Fashion Designer Inspired by Colours of Shen Yun

"The movement of the fabric, flexibility, gloss, colour—everything seemed calculated, everything was well coordinated," said fashion designer Annie Racine of the costumes of Shen Yun. The Epoch Times

MONTREAL—Seeing Shen Yun Performing Arts was a magical experience for Annie Racine on Thursday night at Place des Art where the fashion designer found inspiration for her clothing creations as well as deeper reflections about humanity and life.

“It was absolutely beautiful. I had chills all along. It’s filled with emotions,” said Ms. Racine, who is with Street Legal, a leading garment importer/exporter located in the heart of Montreal’s fashion district that offers the latest trends from Europe and North America.

“I fell back to childhood. It was magical,” she said about her experience at the premier classical Chinese dance company’s Montreal opening show.

“Everything was beautiful—music, costumes, choreography,” she said, adding that “the professionalism is incredible.”

Founded in 2006, New York-based Shen Yun takes as its mission the revival of traditional Chinese culture, an ancient heritage that has a history of 5,000 years but was largely destroyed under communist rule in China.

The company tours the world with an all-new production of dance, music, and stories every year, showcasing classical Chinese dance as well as folk and ethnic dance styles that pay tribute to the Middle Kingdom’s diverse regions and dynasties.

As a fashion designer, Ms. Raccine took special notice of the colours and costumes.

“The movement of the fabric, flexibility, gloss, colour—everything seemed calculated, everything was well coordinated,” she said.

“The whole history happens through the colour,” she continued.

“These colours are not used and not seen in everyday life. And there are colour contrasts such as orange and green that are not [typically] used together but that project a totally different energy, which finally energizes us. We should do it more often.”

Story-based dances that evoke themes of courage, compassion, faith, and wisdom are inspired by ancient myths and legends as well as events of significance from modern times, including peaceful resistance against oppression under China’s communist regime.

Ms. Raccine referred to how the costumes and colours were used to convey various moods and qualities: “Black is considered the dark, red is considered the wicked, the evil, and the bright and sweet colours are grace, respect, fluidity. The colours are well thought out.”

Moreover, “[in] the negative side, the evil side … there is much more rigidity in the texture, much more rigidity in the cut of the garment, while all that is feminine is very fluid, very soft, very bright too.”

She added that the show “also opens our eyes to what is currently happening in China, that which we do not hear about here at all.”

She was touched by the moral and spiritual essence of ancient Chinese culture on which the performances are based.

“I think it’s really the basis of human spirituality … it’s truly a beautiful moral, a beautiful thought,” she said.

“This is the basis of humanity. This is the basis of spirituality. This is the basis of evil and of good against evil.”

Ms. Raccine said she would very much like to introduce Shen Yun to her family. “I think it’s really an experience to share.”

Reporting by NTD Television, Nathalie Dieul, and Cindy Chan

Shen Yun Performing Arts has three equally large companies touring the world simultaneously. The International Company will be in Montreal for a five-show run, from Jan. 5 to 8.

For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org