TORONTO—Two executives with the Kaitlin Group, an award-winning land developer and builder, were captivated by the Shen Yun Performing Arts opening show at Sony Centre for the Performing Arts on Thursday night.
“It’s a great show, very entertaining,” said Kaitlin president Bill Daniel. “I loved the costumes and the colours and the dance. It’s fabulous.”
“The opening was fabulous, it was very impressive” said CEO Al Pace. “The costumes, the athleticism of the dancers—just overwhelmingly impressive.”
With the mission of reviving China’s rich traditional culture that was all but destroyed under communist rule, New York-based Shen Yun features stories from ancient times in China to stories unfolding today, told through the medium of classical Chinese dance and folk dance.
Shen Yun makes innovative use of animated backdrops that interact with the dancers on the stage, helping to bring the myths and legends of ancient China to life for audiences—something both men enjoyed.
“It was very impressive, was very cleverly done,” said Mr. Daniel.
“It seemed so real,” said Mr. Pace.
The 2012 season is Shen Yun’s sixth since the company was established in 2006. This year Shen Yun continues to perform at the world’s top venues during a tour spanning North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
“I’m very impressed with this. It’s not something that you see every day, traditional Chinese dancing and costumes, and I’m very, very pleased to be a part of it, to have seen it, and to have enjoyed it,” said Mr. Daniel.
Mr. Pace said he would be back next year.
“It’s this sort of a show that I think would attract a lot of people,” he said.
“I had no idea, I was invited to this performance by Bill, I didn’t really know what to expect. But I’ll be here next year and if it does come back, I’ll definitely be bringing my kids and other people.”
The Kaitlin Group, a well-respected builder and developer in the Greater Toronto Area and beyond that has been in business for 20 years, is one of Shen Yun’s sponsors.
Reporting by Teng Dongyu and Joan Delaney
Shen Yun Performing Arts International Company is in Toronto for four more performances at Sony Centre for the Performing Arts.
For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org.
