TORONTO—A standing ovation and a curtain call from a delighted audience kicked off Shen Yun Performing Arts’ five-show run at Sony Centre for the Performing Arts Thursday night in Toronto.
Seeing the production for the first time, Kelly Jackson, a chef who owns a catering business in Toronto, was struck by the sense of calm he felt.
“There’s a certain serenity that comes with watching this—calm, peace, smiling,” he said.
“It just brings me happiness and calm just sitting there watching.”
New York-based Shen Yun tours the world showcasing China’s traditional culture through classical Chinese dance, drawing their inspiration from the Middle Kingdom’s 5,000 years of civilization.
Chinese dance stresses refinement of inner character as well as physical technique, and Shen Yun dancers undergo rigorous training to achieve the technical perfection necessary to perform.
“They’re very talented, they’re very athletic,” said Mr. Jackson.
“They appear like they’re really enjoying what they’re doing, and maybe that’s where my sense of peace and calm comes from.”
The brilliantly coloured costumes in Shen Yun performances display a range of styles, such as imperial dragon robes, phoenix coronets, and cloud capes from the Tang Dynasty, to traditional Han clothing, to the ethnic attire of the Manchurian, Tibetan, Dai, Mongol, and Uyghur ethnic groups.
Audiences are routinely wowed by Shen Yun’s costumes, and Mr. Jackson was no exception.
“Phenomenal, absolutely phenomenal.”
He added that he would tell his friends to take the time to see Shen Yun if they have the opportunity.
“It’s a very good show,” he said.
Reporting by Allen Zhou and Joan Delaney
Shen Yun Performing Arts International Company is in Toronto for five performances at Sony Centre for the Performing Arts.
For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org.
