KITCHENER, Canada—“I thought the show was absolutely amazing,” said graphic designer Debrah Frank after seeing the lavish production of classical Chinese dance and music presented by Shen Yun Performing Arts at Centre In The Square on Dec. 30, 2014.
Ms. Frank, a graphic and Web designer with medical company IVFonline, said she found the design of the show very well done.
“I thought that it was well put together. Whoever did the design obviously put a lot of thought into it,” she said.
As well as award-winning classically trained dancers, Shen Yun features groundbreaking animated backdrops, hundreds of colourful handmade costumes, and a unique orchestra that combines traditional Chinese instruments with a classical Western orchestra.
“[The costumes] were very colourful. They were very pretty. They worked well with the dances,” said Ms. Frank.
Diena Ryckman, a reiki master and personal trainer who owns her own health and fitness clinic, was highly impressed by Shen Yun’s ability to convey the spirituality inherent in traditional Chinese culture.
“I don’t even know if I can put it into words, to be honest. It brought to life very visual but some spiritual aspects that usually we only see in text. That alone was very powerful and meaningful to see that,” she said.
“My favourite part of the entire show was a visual that was given of ego pursuing wealth and lust. So seeing that was amazing and seeing how those pursuits can turn on us.”
According to Shen Yun’s website, for thousands of years, Buddhist, Taoist, and other disciplines were at the heart of Chinese society, and the ancients believed that culture was divinely bestowed. Calligraphy, music, medicine, attire, and much more were said to have been passed down from the heavens.
“There’s a lot of truth [in the show], so hopefully there’s some enlightenment to lift the veil of illusion for some people. That’s what I hope for people to get out of it,” said Ms. Ryckman.
“The dance and the stories were beautiful. It was wonderfully done, just the way that they put into motion and movement and brought to life the stories—it was really great.”
For Kerryn Wayow, owner of Pinnacle Plus Resumes, it was his fourth time seeing Shen Yun.
“Just exciting to watch the dancing,” Mr. Wayow said. “I have a deeper appreciation for the culture and the classical dancing.”
Classical Chinese dance is at the heart Shen Yun. Known for its gravity-defying flips and spins as well as its gentle elegance, it is one of the most rigorous and expressive art forms in the world, according to the Shen Yun website.
Reporting by Becky Zhou, Quincy Yu, and Joan Delaney
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has four touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit ShenYun.com
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.
