OTTAWA—Tony Breuer, Executive Director, for the Canadian Hunger Foundation’s international headquarters in Ottawa said Shen Yun Performing Arts staged a wonderful show at the National Arts Centre Friday night.
“I thought it was just wonderful, it was very beautiful, colourful, very energetic. We brought a couple of little grandchildren along. They just had a marvellous time with it as well,” said Breuer, who is credited with guiding CHF to become a well respected international development organization. Prior to CHF, Mr. Breuer spent 20 years as a diplomat and foreign aid official and held a number of executive positions at CIDA (Canadian International Development Agency ). He also served in Canada’s Privy Council Office as a key advisor to the Prime Minister of the time and oversaw substantial programming for the Aga Khan Foundation in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan.
“It was very interesting, very colourful and the dancers seemed to be very, very, well-trained. I was amazed at the precision of it to be honest. It was very good, very energetic and lively. It’s just a great show,” he said.
“I’ve never seen anything quite like that before. It was startling and surprising, but rather well done, that mixture of animation and live dancing. It worked very well, I thought.”
The animation came from Shen Yun’s vivid digitally-projected backdrops, moving scenes that set the dancers in different realms, from vast open grasslands, to the stately elegance of Tang Dynasty pavillions.
He said Shen Yun was a great way to introduce people to Chinese culture.
“China has such a long history ... such a long artistic and cultural tradition, so it’s a very easy and agreeable way to get some experience with that.”
He said How the Monkey King Came To Be stood out for him.
“It was very fantastical.”
CHF is a non-profit international development organization working to help people in developing countries achieve sustainable livelihoods. It has offices in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Guyana, Mozambique, Pakistan, South Sudan, Vietnam.
Reporting by NTD Television and Matthew Little.
Shen Yun has three companies touring the world. The Shen Yun Performing Arts International Company will perform next in Hamilton on Dec. 26-27.
For more information visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org.
