TORONTO—“What a feeling!” local council candidate Alex Nascimben said from the theatre after watching Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto.
“This was my first time seeing Shen Yun and the performance was incredible. The colors, the music—I couldn’t help watching the show while also watching the orchestra. It was just incredible,” Mr. Nascimben said, adding that he had come to support Shen Yun after learning the company had returned to Toronto after an earlier hoax bomb threat in March believed to be linked to China.
“I like this combination,” the candidate for the Vaughan regional council said. “It was beautiful. The way it went together was perfect. It sounded so nice. You could really feel it inside your body. The sound was incredible.”
Mr. Nascimben said watching Shen Yun, featuring around 18 pieces and an intermission, was like taking a journey through Chinese history and culture.
“Every time the curtain goes up, you’re waiting to see what’s next,” he said. “Each performance outdid the one before. You see the first one and think, ‘Wow, this is incredible!’ Then the next one comes up and you say, ‘Whoa, my gosh!’ One after another, every performance was incredible. I really enjoyed it.”
He said the stories conveyed meaningful messages that deeply touched him.
“With each performance, there was a message, and I really liked the way it came across,” he said. “I almost got emotional at some times. It was really touching. I loved it.”
Mr. Nascimben said he admired the artists’ perseverance.
‘Happy We Got to See It’
Mrs. Nascimben, a licensed immigration consultant who operates her own practice, also praised the performance.“It was absolutely incredible,” she said. “Beautiful performance. I’m so happy we got to see it finally.”
“I’ve never seen an animation like that,” she said. “It was incredible. The way the performers came out of the backdrop, I felt like I was actually there.”
Shen Yun is known for its innovative use of digital backdrops, in which performers appear to enter and exit the stage seamlessly into animated scenes ranging from ancient courts to contemporary settings.
“The world has been so masked in how we look, and there’s more to life than money,” she said. “It’s just beautiful to enjoy peace and meditation and relaxation.”
Both Mr. and Mrs. Nascimben said they would enthusiastically recommend Shen Yun to others.
“I’ve got to tell a lot of friends about this,” Mr. Nascimben said. “I know there are only a few shows left, so I’m going to spread the word. I have a big following on social media, and I’ll definitely post about it today.”
Mrs. Nascimben agreed.
“I would tell all my friends to come,” she said. “It’s a beautiful opportunity to understand the culture, what has happened, and to be at peace with oneself.”
