(Clearwisdom.net)
Art Council Executive Wants to See Shen Yun Every Year
OTTAWA-- Ms. Sau Lan Mo (Mandarin spelling: Wu Xiulan) has heard about Shen Yun Performing Arts for several years already but never had the opportunity to see the premier classical Chinese dance and music production until tonight.
She attended New York-based Shen Yun's third and final sold-out show at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa on Monday night.
As an oil painter and art teacher, Ms. Mo is very sensitive to the use of colors, and the show gave her a deep impression of harmony.
"The colors of the backdrop and performers' costumes are coordinated in a very harmonious way," she said.
Not only that, but "the performers are [also] very coordinated as one body in a harmonious way," Ms. Mo added.
Ms. Mo is an oil painter and art teacher.
"Many performances typically focus on the dance itself while neglecting other artistic aspects. But in Shen Yun, the design of colors and choreography work together very well."
As well, "the combined effect of the colors, dance, and music is splendid," Ms. Mo said.
She praised soprano Chia-ning Hsu for her singing, as well as the piano accompaniment to her song. "Overall, I would rate them A+ tonight, definitely."
Ms. Mo believes that Shen Yun uses the best in visual arts to depict the storylines in its trademark story-based dances inspired by myths and legends from ancient China as well as events from modern day China.
"I am Chinese, so I know these stories, because I know Chinese history. But even for Westerners, I think that most can understand these stories. ... Westerners just have to watch the dance and they will understand," she said.
Ms. Mo also noted that behind each story, "there is a certain spirituality that it is trying to convey. And I find it is more touching with our modern life. I think a lot of our modern life these days is really too busy, and we forget about [that part] of our lives."
Common themes that run through performances by Shen Yun reflect the mission of the performing arts company--to revive the true 5,000-year-old artistic traditions of China that thrived before decades of communist rule, including the ancient Chinese people's devotion to virtue and spiritual faith.
"I would recommend [the show] to everyone. I regret that I didn't see it earlier, but I will see it every year," Ms. Mo said.
"Marvelous" Says Publisher of Influential Canadian Newspaper
OTTAWA--The publisher of one of Canada's most influential newspapers took in Shen Yun Performing Arts' third and final sold-out show at the National Arts Centre Monday night.
"It's been wonderful. I really liked the music. I loved the different styles and of course the dancing is wonderful as well," said Mr. Dickson, publisher of The Hill Times during the intermission.
The Hill Times publisher Ross Dickson
He said he was enjoying hearing the Chinese themes and musical instruments mixed in with the western instruments in Shen Yun's unique symphony orchestra. But it was the dancing he found especially captivating.
"I really liked that handkerchief dance the best, that was really cute, and it was fun. With 17 or 18 [dancers] out there they are quite extraordinary. They are young and they're very talented."
In "Handkerchiefs," one of the all-female dances in Shen Yun's 2010 world tour, the dancers twirl and toss their handkerchiefs with practiced ease.
Mr. Dickson thought the performance helped him understand Chinese culture a bit better.
"There are a billion Chinese, I am sure their culture is very diverse, and we are seeing a part of it here which is extremely enjoyable."
"I am just loving it. It's great. I think we have got some of the best seats in the house; it's just marvelous being able to see so well."
Mr. Dickson was joined by Ms. Bracegirdle, an Ottawa piano teacher who also enjoyed the performance.
"The pianist is fantastic," she said of the accompanist to the soloists, two sopranos and a tenor.
"I loved the style of some of the dancing. The women in particular seem to float along the stage ... It is quite different from our classical dance. There is a lot of leaping, but it is very delicate at the same time. It seemed extremely effortless, as if they weren't trying--and yet they were. And they all looked very happy."
"It is full of joy and happiness and it's very wonderful," she said of the performance overall, adding that she absolutely loved the music.
"It is very dramatic, very dramatic. It is always coming to a crescendo. It builds, and then it dies down, and then it builds. It is very dramatic music."
She also said the sound of Shen Yun's orchestra is very diverse and fit well with the dance. "There is the Chinese sound and scale, but there are also some very Western sounds in there. I just loved the music ... It is quite brilliant, the whole thing."
"A Fantastic Extravaganza," Says High Commissioner
OTTAWA--Shen Yun Performing Arts closed out its stop in the nation's capital with a standing ovation and curtain call on Monday night Jan. 11.
Shen Yun's classical Chinese dance performances have captivated Ottawa audiences for four years now.
"I think this has been a fantastic extravaganza that shows the richness of the Chinese culture," said Mr. Das, High Commissioner of a Southeast Asian country.
Mr. Das at Shen Yun's Ottawa performance Monday evening
He and his guest Mr. Young, director of a communications company, among other guests, were in attendance Monday night.
"I think performances like this are one way of educating people of how different cultures from different parts of the world can promote peace, goodwill, and unity," Mr. Das said.
Shen Yun's performances bring to the fore some of the ancient values of China such as tolerance and conviction in one's beliefs.
The diverse performances include large-scale dance numbers, soloists, and re-enactments of ancient legends and contemporary realities.
"There's a meaning behind each story. I think all of us will go back tonight gladly and enriched with what we've seen now," Mr. Das said.
The Shen Yun Orchestra combines Eastern and Western instruments and was a hit with Mr. Young. The emcees introduced all the instruments in the orchestra during the show.
"The orchestra was excellent. This is the true orchestra. They're very, very talented musicians," Mr. Young said.
Mr. Young talks with a reporter about Shen Yun
Mr. Young also has some familiarity with classical Chinese dance. "It's more steeped in time. It's from the old [ancient times] as I understand."
Classical Chinese dance, which forms the basis of Shen Yun's performances, has a history that is thousands of years old. Many of the flips and tumbles used in gymnastics originated from classical Chinese dance.
Category: Shen Yun Performing Arts
