MONTREAL, Canada—Mr. Bettan, the CEO of an international Montreal-based company, was impressed by the fluidity and harmony found in Shen Yun Performing Arts on Thursday night at the Place Des Arts.
“They seem to be flying,” he said of the dancers.
The renowned classical Chinese dance and music company stopped in the city briefly as part of its 2014 global tour, and Mr. Bettan and his wife Ossi Siag caught the last performance.
“Colorful, flawless and totally in sync,” said Ms. Siag. “It’s amazing.”
At intermission the couple talked about how their three children—13, 11, and 8 would have loved to see the colours. Mr. Bettan noted they were both vivid and harmonious.
The two were also impressed by Shen Yun’s animated backdrops, which through state-of-the-art technology extend the stage, transporting audiences to wondrous realms.
The backdrops also interact with the dancers on stage.
“It’s perfectly synchronized … when they run and we have the impression that they’re flying away,” said Mr. Bettan.
Shen Yun features performances of classical Chinese dance, one of the most comprehensive dance systems in the world, and one of the main ways through which Chinese culture has been preserved throughout the ages. The company also presents colourful ethnic and folk dances from China’s various regions.
Ms. Siag noted the dance Mongolian Chopsticks, which depicts Mongolian men relaxing with a bowl of wine and performing a traditional dance amidst the harsh Mongolian landscape.
She particularly enjoyed the rhythmic elements of the dance, such as the use of chopsticks to create a crisp beat.
Alongside dance, Shen Yun also features talented vocal soloists, achieving the remarkable feat of singing Chinese in the bel canto style.
Soprano Guang Ling, in particular, resonated with Mr. Bettan.
“She has a powerful voice,” he said.
Reporting by Nathalie Dieul and Madalina Hubert
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has four touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. Shen Yun’s World Company finished its Montreal performances on Thursday and will now go on to Hamilton, Ontario. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
