‘It’s a 10 out of 10,’ MP Says of Shen Yun

KITCHENER-WATERLOO, Canada—It was Stephen Woodworth’s second time seeing Shen Yun Performing Arts, and the MP for Kitchener-Centre had the same heartfelt praise to give as he did the first time he attended the premier classical Chinese dance production at Centre in the Square three years ago.

“It’s a10 out of 10. I would definitely recommend it,” he said, after seeing the show Wednesday night.

“What I’m most impressed by is how many layers there are to this performance,” Mr. Woodworth noted.

“On the surface you have such pageantry and colour and movement, it’s just a sheer delight to watch. It’s an enjoyable entertainment. We dream about flying in our sleep sometimes, but these people actually fly on the stage,” he said, referring to the highly technical movements in classical Chinese dance—combinations of leaps, turns, flips, spins, and other aerial and tumbling techniques.

“If you go a little below that, you can see that delightful illusion is really the result of hard work, discipline, and great artistry, and I admire that—that self-mastery that the artists put into that,” said Mr. Woodworth.

“When you go a little below that, you see that the story is about truthfulness, and compassion, and forbearance, which are the ideals of the Falun Dafa,” he said.

Founded in 2006, New York-based Shen Yun is dedicated to the mission of reviving the traditional culture of China, a rich heritage with a deep moral and spiritual essence that has been all but lost under decades of communist rule.

The company tours the globe each year with an all-new program of classical Chinese dance, Chinese ethnic and folk dances, and original songs and musical compositions in its endeavour to bring about a renaissance of traditional Chinese culture that is true to its divinely inspired origin.

A hallmark of Shen Yun is its story-based dances based on myths and legends throughout China’s 5,000-year history, as well as contemporary events now unfolding in China in the persecution of those who practice the Falun Dafa spiritual discipline.

Courage and Hope

“And of course, all of these layers are suffused by a kind of sadness, and yet courage and hope that arises from the persecution of the Falun Dafa in China. So I like the fact that it’s a thoughtful presentation,” Mr. Woodworth said.

“It’s a sad feature of human history that people are sometimes persecuted simply for what they believe,” he said.

He noted that he was most touched by the performance pieces that depicted the suffering of the persecuted and their courage, hope, and strength amidst adversity.

“In that sense you could say that it inspired me. I from time to time have adversity in my own life and so it is always good to be reminded of hope and courage,” Mr. Woodworth said.

He expressed support for the mission of Shen Yun.

“If we don’t know where we’ve been, we don’t know where we are or where we’re going. So I think it’s important for all of us to maintain contact with our culture,” he said.

He added that, as a member of Parliament, he meets a great many people from all around the world who come to Canada, and he has found that “the more that we appreciate each other’s differences, the more we can actually see how much we have in common. Our aspirations, our hopes, or dreams, even our fears are all very much in common.”

“So it’s a good thing for everyone to learn about Chinese culture,” he said. “Truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance—these are really universal values.”

Backdrops’ Artful Illusion

Mr. Woodworth commented on some of the highlights of the performance that stood out for him.

“When the mystical figures come down from the mountain and then appear on the stage, I think that’s a great bit of artful illusion and that’s very enjoyable,” he said of the high-tech digital backdrops that present vivid imagery and are animated to enhance each dance and story.

He also praised the dancers for their grace and skill.

“The men, when they dance seem to actually float in the air. They fly through the air. The women, when they tiptoe … across the stage, really almost look like they’re floating as well,” he said. “I just get a kick out of that.”

“I think it was excellent in many respects,” Mr. Woodworth said of Shen Yun.

“The entertainment was very original, and at the same time historic, or classical. I really admired the effort and the discipline and the obvious training of the musicians, right through the dancers to those who make the costumes, even the backdrop was done with excellence.”

Mr. Woodworth was accompanied by his wife, Sharon. He said she enjoyed the evening very much as well.

“Absolutely, she does. That’s another part of my enjoyment. It’s to watch her smile and laugh and watch the performance too,” he said.

“It’s just a delightful entertainment. The pageantry, the colour, the music, the wonderful dancing makes it a very enjoyable experience for everyone.”

Reporting by NTD Television, SOH Radio, and Cindy Chan

The Shen Yun Performing Arts International Company will now head to Toronto’s Sony Centre for the Performing Arts for a five-show run from Jan. 12 to 15, followed by another five-show run at Mississauga’s Living Arts Centre from Jan. 19 to 22.

For more information, please visit www.shenyunperformingarts.org.