“Don’t miss it, it’s one of the highlights, most beautiful cultural events of the year in the Greater Toronto Area,” said Mr. Menegakis, who saw the show at the Four Seasons Centre in Toronto on the afternoon of March 28. “The dancing was amazing, the … artistry, the singing, the costumes—colourful—such a beautiful, beautiful display of the beautiful Chinese culture.”

Mr. Menegakis said the show is not only beautifully presented but has a “strong message” as well, expanding on some of the themes he saw in the story-dances, such as kindness.

“When you see somebody who’s poor, and they’re hungry, and somebody wants to take advantage of them, but there’s always a good Samaritan, always someone who’s willing to help out, to get rid of the bad, the evil, and to lend a hand and to help the poor,” he said.

“Those are very strong messages, and it’s a message for all of us that we should always lend a hand out to people that need help in our communities where we live and anywhere around the world.”

Noting that he is a Christian, Mr. Menegakis said the spiritual themes in the performance resonated with him, as it’s important to have belief in “something that binds us all together.”

“There’s always a bigger purpose, but there’s something that binds us all together, that brings us all together, and that’s to be good people, to lend a hand, to live in harmony with your neighbours,” he said.

“For two decades, Shen Yun has inspired audiences around the world through classical Chinese dance and music, sharing the richness of traditional culture, artistic excellence, and timeless values. I am pleased to commend all those whose dedication, talent, and hard work have made this remarkable milestone possible,” he said in the proclamation.

“You can really feel the energy in the room, and it really is a testament that when the yoke of oppression is lifted, the human spirit, the beauty, and culture can come forward. So, I think the artists today really have paid honour to 5,000 years of Chinese culture,” he said.

“You could say this is a show, but I would tell anybody who’s thinking of coming, it’s an experience, and it’s an experience you'll never forget.”

Shen Yun is a “celebration of the human spirit,” Mr. Carrie added

Mr. Carrie also said he wishes that people in China would one day have a chance to see Shen Yun, and be free of the communist regime’s suppression.

“It’s so sad looking from the outside to see the repression that’s been happening and the lack of freedom of speech and freedom of expression,” he said.