TORONTO—“I loved it—fantastic!” was how TV producer Mr. Rinaldo described the Shen Yun Performing Arts show he attended on Saturday afternoon at Toronto’s Canon Theatre.
“This is my first time experiencing Chinese cultural arts,” he said. “I loved the drummers, the sound is beautiful, and I liked the English and Chinese presentation, it was very nice.”
Mr. Rinaldo added that he would like to see “this kind of art performance spread throughout the world.”
New York-based Shen is doing exactly that. Last year the three Shen Yun companies—each with its own orchestra—played in over 100 cities on five continents.
The show depicts legends and spiritual traditions from ancient China, contrasting with stories from today’s China where spiritual belief is persecuted. One such story which impressed Mr. Rinaldo, called Heaven Awaits Us Despite Persecution, shows a father of a young girl being persecuted by the Chinese regime for his belief in the spiritual practice of Falun Dafa.
“I like that as a cultural message to the world, because China is no longer hidden away but it is on the world stage.”
Mr. Rinaldo’s companion said she thoroughly enjoyed the soprano, Pi-Ju Huang.
“I really loved the lyrics of the soprano, that really moved me and she also gave me goosebumps. Her voice is incredible.
“But of course all the performers, the way they performed together, was so elegant and graceful. The culture has to be shared with the world—it is beautiful.”
Shen Yun Performing Arts will present two more shows in Toronto before it leaves Canada. The dance company is scheduled to return in January with its all-new 2010 program. For more information visit www.ShenYunPerformingArts.org.
“This is my first time experiencing Chinese cultural arts,” he said. “I loved the drummers, the sound is beautiful, and I liked the English and Chinese presentation, it was very nice.”
Mr. Rinaldo added that he would like to see “this kind of art performance spread throughout the world.”
New York-based Shen is doing exactly that. Last year the three Shen Yun companies—each with its own orchestra—played in over 100 cities on five continents.
The show depicts legends and spiritual traditions from ancient China, contrasting with stories from today’s China where spiritual belief is persecuted. One such story which impressed Mr. Rinaldo, called Heaven Awaits Us Despite Persecution, shows a father of a young girl being persecuted by the Chinese regime for his belief in the spiritual practice of Falun Dafa.
“I like that as a cultural message to the world, because China is no longer hidden away but it is on the world stage.”
Mr. Rinaldo’s companion said she thoroughly enjoyed the soprano, Pi-Ju Huang.
“I really loved the lyrics of the soprano, that really moved me and she also gave me goosebumps. Her voice is incredible.
“But of course all the performers, the way they performed together, was so elegant and graceful. The culture has to be shared with the world—it is beautiful.”
Shen Yun Performing Arts will present two more shows in Toronto before it leaves Canada. The dance company is scheduled to return in January with its all-new 2010 program. For more information visit www.ShenYunPerformingArts.org.
