MISSISSAUGA, Canada—As an actress and classically trained ballet dancer, Brittany Bristow knows what it takes to be a professional performer.
So when she attended the Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Living Arts Centre on Sunday, she said she had a deeper appreciation for the artists’ talent, and for the challenging techniques in classical Chinese dance.
“I just appreciate it so much because I know how much precision it takes, how much practice, and just how difficult it is. I’m a classically trained ballet dancer, but I can’t imagine studying [classical] Chinese dance. Its remarkable,” she said.
“There’s a beautiful power to the men and women in the troupe. They’re just phenomenal dancers.”
Ms. Bristow was a born performer. The Toronto native began her career as a child doing television commercials. She later trained with the National Ballet of Canada, performing with world renowned dancers and artists.
But her love for acting continued and she made appearances on movies and in television, including a starring role on the Family Channel series Baxter. In the fall Ms. Bristow debuted on the big screen with the release of Sophie, the story of a young ballerina, directed by her father, Leif Bristow.
Ms. Bristow attended Shen Yun with her father, Leif, and mother, screenwriter Agnes Bristow, who see the show every year. She said its obvious the Shen Yun performers have a deep passion and commitment to their craft.
“I was lucky, this time I got to sit very close and you feel how much those dancers love what they do, and how much they love sharing their story,” she said.
“Its just beautiful to watch, they’re so passionate and expressive.”
New York-based Shen Yun was established in 2006 with the mission of reviving 5,000 years of divinely inspired Chinese culture.
The company performs story-based classical Chinese dance and ethnic or folk dance to express the essence of traditional Chinese culture.
This was Ms. Bristow’s second time to see the show. She said she keeps coming back because of the diversity of ideas and themes presented through the dances and costuming.
“I think a lot of why its so enjoyable is how colourful it is. There’s so many different types of dance within it, there’s the happier dances and the sad, and the dances explaining some of Chinese history and the fairytales,” she said.
“I love the costuming, I think its absolutely stunning. The colours are brilliant. Its not very often that you get to see such extravagant costuming in a performance and it’s beautiful. I loved all of them.”
She says it was also helpful to have the Western and Chinese hosts, who introduce each dance in both English and Mandarin, to help audiences connect to the stories.
One dance that stood out for her was a dance called Snowflakes Welcoming Spring.
In this folk dance, the performers use sequined handkerchief “snowflakes” as continuously-twirling props, to capture the mood of a season’s transition.
“I loved the snowflakes, that was a beautiful, beautiful piece. I loved the hand-work and the intricate handwork of the snowflakes themselves. I was sort of captivated trying to figure out how they were doing everything. That was beautiful.”
Ms. Bristow said seeing Shen Yun was a great way to celebrate the Chinese New Year.
“Its an amazing experience and a beautiful display of artwork,” she said.
“It was a wonderful gift.”
Reporting by NTD Television and Joan Delaney.
Shen Yun, based in New York, tours the world on a mission to revive traditional Chinese culture and stages performances of mainly classical Chinese dance. The International Company, one of Shen Yun’s three equally large companies, will next perform in the Detroit Opera House, Detroit, through Jan. 29.
For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org.
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3WTKCEA4tE[/video]
