QUEBEC CITY, Canada—Having seen Shen Yun Performing Arts’ portrayal of classical China’s traditional heritage on Jan. 14, Léopold Castonguay, an educator who just retired a few months ago, said the performance has a valuable learning component.
“I’m truly enchanted,” he said after the show at Grand Théâtre de Québec.
“I think it’s a performance I would like to see instituted in our schools. … [Shen Yun] reveals an old civilization, but one that has a lot to teach us.”
Mr. Castonguay, a former teacher and principal who taught at both the primary and secondary levels for many years, retired in November 2014 from his position as the elected president of the Navigateurs School Board, a post he held for the past 11 years. He has also worked at the Ministry of Education, the Federation of Quebec School Boards, and the National School of Public Administration in Quebec.
Shen Yun’s mission is to revive traditional Chinese culture, which was believed by the ancients to have been passed down from the heavens. It does this through the language of music and dance, primarily classical Chinese dance—one of the richest and most expressive art forms in the world.
Mr. Castonguay praised the dancers for “developing the perseverance to reach such perfect movements. Perfect consistency—the synchronization is always there,” he said.
“I am impressed,” he added. “I’m not well versed in dance, but I can nevertheless appreciate all that’s being done in classical Chinese dance, as well as the backdrops. Everything is very good.”
The performance, which features over 20 pieces, is accompanied by a unique orchestra that blends traditional Eastern and Western instruments.
“The music is engaging,” said Mr. Castonguay, who has also been a city councillor and was deputy mayor of the town of Saint-Romuald.
With 5,000 years of history, China’s traditional culture provides an abundant treasure trove of stories and heroes, which Shen Yun uses as raw material to present the age-old culture and its moral teachings.
“I don’t know much about traditional Chinese culture, but the way it has revealed itself tonight, I think it teaches us a lot,” said Mr. Castonguay.
Reporting by NTD Television and Joan Delaney
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has four touring companies that perform around the world.
With its performances in Quebec now finished, Shen Yun’s International Company will continue on to Mississauga and Toronto. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
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.
