Actor and dialect coach Tony Alcantar took his daughter to see Shen Yun Performing Arts for her 13th birthday. After watching the performance at Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver, Canada, on March 22, he was amazed.
“I couldn’t believe as an actor myself. I can’t do what they do, but nevertheless, I know the practice, the practice and the practice and the commitment that it takes at every level,” said Tony Alcantar, actor and dialect coach. “The musicians who are in the orchestra pit and the actual dancers on the stage, the woman who was singing, that blew my mind. So I think it’s 100 percent. Everybody is professional.”
Alcantar, whose career spans more than two decades, has acted in television and film as well as provided voice acting for TV animation programs and video games. He also works as a dialect coach for the television and film industries.
“To me, it’s obvious, but getting to know the heart and the soul of the stories and to see how much it plays a part in the arts. I love it.”
China was once known as the Divine Land. Its culture was said to have been imparted by the heavens, and its civilization centered around the idea of harmony between heaven, earth, and humankind. What struck Alcantar the most were the universal themes presented through the songs and stories.
“Look, I may not be Asian,” said Alcantar. “I can understand love. I can understand the Creator. I can understand struggles. I can understand forgiveness. And the subject matters that this whole show encompassed were relatable by everybody … It has a deep impact on me. I consider myself as someone who is a believer.”
“Be the best that you can be. Stay away from evil choices when you can but it seemed that prayer is answerable by our Creator. And I like the idea that we can reach our Creator and our Creator will help us. It gives me hope.”
Katherine Feng, NTD News, Vancouver
