SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Shen Yun Is Reviving Tradition and Faith in a ‘Lovely Way’: Ottawa Theatergoer

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Shen Yun Is Reviving Tradition and Faith in a ‘Lovely Way’: Ottawa Theatergoer
Jessica Tosun at the Shen Yun Performing Arts performance at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa on April 15, 2024. Donna Liang/The Epoch Times

OTTAWA, Canada—Faith in the divine is a tradition that has shaped cultures throughout history and is what continues to help many people overcome adversities. Jessica Tosun, a program officer in a government department, said that seeing Shen Yun Performing Arts reminded her of her roots as well as the importance of having faith.

“I think it’s wonderful. I love the choreography. I love the colors. I really enjoy the multiple stories,” she said during the intermission of the Shen Yun performance at the National Arts Centre on April 15.

“The choreography is gorgeous. They have really beautiful choreography,” she added, remarking that “it’s cool, it’s very nice, and you’re learning the history behind it.”

Shen Yun was founded in 2006 in New York by a small group of leading Chinese artists. The classical Chinese dance company’s mission is to revive China’s 5,000 years of civilization, drawing on its artistic traditions and spiritual foundations that thrived before communism took hold.

Ms. Tosun said, “That would be amazing ... to increase the happiness and traditions, the good traditions.”

Touring the world with an all-new program every year, Shen Yun tells myriad stories from ancient times as well as modern-day China. Ms. Tosun found the dance story depicting the crimes of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to be heartbreaking.

“It happens still today—that’s sad, that’s absolutely sad,“ she said, but noted that Shen Yun’s portrayal ”is a lovely way of [telling] the story for people to view.”
The dance story was about the persecution of the Falun Dafa spiritual faith by the CCP and its impact on an ordinary family in present-day China—a story of hope and resilience.

Being half Lebanese and half Turkish, Ms. Tosun said she knows the sorrow of seeing one’s country in turmoil.

“Both my countries are going through their own turmoil. So it’s sad to see it in other countries. I feel for everyone,” she said.

Shen Yun is unable to perform in China, but that does not stop its artists from exercising their artistic freedom outside China and sharing their beliefs with audiences around the world.

“I believe that the fact that they have that much faith really helps [them] get on in life,” said Ms. Tosun.

Dynasty after dynasty, the Chinese people had a firm belief in the divine. Although the CCP has sought to systematically destroy traditional Chinese culture along with its spiritual essence, Shen Yun is reviving it and bringing it back.

“It’s wonderful to be able to continue that kind of faith and let our children also have the same beliefs,” said Ms. Tosun.

Reporting by Donna Liang and Maria Han.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.
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