OTTAWA—The National Arts Centre resounded to the melodic strains of the Shen Yun Performing Arts Orchestra on Monday night for the first of a five-show run as Shen Yun kicked off the Canadian leg of its 2011/2012 touring season.
The audience gave the performers a warm welcome, but there was none more impressed with Shen Yun’s all-new program of dance and music than Conservative Member of Parliament Garry Breitkreuz.
“It’s unbelievable, it’s fantastic. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything that even came close to what I’m witnessing here this evening. It’s just very, very amazing,” said Mr. Breitkreuz during the intermission.
“The costuming, the choreography, everything that’s been put together here is really very well done. I don’t think there’s another show in the world that I know of that compares to this.”
Shen Yun is reviving the essence China’s rich traditional culture and bringing it to audiences around the world. Mr. Breitkreuz said that while he has some familiarity with the ancient culture, a lot of what was presented in the performance was new to him.
“To me, it’s an eye-opener. It’s very, very good to see. I think more Canadians need to understand this culture.”
The MP for Yorkton-Melville in Saskatchewan was chair of the House of Commons’ Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security from 2006 to September 2010. On Oct. 6, 2010, he was elected chair of the Special Committee on the Canadian Mission in Afghanistan.
Formerly a teacher, Mr. Breitkreuz has taught in Cameroon and the Solomon Islands, and has been a principal on a First Nation Reserve in Northern Saskatchewan.
As a foundation and the cornerstone of its performances, Shen Yun’s dance style uses classical Chinese dance, one of the most expressive and most demanding art forms in the world. Those performing classical Chinese dance must dance from the heart, something Mr. Breitkreuz said came through in the performance.
“I think that approach comes out very clear here,” he said.
“I think that the underlying message that I’m getting is that we need to allow for that religious freedom, that spiritual development within people, and I think that will enrich our society in just a very, very helpful way.”
Reporting by Olivier Chartrand and Joan Delaney
Shen Yun will perform at the National Arts Centre from Dec. 19–23. For more information visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
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