawyer Enjoys Traditional Chinese Culture at Shen Yun

Hervé Chrysostome, a lawyer specializing in immigration and business law, was impressed by Shen Yun’s grand display of traditional Chinese culture.
Lawyer Enjoys Traditional Chinese Culture at Shen Yun
1/8/2012
Updated:
1/9/2012

MONTREAL—Hervé Chrysostome, a lawyer who specializes in immigration and business law, was impressed by the grand display of traditional Chinese culture at Shen Yun Performing Arts which played its Montreal closing show at Place des Arts on Sunday afternoon.

“This is a show that I love,” said Mr. Chrysostome, who owns law firm Cabinet Chrysostome and regularly represents clients before government agencies as an expert in many types of immigration matters.

Working with a network within the business community that includes investors, workers, as well as foreign students and visitors, he was delighted to learn more about the culture of China.

“There are many presentations [of] traditional Chinese classical dance,” he noted. “Topics presented are very interesting ... I am very happy to be here this afternoon.”

Founded in New York in 2006, Shen Yun endeavours to revive the traditional Chinese culture through world-class performances of classical Chinese dance and music.

The company tours the globe every year with an all-new program of classical Chinese dance, Chinese ethnic and folk dances, and original songs and musical scores that reflect the spiritual essence of the ancient culture in its values of benevolence, honour, propriety, wisdom, sincerity, and reverence for the divine.

“I think we cannot separate the spiritual from daily life,” Mr. Chrysostome said.

“I feel very at ease and comfortable with [these themes]. I hope to discover more of Chinese culture, the spirituality of the Chinese.”

Aisha Sow, who accompanied Mr. Chrysostome to Shen Yun, was equally touched by the performance.
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“A lot of joy, full of amazement,” she said.

Ms. Sow said that while the performance brought her into a different environment, the themes are universal for all people.

“This shows how others live elsewhere, how their culture is,” she said. “We are all different ... but at one point we all have the same purpose.”

Ms. Sow summed up what the show represented to her: “Finally it is about joy, it is about peace ... humanism.”

“Very magical,” she added. “I was delighted to come.”

“There is wonder, for sure,” agreed Mr. Chrysostome.

Among the enthusiastic audience at the Sunday matinee was another accomplished lawyer, Hynek Zikovsky, a partner with the law firm Colas Moreira Kazandjian Zikovsky, LLP, which provides legal services in the area of international business and trade law.

“I liked it very much,” said Mr. Zikovsky, who is from Czechoslovakia but lived in China when he was a small child.

“It is very nice. I must say we can see the Chinese culture and that is the good part about the show,” he said.

With reporting by Mathieu Côté-Desjardins and Cindy Chan

Shen Yun has three equally large companies touring the world with an all-new program each year. Each company has its own orchestra and vocal soloists. Shen Yun’s International Company will perform in Kitchener, Ontario, on Jan. 10-11 before heading to Toronto for five shows at Sony Centre for the Performing Arts.

For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org.