OTTAWA, Canada—Shen Yun Performing Arts’ afternoon show at the National Arts Centre on Saturday drew a full house, despite cold temperatures in the nation’s capital.
Guy Lacroix, a former mayor of Gatineau, Québec, thought taking in Shen Yun’s depiction of Chinese culture through dance, music, and song was an ideal way to take refuge from the weather.
“My impression is that there is no better way to spend an afternoon that is so cold outside, especially when there is so much warmth emanating from this Chinese performance,” he said.
“Its graceful, it’s beautiful. The costumes, the music—it’s fantastic.”
Shen Yun brings tales and legends from China’s 5,000-year-history to life on stage and presents them to audiences around the world through the ancient art form of classical Chinese dance. The production also includes Chinese ethnic and folk dance, revitalizing the traditions of the Middle Kingdom’s many peoples.
The synchronicity and precision of the dancers wowed Mr. Lacroix.
“When the dancers dance or walk, it’s as though they are floating—they don’t move, they float,” he said. “They are all the same height and perfectly in time with one another. And then there is the coordination with the screen in the backdrop with the dancers. The timing is perfect!”
Shen Yun’s unique backdrop synchronizes all aspects of the performance. The costume colours, specific dance movements, drums, lighting, particular notes played by the orchestra—are all timed with animated movements on an enormous digital backdrop.
“I imagine it takes a lot of practice and hours and hours of repetition to give us this wonderful production,” Mr. Lacroix said.
He also praised the orchestra, which combines Chinese instruments such as the pipa and suona with classical Western orchestral instruments.
“I love the blend of the classical and the Chinese music. The Chinese element made the music really marvellous,” he said.
“[The show is] beautiful from start to finish. It’s marvellous.”
Reporting by NTD Television and Joan Delaney
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has four touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. Shen Yun’s World Company finished in Ottawa on Saturday and will now go on to perform in Montreal.
The Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time. We have proudly covered audience reaction since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.
