HAMILTON, Canada—Former member of Parliament Phil McColeman saw the expression of freedom that China once had through Shen Yun Performing Arts at FirstOntario Concert Hall on April 11.

“I view it as an absolutely refreshing, wonderful way to approach China over the 5,000 years and the dynasties before communism,” Mr. McColeman said.

“The relevance of this show points out that there is no freedom under communism, no freedom of expression. And, of course, the arts are lost because this show cannot play in China. It would be forbidden,” said Mr. McColeman.

Shen Yun also reminded him of the freedom that people often take for granted in our society.

“Our freedom and our liberty and all the things we have, we often take for granted. And we’re witnessing here tonight, from an ideological point of view, what true freedom is and has been in China prior to communism,” he said.

“It totally aligned with all spirituality, which focuses on God, which focuses on a higher being, which focuses on the salvation, and the divine being the salvation and the way,” he said.

Shen Yun displays values that are essential to society, and Mr. McColeman said those values are what we should live by.

“It gives us instruction on how to live,” he said, noting that “all of the virtues that were on display tonight through the arts are common to all of our cultures.”

He also said he found Shen Yun’s artists courageous, “because I think that more people have to be courageous from all walks of life to be able to say boldly and in a manner that doesn’t apologize for the fact that we are spiritual beings.”

“I thought that the costumes were just beautiful. I’ve never seen so much color in a show before,” said Mrs. McColeman.

One unique feature of classical Chinese dance is the technique of quick, small steps that carry the dancer across the stage in a light and floating manner.

“Beauty, grace,” Mrs. McColeman said. “You could tell they worked really, really hard on it. And I said that the dancers, they were just floating on the stage.”