VANCOUVER—Shen Yun Performing Arts, the dance company known for capturing the visual, historical, and spiritual wealth of China’s traditional culture, returns to Vancouver this week to play five shows at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.
In these days of mass production and sensationalism it is rare to find an event that portrays real cultural depth. Shen Yun Performing Arts stands out as a diamond in the rough. Traditional Chinese culture and its influence on the most populous nation on earth has not always been something western nations can easily experience or understand and rarely has there been an opportunity to do so.
The fast-paced world and complicated society of the present day stand in sharp contrast to the traditional ways and values of the 5,000-year-old Chinese civilization. Shen Yun Performing Arts presents its audiences with just such an opportunity.
With classical Chinese dance as the vehicle, Shen Yun draws from China’s age-old history and incorporates the folk tales and legends that helped shape the Asian continent. Universal in theme and meaning and still relevant today, the stories and dance open a window into the mind and heart of the unique dynasties that existed in China.
The physical feats of the dancers are complimentary to the cultural substance conveyed. Each dance expresses a cultural essence that goes beyond what can be captured in the pages of a history book.
David Suzuki was among the audience members who attended last year’s show in Vancouver.
“It’s quite staggering—the costumes are sensational. But the physical athleticism of the performance is quite impressive,” said the world-renowned environmentalist.
In Chinese classical dance, elements of movement have been preserved through generations. They are reflected in the martial arts and ethnic dances and permeate the entire culture.
The effort and dedication of the performers to truly convey a sense of divinity in their performances is unsurpassed. A common audience reaction is tears and a sense of wonder.
“It was so well done,” said Irving Guttman who also took in last year’s show. Guttman is known as the father of opera in western Canada.
“The professionalism of the cast was fabulous. The music, the patterns in the dancing, and the energy—it was absolutely marvellous. We were taken away in a wonderful world of dance and movement that I haven’t seen in a long time.”
It was Mao Zedong’s destructive Great Cultural Revolution that almost wiped out China’s ancient traditions. Thanks to Mao, artistic performances became propaganda vehicles for the Chinese Communist Party and by the end of his reign, the country’s culture and arts were severely damaged.
To truly portray the essence of a lost culture takes more than dance and song. It has taken much study and dedication for Shen Yun to espouse the true beauty, depth, and excellence of China’s traditional culture.
The New York-based company currently has three touring groups performing in cities throughout the world. One of the unique features of the Shen Yun performers is that most are ethnic Chinese living in the United States, with some hailing from Canada—something that impressed Senator Mobina Jaffer.
“What is really amazing, and it’s something to be very proud of, is that Canadians are participating in this. The countries [the performers] originally come from, to preserve that art, to in fact make it go further, that’s the strength of Canada—to make sure that people are able to express what their heritage is. And this is what we see today—people expressing their heritage.”
Shen Yun Performing Arts will play five shows at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre from March 25-28. Show times are: Thursday, March 25, 7:30pm; Friday, March 26, 7:30pm; Saturday, March 27, 2:00pm; Saturday, March 27, 7:30pm; and Sunday, March 28, 2:00pm. Ticketmaster: 604 280 4444; Online: ticketmaster.ca/shenyun; Hotline: 1 800 683 0191.
In these days of mass production and sensationalism it is rare to find an event that portrays real cultural depth. Shen Yun Performing Arts stands out as a diamond in the rough. Traditional Chinese culture and its influence on the most populous nation on earth has not always been something western nations can easily experience or understand and rarely has there been an opportunity to do so.
The fast-paced world and complicated society of the present day stand in sharp contrast to the traditional ways and values of the 5,000-year-old Chinese civilization. Shen Yun Performing Arts presents its audiences with just such an opportunity.
With classical Chinese dance as the vehicle, Shen Yun draws from China’s age-old history and incorporates the folk tales and legends that helped shape the Asian continent. Universal in theme and meaning and still relevant today, the stories and dance open a window into the mind and heart of the unique dynasties that existed in China.
The physical feats of the dancers are complimentary to the cultural substance conveyed. Each dance expresses a cultural essence that goes beyond what can be captured in the pages of a history book.
David Suzuki was among the audience members who attended last year’s show in Vancouver.
“It’s quite staggering—the costumes are sensational. But the physical athleticism of the performance is quite impressive,” said the world-renowned environmentalist.
In Chinese classical dance, elements of movement have been preserved through generations. They are reflected in the martial arts and ethnic dances and permeate the entire culture.
The effort and dedication of the performers to truly convey a sense of divinity in their performances is unsurpassed. A common audience reaction is tears and a sense of wonder.
“It was so well done,” said Irving Guttman who also took in last year’s show. Guttman is known as the father of opera in western Canada.
“The professionalism of the cast was fabulous. The music, the patterns in the dancing, and the energy—it was absolutely marvellous. We were taken away in a wonderful world of dance and movement that I haven’t seen in a long time.”
It was Mao Zedong’s destructive Great Cultural Revolution that almost wiped out China’s ancient traditions. Thanks to Mao, artistic performances became propaganda vehicles for the Chinese Communist Party and by the end of his reign, the country’s culture and arts were severely damaged.
To truly portray the essence of a lost culture takes more than dance and song. It has taken much study and dedication for Shen Yun to espouse the true beauty, depth, and excellence of China’s traditional culture.
The New York-based company currently has three touring groups performing in cities throughout the world. One of the unique features of the Shen Yun performers is that most are ethnic Chinese living in the United States, with some hailing from Canada—something that impressed Senator Mobina Jaffer.
“What is really amazing, and it’s something to be very proud of, is that Canadians are participating in this. The countries [the performers] originally come from, to preserve that art, to in fact make it go further, that’s the strength of Canada—to make sure that people are able to express what their heritage is. And this is what we see today—people expressing their heritage.”
Shen Yun Performing Arts will play five shows at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre from March 25-28. Show times are: Thursday, March 25, 7:30pm; Friday, March 26, 7:30pm; Saturday, March 27, 2:00pm; Saturday, March 27, 7:30pm; and Sunday, March 28, 2:00pm. Ticketmaster: 604 280 4444; Online: ticketmaster.ca/shenyun; Hotline: 1 800 683 0191.
