Shen Yun Performing Arts welcomed a full house on Jan. 31 in Quebec, its first stop in Canada.
Pauline Chauvette is an adviser for Quebec’s Ministry of Culture and Communications. She said: “A lot of joy as well, of hope. It’s true that in one of the scenes, there was despair too, but fundamentally, it’s hope. It’s joy, it’s the celebration of life, and that doesn’t die, and that’s love too. It’s love that’s conveyed, that ultimately we are eternal beings.”
Construction contractor Cindy Hamel said: “It’s gentle and soothing at the same time. I loved it. I really think the dancers are magnificent. The costumes are beautiful. But I love the whole thing. It has both an artistic side and a philosophical side that makes you reflect.”
Headquartered in New York, Shen Yun brings classical Chinese dance and original orchestral music to audiences around the world.
“For me, it is an extraordinary show because it gathers a whole palette of color, of symbols, and of hope for the changes of our time, of the past that brings constructive elements so that the world changes today. I think that culture, dance, music must work in the sense of giving man new hope, and I think that the show carries this message,” said Jean Claude Regy, a former art teacher and a painter.
Franco Pryce is a radio host. He said: “The orchestra was really quite fascinating, to see the merging of the various musical forms, and pentatonic, diatonic scales and everything, it was really fun to see, and they did a good job at it.”
Artists take to the stage to showcase stories and legends inspired by China’s 5,000-year-old civilization.
Aside from presenting a visual feast, viewers spoke about their different takeaways.
“We find that there are messages that pass on the beauty of beings in general, of humanity. I hope this spectacle will last and bring the reflection to young people that the world must change, and that we cannot exist in a world without spirituality,” said Regy.
“We all need spirituality in some way. We are spiritual beings, even if today in our contemporary world it’s less appreciated, but fundamentally we need it in our lives. So I find it essential. Certainly, it is nourishing. But the beauty, the aestheticism, that’s also nourishing. The aesthetics of the dance, it is also spiritual for me. The beauty in the spirituality also, in the lived messages,” said Chauvette.
“This show underlines the things we believe in, in particular, the freedom for all brothers and sisters to express their religion, their love of God and of creation, in their own way, freely, in their home countries, wherever they live, and whatever they believe,”said Pryce.
Shen Yun has received greeting letters from 10 Canadian lawmakers as it embarks on a nine-city tour across the country.
NTD News, Quebec, Canada
