HAMILTON, Canada—“It was breathtaking, that’s my word for it,” said an astounded Ilona Newton at the Shen Yun Performing Arts show on Tuesday night at Hamilton Place Theatre.
A former ballet dancer and Hungarian National Competition winner in rhythmic gymnastics, Ms. Newton is the owner of the Ilona School of Dance in Niagara-on-the-Lake where she trains competitive dancers in a variety of dance styles.
“Beautiful artistry, beautiful choreography, I enjoyed that very much,” she said. “And the dancers are really skilled, best, top-notch.”
New York-based Shen Yun presents performances of classical Chinese dance, which alongside classical ballet is one of the most comprehensive dance systems in the world.
In addition to its depth and expressiveness, another aspect that makes classical Chinese dance unique is its foundation in 5,000 years of Chinese culture.
Lost in communist China today, this divinely inspired heritage, which carries traditional standards for human conduct and moral values, is being revived through Shen Yun’s performances.
Through its dances, Shen Yun presents a variety of legends and stories spanning China’s long history up to the modern day.
One that struck a chord with Ms. Newton was The Choice, a tale about a contemporary issue in China today.
A man, after being recruited by the Chinese police, has a choice when he comes face to face with an old friend defending a group of Falun Dafa practitioners being beaten by police.
Falun Dafa, a traditional practice of self-improvement and meditation, and its practitioners are facing severe persecution by the communist regime.
“It was just beautiful, beautiful,” said Ms. Newton in a trembling voice. “I had tears, it was beautifully done.”
She said she was touched by the dramatic elements of the show but was moved by joyful and humorous moments as well.
“It was fantastic. I recommend that everybody sees it,” she said.
Ms. Newton’s young daughter, who accompanied her to see Shen Yun, was captivated by a dance featuring the Monkey King, a beloved character from the celebrated Chinese novel Journey to the West.
“I really like monkey and he’s inspiring to me,” she said.
“Everything was just spectacular,” said Ms. Newton.
Reporting by NTD Television and Madalina Hubert.
Shen Yun Performing Arts has three equally large companies touring the world simultaneously. After its run in Hamilton, Shen Yun’s International Company will be in Montreal for five shows from Jan. 5 to 8.
For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org.
