MISSISSAUGA, Canada—As Shen Yun Performing Arts wrapped up its four-performance run at the Living Arts Centre on April 28, theatregoers remarked how the renowned classical Chinese dance and music production brought them a sense of hope and peace and helped them to forget their worries and troubles while seeing the show.
Shen Yun “takes your mind off this world that we live in,” said Ricardo Guanabara, president of a contracting company, who was attending the performance for the first time at its sold-out show that evening.
People are often bombarded with bad news from all around the world, Mr. Guanabara said, but “while I was at the show, I could not think of any of that. I just enjoyed the show.”
Shen Yun performs mainly classical Chinese dance but also features vocal music, instrumental soloists, and a full symphony orchestra that has Chinese instruments leading the melodies. Along with hundreds of meticulously tailored costumes, there is also a vivid, digitally animated backdrop.
“I feel good,” said Alexander Guanabara, Ricardo Guanabara’s son. “It brings tranquility and hope, and the colour, the music, is very soothing and very positive. I really enjoyed it.”
The New York-based company’s mission is to revive 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture. It is a culture that is nearly completely lost, suppressed over decades of communist rule.
Cycling coach Kris Kurzawinski took away a similar message of hope and peace from the Shen Yun performance that evening. Growing up in communist Poland, his dreams of an Olympic medal in 1984 were dashed due to the boycott led by the former communist Soviet Union.
“It was amazing. I never saw something like this,” Mr. Kurzawinski said about the performance. He was impressed by the fitness and athleticism of the male dancers, but also enjoyed the relaxing aspect of watching a representation of 5,000 years of authentic, ancient Chinese culture.
Shen Yun conveys the sense that “the world should be more peaceful,” he said, adding that he believed the show’s final piece, “Hope for the Future,” applies to every country.
“Would be nice if everybody tried to send that message of hope. No more war.”
Reporting by Dongyu Teng and Rahul Vaidyanath
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has four touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. Shen Yun’s International Company is currently touring Eastern Canada. For more information, visit Shen Yun Performing Arts.
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.
