OTTAWA—Shen Yun’s third show in the nation’s capital on Sunday afternoon taught the Nowacki family a great deal about Chinese culture through dance and music.
“It was wonderful, very colourful, very energizing, and relaxing, and we really love it,” said Jerzy Nowacki, CEO of Nowacki Construction Inc.
Nowacki Construction Inc. builds customized luxury homes, detailed to fit and moulded to the acquired taste of the company’s clientele.
Through classical Chinese dance, Shen Yun takes the audience on a journey through China’s 5,000-year history. A performance by Shen Yun is a presentation of traditional Chinese culture from an era long gone: a study in grace, wisdom, and the virtues distilled from the five millennia of Chinese civilization.
Every year, Shen Yun unveils an entirely new lineup of dances, songs, and musical scores.
“It’s history, it’s culture, and art,” said Mr. Nowacki’s wife, Anna.
“Music and colours all together create a beautiful show,” said Mr. Nowacki.
The Shen Yun Orchestra, with its unique combination of traditional Western and Chinese instruments such as the pipa, produces a fresh and unexpected sound.
“The costumes were very rich in colour and very rich in detail,” said Mr. Nowacki’s son Matt, a second-year university student. He was particularly impressed with the performance Manchurian Elegance, in which the dancers wear unique high-heeled shoes that don’t actually have heels.
“It’s very vibrant, makes you happy,” said Matt.
“It expresses a form of culture and form of tradition and that together makes a really strong piece and strong show.”
The relationship between a mother and her son was one of the themes that moved Matt in this year’s program.
In the piece No Regrets, a son who reads the main text of the spiritual practice Falun Dafa is attacked by police because owning the book is forbidden in China. The mother grieves for her son until a host of divine beings appear.
Matt said he appreciated how Shen Yun’s themes touched on traditions, family, and important aspects of Chinese culture.
“A lot of the stories give a personal touch that allows the audience to relate to the plot. It makes the audience connect with the show,” he said.
“We enjoyed the whole show. We like all of [the presentations],” said Mr. Nowacki. “It’s a different culture for us.”
“It’s a new way of learning [about a culture] rather than just being told about this,” said Matt.
Reporting by Crystal Yin and Rahul Vaidyanath.
Shen Yun will stage its final Ottawa performance Sunday night before going on to Hamilton next week, then Kitchener-Waterloo, Montreal, and Toronto in the following weeks.
For more information visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
