MONTREAL—Jocelyn Bridgeman, a fashion designer and professional buyer, was inspired and deeply moved by the colours and costumes of Shen Yun Performing Arts after seeing the classical Chinese dance company’s final performance at Place des Arts Sunday afternoon.
“The show was beautiful,” she said, noting especially “the colours, the dancing, the traditional aspect.”
New York-based Shen Yun, founded in 2006, is dedicated to the mission of reviving the traditional culture of China, a heritage that is 5,000 years in the making.
Having worked in fashion for 30 years, both as a designer and a buyer, at major Canadian department stores, Ms. Bridgeman spoke on how impressed she was by the show’s use of colour in the costumes as well as backdrop scenery.
“The corals, the beautiful turquoises, the jades, those colours were spectacular,” she said. “They used a lot of colour in combinations. It was really, really beautiful, really, really nice!”
She added. “For sure I will be able to use some of the ideas and put them into my work also, so that was exciting.”
In particular, she noticed the use of the “water sleeves” that are used in classical Chinese dance.
Water sleeves have an extra length of silk, which serve as extensions of a dancer’s arms and linger in the air for a time even after the end of a movement, producing a graceful trailing-ripples echo effect.
“That was spectacular,” Ms. Bridgeman said.
She noted that the costumes and fabrics were beautiful, as well as the animated backdrops that extend the stage into other worlds and integrate with the choreography and storyline of each piece.
“I loved the background, how it brought out the rural landscape … it was beautiful,” said Ms. Bridgeman.
A diversity of backdrops projected behind the performers capture stunning sceneries such as imperial palaces, mountain monasteries, blossoming lotus ponds, and the majesty of heavenly paradises,
“It was not just inspirational for my work. I took it very personally also,” Ms. Bridgeman said.
“I thought lotus was beautiful, and I loved the snowflakes, the spring snowflakes,” she said, praising two of the pieces that displayed the skill of the performers as they danced with lovely full-circle fans and sequined handkerchiefs.
“I loved also the country dances where everyone was a little more upbeat,” said Ms. Bridgeman.
She was referring to a free-swinging, lively dance paying tribute to the Qiang people in a harvest celebration. The Qiang, also called the Erma, is one of China’s oldest ethnic groups, from the southwestern part of the country.
“I loved that one, where the people are working together,” Ms. Bridgeman said.
The Amei ethnicity, one of Taiwan’s indigenous peoples, was also featured in the show. With their elaborate headdresses, the dancers depicted the joy of the Amei people in their devotion to teamwork, coordination, and community.
“It makes you feel good and very alive. I like it very much,” said Ms. Bridgeman.
Reporting by Doris Liu, Matthew Little, and Cindy Chan
Shen Yun has three equally large companies touring the world with an all-new program each year. Each company has its own orchestra and vocal soloists. Shen Yun’s International Company will perform in Kitchener, Ontario, on Jan. 10-11 before heading to Toronto for five shows at Sony Centre for the Performing Arts.
For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org.
