Shen Yun Performers Committed to Their Craft, Says Former Dancer
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"What I appreciated was the unison that you saw throughout every one of the presentations," said John Pardo after attending Shen Yun Performing Arts in Calgary on April 16, 2022. Sunny Chen/The Epoch Times
CALGARY—John Pardo, director of operations at UFA Cooperative and also a former dancer, was impressed by the skill and commitment displayed by the performers of Shen Yun Performing Arts in their show at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium on April 16.
“You can tell that they’re skilled in their craft and their art. They’re dedicated; they’re committed to their technique, and you can see it,” he said of the performance.
New York-based Shen Yun, founded in 2006, is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music company.
The unity and synchronicity of Shen Yun’s performers especially impressed Mr. Pardo.
“What I appreciated was the unison that you saw throughout every one of the presentations. They definitely [put] a lot of time and effort into their presentation and performance.”
Mr. Pardo said he grew up in a family of performers. “I myself danced, growing up on stage. My parents were professional dancers. I performed as well, as a young man, so I understand the level of commitment that’s required.”
Because of his dance training, Mr. Pardo observed in particular the classical instruction he could see from the various dances.
That training is what makes the performance so special in presenting classical Chinese dance, he said.
“I think that’s what gives this a very unique twist on the presentation, on how they present the story of China for me, outside of the technical presentation and the colorful art,” he said.
Shen Yun was established by leading Chinese artists who wished to revive the traditional culture of China, which has 5,000 years of history. It’s a rich heritage deeply rooted in spiritual philosophies that has sadly been all but destroyed following decades of communist rule.
Reflecting on the stories portrayed by the dances that depicted the people of China from ancient times to the modern day, including those who practice the spiritual discipline of Falun Dafa, Mr. Pardo said he found it eye-opening.
“I did not know that or understand that about Chinese history until today, and I pride myself on history,” he said.
“So I’m leaving today with a newfound knowledge and appreciation for the people of China—a new level of respect. Obviously, China has a very diverse history, and it’s such a diverse people.”
Dances Tell an Important Story
Larry and Colleen White attend Shen Yun Performance Arts with their daughter in Calgary, Canada, on April 16, 2022. Beichen Sun/The Epoch Times
Colleen White, a loss prevention manager, attended Shen Yun with her husband, Larry, a military veteran, and their daughter.
Mrs. White said that everything in the performance, especially the costumes and backdrop, impressed her.
“The show was fantastic. It was beautiful. The costumes were vibrant and outstanding. The backdrop’s technology brought the stories to life. It made the transition to each dance and into each step easy to follow,” she said.
Mrs. White said the dances “were all unique in their own way.” Some were classical and some humorous.
What touched her the most was the story of a surgeon and his daughter whose lives are turned upside down when he unknowingly removes her vital organs for money. The dance story depicts real-life events taking place in China today in the persecution of practitioners of Falun Dafa.
We need to allow and respect differences in opinion, Mrs. White said.
“This show is a fantastic example of learning [about] diversity and culture.”
She said she wished it could be seen by the Chinese people in China. “Unfortunately, [they don’t] get a chance to see it,” she said.
Mr. White said he hopes everyone could see Shen Yun, as its message of “believing in yourself” is “a great message.” Another theme of the performance is that it encourages everyone to “be nice to everybody,” he noted.
He especially commended the show’s artistic director for his insight and wisdom. The creator of the performance must have “a huge vision to bring all that together. He’s fantastic. Such a creative mind,” Mr. White said.
Their daughter, who trains in ballet and tap and has practiced gymnastics since she was 4 years old, also enjoyed the show, calling it “awesome!”
Reporting by Beichen Sun, Sunny Chen, and Yvonne Marcotte.
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