VANCOUVER, Canada—Museum curator Sarah Holland was highly impressed with the Shen Yun Performing Arts show she attended Saturday night at Vancouver’s Queen Elizabeth Theatre.
“It’s the first time I’ve been to a show like this,” she said. “I’ve been to other dance and theatre, but I’ve never seen classical Chinese dance so I didn’t know really what to expect, but it was very impressive. I thought it was incredibly beautiful, especially the dancing.”
Shen Yun performances consist primarily of vocal music and classical Chinese dance, an art form that has been evolving for 5,000 years and is currently enjoying a worldwide renaissance thanks to a New York-based group of mostly Chinese artists.
“I’ve always been really a big fan of dance and so it was really interesting for me to see a whole other dance tradition that I’ve never seen before,” said Ms. Holland.
In addition to her work as archives curator at a museum in Victoria, Ms. Holland teaches a museum studies course at a local university. She has previously worked in several countries, including England, Egypt, and the island of St. Helena.
“I thought [the show] was spectacular, beautiful and graceful, and I found it really moving,” she said.
“I found it moving because I know that so many of the artists are in exile, and I found it moving because I know that it is like a beautiful, creative, non-violent response to violent oppression, and I think that’s a really noble way to respond to being oppressed.”
Ms. Holland was referring to the fact that many of the Shen Yun performers practise a form of self-cultivation called Falun Dafa, a spiritual discipline rooted in ancient Chinese culture that is based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance. For over 10 years, the practice has been subject to a campaign of violent persecution by China’s communist regime.
While impressed with the entire production, she especially enjoyed the dance Flowing Silk.
“I really liked the one where they were wearing pink and green and the dresses have the lotus on them,” she said. “I like the lotus, I like the symbolism of the lotus, and just the colours of that one I found really beautiful.”
She was also struck by In a Miao Village. One of China’s oldest ethnic groups, the Miao are known for their elaborate headdresses and ornate silver jewellery.
When asked if it was worth the trip from Victoria to see the show, she said, “Definitely, you don’t get a chance to see this kind of Chinese classical arts very often and I think it’s a good chance to come.”
After its Vancouver run ends on March 28, Shen Yun will continue on to play in Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Toronto, and Winnipeg.
For more information, please visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org.
“It’s the first time I’ve been to a show like this,” she said. “I’ve been to other dance and theatre, but I’ve never seen classical Chinese dance so I didn’t know really what to expect, but it was very impressive. I thought it was incredibly beautiful, especially the dancing.”
Shen Yun performances consist primarily of vocal music and classical Chinese dance, an art form that has been evolving for 5,000 years and is currently enjoying a worldwide renaissance thanks to a New York-based group of mostly Chinese artists.
“I’ve always been really a big fan of dance and so it was really interesting for me to see a whole other dance tradition that I’ve never seen before,” said Ms. Holland.
In addition to her work as archives curator at a museum in Victoria, Ms. Holland teaches a museum studies course at a local university. She has previously worked in several countries, including England, Egypt, and the island of St. Helena.
“I thought [the show] was spectacular, beautiful and graceful, and I found it really moving,” she said.
“I found it moving because I know that so many of the artists are in exile, and I found it moving because I know that it is like a beautiful, creative, non-violent response to violent oppression, and I think that’s a really noble way to respond to being oppressed.”
Ms. Holland was referring to the fact that many of the Shen Yun performers practise a form of self-cultivation called Falun Dafa, a spiritual discipline rooted in ancient Chinese culture that is based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance. For over 10 years, the practice has been subject to a campaign of violent persecution by China’s communist regime.
While impressed with the entire production, she especially enjoyed the dance Flowing Silk.
“I really liked the one where they were wearing pink and green and the dresses have the lotus on them,” she said. “I like the lotus, I like the symbolism of the lotus, and just the colours of that one I found really beautiful.”
She was also struck by In a Miao Village. One of China’s oldest ethnic groups, the Miao are known for their elaborate headdresses and ornate silver jewellery.
When asked if it was worth the trip from Victoria to see the show, she said, “Definitely, you don’t get a chance to see this kind of Chinese classical arts very often and I think it’s a good chance to come.”
After its Vancouver run ends on March 28, Shen Yun will continue on to play in Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Toronto, and Winnipeg.
For more information, please visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org.
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