‘The visual experience was just wonderful,’ Says Professor

Professor and Mrs. Lipsey enjoy Shen Yun Performing Arts. (Chen Si/The Epoch Times)

VANCOUVER,  British Columbia—In a brilliant show on Saturday, Shen Yun Performing Arts played to a packed house and drew a standing ovation from an enthusiastic audience.

Dr. Lipsey, an author and emeritus professor of economics at Simon Fraser University, and his wife were impressed by the New York-based company’s portrayal of traditional Chinese culture.
 
Mrs. Lipsey, a painter and artist, was particularly thrilled with the colorful and lively Dance of the Yi, a traditional dance from one of China’s largest ethnic groups.

“They were like butterflies, they were just like butterflies, they were exquisite. The timing was so precise—very, very challenging.”

The state of the art, custom designed 3-D backdrop is unique to Shen Yun and is an important part of the show, adding visual depth and grandeur to each program.

“The visual experience was just wonderful. It’s like being transported to somewhere up there. Very beautifully staged,” said Dr. Lipsey.

The show is hosted in both English and Chinese making  it accessible for both Western and Chinese audiences and at the same time  supplying background information for the performances. “The  hosts were very useful for people like us. You can visualize it  because they have told you something about it,” said Mrs. Lipsey.

There is a strong message of compassion and justice in the Shen Yun performances, and some acts depict the struggles those in mainland China are experiencing today. Heaven Awaits us Despite Persecution tells the story of how those who practice Falun Gong, a traditional spiritual practice, are persecuted in mainland China.

“The message was very clear. Those dancers in black were terrifying. It’s frightening to see something like that, because it was so well done. The messages came across very clear,” said Mrs. Lipskey.

Both Dr. and Mrs. Lipsey were said that they would tell all of their friends in Calgary to see the show when the Shen Yun visits the city on April 12 and 13.

After completing its seven-show run in Vancouver from April 3 to April 8, Shen Yun Performing Arts will perform in Calgary, Edmonton, and Regina.

  For more information, please visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org