(Clearwisdom.net) The Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company's second performance in Toronto concluded successfully on the evening of October 10, 2009. When the curtains opened with all the performers on stage, the audience gave them a standing ovation.
Toronto is a city with over 500,000 Chinese people from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Audience members came from all over the city, with different social backgrounds. However, regardless of gender and age, after seeing the Shen Yun performance, they all express their tremendous appreciation of the Shen Yun performance. The show sent out a compassionate and powerful energy, moving the audience to tears and awakening people's respect for divine beings and the desire to return to their original true selves.
New Immigrant in Tears
Mr. Ma, a new immigrant from Guangzhou, took off his glasses and said: " It was wonderful!" After wiping away some tears, he adds, "When I saw the Falun Dafa practitioners being persecuted, the tears streamed down. I was thinking about how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) could possibly do such an inhuman thing to them."
Ma was referring to the dance "Heaven Awaits Us Despite Persecution" which portrays a Falun Gong practitioner persecuted for his belief in the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. Never faltering in his belief, he was tortured to death by the Communist Party police and arose to heaven in the end.
Holding back tears, Mr. Ma said, "It is really, really difficult to imagine that people [CCP police] could act so inhumane, destroying a wonderful family! How can they be so cruel!"
Shen Yun features beautiful choreography, dazzling costumes, creative lighting, moving legendary and modern stories, a live orchestra, and an amazing 3-D animated backdrop, producing a lively, mystical experience for the audience. Mr. Ma said, "The backdrop looked like heaven, with numerous layers and amazing beauty."
Mr. Ma said that the dances brought scenes of the Chinese history's "prime period" to life. " The dance formation was great. Sometimes there were seven people on the side, and one person in the center, it was a perfect arrangement."
Regarding the vocal solo presented by soprano Ms. Huang, Ma said: "Absolutely beautiful. Without professional training, it is impossible to make such high pitches."
Shen Yun Makes Chinese Proud
Ms. Wang who came to Toronto from Mainland China two years ago said that Shen Yun was a grand presentation of authentic Chinese culture with a huge cast and it is very uplifting and inspiring.
Regarding pieces which portrayed contents with connection to divine beings, Ms. Wang said that she completely understood as those are beliefs deeply rooted in Chinese culture.
"I have several friends and we all are interested in performing arts. We read many news reports about the Shen Yun World Tour and were very happy to learn that Shen Yun would perform in Toronto for three days. So we all come," said Ms. Wang, "Chinese people should be proud of Shen Yun. I really feel that it was a rewarding experience."
Mr. Wang strongly believes that the Shen Yun performance is something Chinese people should be proud of.
Another mainland immigrant Ms. Cao loves stories in the "Journey to the West (the Monkey King)." So when she saw "The Monkey King Triumphs," she was very happy.
Ms. Cao also said that when she saw the dance about a persecuted Falun Dafa practitioner, "Heaven Awaits Us Despite Persecution," she was deeply touched. "When I saw the scene in which the little girl's dad was killed, I was touched. But I also felt happy for him because he found his path to true self."
"I think the show is wonderful and very professional, and the dancers are great," said Ms. Cao.
Chinese Opera Professional: The Show Is a Good Way to Promote Chinese Culture
Ms. Yang, a Chinese Opera professional immigrant, said that the show was very powerful with beautiful stage settings and remarkably coordinated performance.
"I love the dances, especially "Mongolian Chopsticks" and "Drummers of the Tang Court." The rhythm is very strong and coordinated." Ms. Yang said, "For one person it is quite simple, but for such a large number of people, it is very hard to beat at exactly the right time. They must be very well trained."
Ms. Yang noticed that Western audience members loved the performance as well. She said: "The show is a great way to promote Chinese culture and it attracts so many people with different cultural backgrounds. As a Chinese, I really feel great [proud]."
The Truth Frees Us from Evil
Mr. Wang came to Canada six years ago to study economics. After viewing the show, he commented that Shen Yun gave an excellent presentation of traditional Chinese culture--a divinely-bestowed culture.
"Shen Yun showcased traditional Chinese culture. For example, the first piece "The Five Millennia Begin" showed divine beings coming down from heaven with Master Buddha to create Chinese culture of five thousand years. For people of my age, we have never gotten in touch with real Chinese culture including stories like this in Mainland China. Through the music and dancing, Shen Yun showed us the real thing," said Mr. Wang.
Wang was very touched by the pieces about the persecution of Falun Dafa, and he said, "The show also let us learn the truth about Falun Dafa. Th truth frees us from evil."
"I will definitely come back in January to see their new programs," said Mr. Wang.
Mr. Wang said the Falun Dafa program was very memorable
Chinese Immigrant Hopes That Shen Yun Soon Performs in China
Mr. Zhou came in a wheelchair with his son. After the show, his son said that the show was a visual delight and he fully understood the contents of the show.
"I learned about many of the stories portrayed in the programs in my childhood. The show is amazing, and this world tour is very meaningful. Shen Yun should perform in China."
Chinese Couple: Shen Yun Is a World Class Show
Mr. Ding and his wife Ms. Wang came to see the show. They are loyal readers of the Epoch Times from which they learned about this show.
"The backdrop design is very beautiful, and I think it must be number one in Toronto as no other show has this," said Mr. Ding, "This is a world class show."
