Podcaster Tammy Peterson, who has also co-hosted talks with her husband, famed author and psychologist Dr. Jordan Peterson, said Shen Yun brings a hopeful message for the world and emphasizes the importance of reviving tradition.
“It’s a hopeful message for the people of the world,” Mrs. Peterson said.
“There is a chance for this to be a rebirth for the country, that would be wonderful. That’s a wonderful thing to hope for,” she said.
Mrs. Peterson added that Shen Yun can also be an inspiration for the West to seek its traditional heritage.
“It’s a good message for our culture too,” she said. “It’s up to us to teach each other that there is a foundation to our culture that is indispensable if we’re going to survive.”
Shen Yun was founded in New York in 2006 by leading classical Chinese artists who had fled communist China’s oppression, with the goal of reviving traditional Chinese culture. The show has faced severe persecution from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), including hoax bomb threats linked to Beijing aimed at disrupting the company’s performances.
Such was the case with Shen Yun’s performances at the Four Seasons Centre in late March and early April. After Shen Yun put on two shows at the venue on March 28, the theatre abruptly cancelled the March 29–April 5 shows after receiving an emailed bomb threat. The venue maintained the decision despite police investigating and confirming that the threat was not credible.
‘Absolutely Beautiful’
Mrs. Peterson said Shen Yun is “absolutely beautiful” and well-choreographed, and praised its orchestra, which combines traditional Chinese and classical Western instruments.“It was also like you were in heaven; there were lots of clouds on the stage. It was beautiful,” she said.
She said that Dr. Peterson, who is currently undergoing health treatment, would have enjoyed Shen Yun.
“He would have really liked it. And the message would have been something that he would be in agreement with me,” she said.
‘Fantastic’
Garry Clement, former national director for the RCMP’s Proceeds of Crime program, said he really enjoyed seeing China’s “rich culture” through Shen Yun.Mr. Clement, who has investigated CCP’s interference in Canada extensively, said it’s “fantastic” that Shen Yun can be performed in countries like Canada that have democracy, and said he hopes this sends a message to the CCP in the face of the regime committing transnational repression.
He said the CCP is a “master of disguise” and that Beijing has infiltrated Canada and the United States, adding that Shen Yun can help counter the CCP’s meddling.
“We need events like this to really put across the true messaging,” he said.
He also praised the performers’ artistic ability, calling the show “fantastic.”
“The athleticism, the grace, and what they’re able to put across, I think, is just fantastic,” he said.
He said he wishes more of his law enforcement colleagues would come to see Shen Yun.
“I’ve said for a long time, the biggest problem, I think, with law enforcement in this country [is that] a lot of police officers do not understand the Chinese culture,” he said.
“If you don’t understand it, you can’t work in it. And I think it’s events like this, appreciating this, really helps you have a better understanding and become a better police officer.”
Resisting CCP’s Interference Tactics
Dean Baxendale, CEO of Optimum Publishing International and the China Democracy Fund, said he is a “big supporter of Shen Yun,” and was among the ones advocating for the show to come back to the Four Seasons Centre.“I certainly made ... the situation very apparent to those in Ottawa and throughout the country, that what the Chinese Communist Party has done to stop the performances with the bomb threats and to stop this great cultural event and show from being seen by so many other Torontonians,” he said.
“I’m glad that we’re able to bring it back.”
Mr. Baxendale, who has seen Shen Yun several times in the past, said Shen Yun’s choreography and music are superb, and praised the beauty of Shen Yun.
“This is a great ... confluence of both the culture, the music, the choreography, the costumes, the colour, and then the use of modern animation to bring forward this story, It makes it very interactive for the audience as well,” he said.
“It’s something very unique that you can’t see in any other kind of classical ballet or dance performance.”
‘Great From the Opening’
Peter Campbell, a screenwriter, said he “loved every second” of Shen Yun.He particularly had high praise for Shen Yun’s animated backdrops, which interact with the dances on the stage.
“It’s great from the opening. As soon as the curtain goes up, it’s beautiful, and I loved every second of it,” he said.
“I love how the backdrop is more than just a backdrop. It’s universal. People are coming in and out of it ... All along, it’s fantastic.”
