Yearly Tradition: Shen Yun Returns to Toronto

Shen Yun Performing Arts leaves audience in awe during its six-day shows at John Bassett Theatre earlier this year. (The Epoch Times)

Shen Yun Performing Arts will be returning to Toronto in early October for the annual Mid-Autumn Festival. The acclaimed New York-based performance company will bring its unique blend of traditional Chinese dance and culture to Canon Theatre.

In what has become a yearly tradition, Torontonians will have a chance to celebrate the popular Chinese holiday with a dose of authentic Chinese culture. Backed by an orchestra, Shen Yun dancers give dramatic portrayal to the cherished stories of the Middle Kingdom’s 5,000-year civilization.

With three touring groups playing on four continents each season, Shen Yun, which is composed of leading dancers, choreographers, and musicians from around the world, has attracted a following that has been growing steadily over the last few years.

In Chinese classical dance, elements of movement have been preserved through generations; they are reflected in martial arts and ethnic dances and permeate the entire culture.

Shen Yun choreographer and principal dancer Vina Lee, a graduate of the Beijing Academy of Dance—China’s top dance school—has performed classical dance both inside and outside China.

“The mission of our performance is to revive traditional Chinese culture and the values of pure grace, kindness, sincerity, and human dignity,” Lee says.

“The ancients lived by these values and their essence is embodied in the show. Shen Yun strives to make every aspect of the production as true to history as possible, from the finest details of the handmade costumes to the depiction of the ancient myths and legends.”

The physical feats of the dancers are complimentary to the cultural substance conveyed in the story-based dances. Each dance expresses a cultural essence beyond what is found in the pages of a history book.

“I believe that as artists, we have the responsibility to bring people not just a show but to provide meaning behind it—to uplift morality, loyalty, and filial piety as in the story of Yue Fei, where the audience is almost always in tears. These virtues and principles apply to any society.”

Shen Yun Performing Arts will play at the Canon Theatre, 244 Victoria St. Show Times are: Friday, Oct. 9, 2009, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009, 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009, 2 p.m. For more information visit shenyunperformingarts.org