TORONTO—Saeid Aghaei’s real estate projects in Toronto’s booming suburbs are now home to many Chinese Canadians.
On Saturday, Mr. Aghaei, a principal with Times Group, a developer of premium residential and commercial properties, had the opportunity to experience Chinese culture and artistry up close.
Mr. Aghaei attended Shen Yun Performing Arts, on stage at Toronto’s Sony Centre, together with his companion Kim Aghaei. And the two were impressed.
“The combination of art and technique was excellent—they were perfect,” said Mr. Aghaei. “We loved it.”
Ms. Aghaei said the performance was both beautiful and meaningful. She pointed to a performance entitled The Dafa Practitioner’s Magical Encounter, that struck her in particular.
In that performance, a practitioner of Falun Dafa responds to persecution from Chinese policemen by posting a banner that reads “Falun Dafa is Good.” Police assault him for his proclamation and he flees to a secluded mountain alcove where magical fairies descend in a gesture of encouragement. When the police arrive and try to take him down, they meet with divine retribution at the hands of a fairy.
“It shows how the Chinese system and culture cure themselves” through nature and through “working on the mind, becoming a better person, and more relaxed,” she said.
Mr. Aghaei echoed her comments.
“It shows that when you are in despair you should not give up,” he said, adding that by holding fast and being a good person one meets with success.
Reporting by Jingting Yu and Jason Loftus.
Shen Yun Performing Arts International Company is playing in Toronto until Sunday at Sony Centre for the Performing Arts before continuing on to Mississauga for five shows at the Living Arts Centre.
For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org.
