SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Shen Yun Shares the True China With Montreal Audience

Feb 06, 2023

MONTREAL, Canada—Despite being the 21st century, there are still many crimes against humanity that largely escape the world’s attention. One of these deeply moved Emilie Sauvage, a former dancer, actor, and model, as a dance depiction unfolded on stage at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, Place des Arts, on Feb. 5.

“I’ve been wanting to see Shen Yun for years and I’m moved. I’m moved because what I liked most, beyond the art, was the transparency of the human rights and the current situation that continues to exist, and [its inclusion by Shen Yun] to share it with us,” said Ms. Sauvage.

New York-based Shen Yun takes as its mission the revival of 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture prior to communist rule. The performing arts company is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music company, and one of its hallmarks is the use of classical Chinese dance to depict stories from ancient and present-day China.

While the show is unable to perform in China, many of its audience members worldwide have expressed appreciation for some of the dance stories presented by Shen Yun that have raised their awareness of the atrocities happening in China at the hands of the communist regime.

“To share it with us so frankly, to put us back to our situation where we are very comfortable in our blindness—for me, it is one of the most striking messages of the show,” said Ms. Sauvage.

China before communism was marked by dynasty after dynasty of grandeur and prosperity inspired by a culture infused with Buddhist and Taoist spirituality and values. Shen Yun is bringing scenes of this grand culture back to life and sharing them with audiences worldwide.

“It’s wonderful to share so much culture. What I appreciated was the explanation that there is between each scene. It’s really appreciable because in fact we are immersed. So it’s magical,” said Ms. Sauvage.

Shen Yun’s vignettes portray traditional values, which audiences say is evident during the performance.

“It is the frankness that I like. I think it’s true. It’s just so true,” said Ms. Sauvage.

As someone with experience in dance, Ms. Sauvage shared her appreciation for the talent of Shen Yun’s dancers.

“The dance with the water sleeves is beautiful and magical. They are exceptional dancers. Because I danced, I see that it is incredible the technique that they have, the strength, the control.”

Even while performing such technically demanding dances, Shen Yun’s dancers smile through it all, she noticed.

“You see that they have happiness! They love it. They are happy to be there and they share it. They are expressive, they are so beautiful,” commented Ms. Sauvage.

Benjamin Monrose at the Shen Yun Performing Arts performance at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, Place des Arts, in Montreal on Feb. 5, 2023. (NTD) — Benjamin Monrose at the Shen Yun Performing Arts performance at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, Place des Arts, in Montreal on Feb. 5, 2023. NTD

Also in the audience was Benjamin Monrose, owner of a taekwondo academy.

Although Shen Yun’s singers sing in Chinese, audience members needn’t worry that they will not understand. Shen Yun’s digital backdrop displays a translation of the text for audience members to follow along.

“The tenor moved me a lot,” said Mr. Monrose.

The erhu is a permanent feature of Shen Yun’s live orchestra. It also has its moment under the spotlight in a solo performance.

“The erhu. It’s just magical. I vibrated to the sound. I think I vibrate more to the sound than to the movement. It really touched me,” he said.

Upon hearing that Shen Yun cannot perform in China, Mr. Monrose shared his sadness at the news.

“I feel a little bit of sadness because it’s a lot of history that has been repressed by China. It’s 5,000 years of history that has been stopped. It’s very touching,” he said.

“We want to see more.”

Reporting by NTD and Maria Han.

The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.