Shen Yun Performing Arts in Calgary: 'A Celebration of China's Rich History and Traditions' (Photos)

(Clearwisdom.net) Nima Dorje, a chemical engineer and co-founder of World Tibet Network News joined the highly enthusiastic audience on April 1 at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium in Calgary. He expressed his appreciation for Shen Yun Performing Arts, "This is my first time to see this show and I absolutely enjoyed it!"

Nima Dorje, a chemical engineer, was in the audience of the April 1 evening Shen Yun Performing Arts show.

"I really enjoyed the show, especially since it's really a celebration of China's rich history," he said.

Besides China's history, the show also brought "the story of the suffering of the people in China, particularly of the Falun Gong practitioners," he said, expressing his sadness over the on-going persecution.

He continued, "The message that I took, in some ways, it's also the statement. When you look at communism, it is really something foreign that came into China. So, the show is really a celebration of the rich Chinese traditions and the Chinese history, which the Chinese people ought to be really proud of."

Mr. Dorjee said that the Shen Yun performance, "is a celebration, but with a conscience, with a sense of reminding people of the values and what at the end boils down to basic fundamental values. This gets into the aspect of one has to go into the history, has to go into the core values of where it comes from."

Mr. Dorjee was deeply moved by what he had seen during the performances and particularly what is taking place in China today.

"When you look at the different parts of the programs as to what was memorable as such, besides what I was telling you early, you know of course there is also the dance the colorful aspect. There is beautiful imagery and those things linger in your mind."

"I think what you are left with at the end of it is also the message. In a subtle way it's a message of peoples' beliefs, resilience and also the aspect what people go through in terms of maintaining their beliefs if you will and overcoming those adversaries, in this case the Chinese governments continued persecution. So to me that's what you leave with because at the end that's the message."

For him, what is going on in China today is so short lived, "when you put it in the Chinese context of history. There is some 5,000 years of proud history."

Beyond the sadness in some of the story, there was so much more to the show, which he wanted to share before he left for home.

"I enjoyed the special effects, I enjoyed the goddesses, their dances, so it was really entertaining ... The show was purely entertaining as well, and that is what was enjoyable. I really enjoyed it."

Mr. Dorjee, according to his biography, is of Tibetan origin, and immigrated with his mother and brother to Canada in 1981. A co-founder of World Tibet Network News, Nima is very active with the leadership of the global Tibet Support movement through Canada Tibet Committee. He is well-known for his public service work.

Profoundly Moved by the Messages

Luis Garrido, a director a development and property management company headquartered in Spain, attended the show with his children. They had also just met another Latin family who were equally impressed with the show.

Mr. Garrido expressed his appreciation after seeing Shen Yun Performing Arts for the first time.

Luis Garrido, a director of a development and property management company headquartered in Spain, attended the show with his children.

"It was beautiful with all the colors and synchronization. And, the stories were beautiful because they have a message, which I liked," he said.

After listening to the songs he was deeply touched. "I'm a Catholic. I'm not Buddhist or of any other religion. But, the bottom line is that we have removed God from the world and one of the songs of that tenor said atheism is but a lie. I liked that message. It's good. I loved it."

Mr. Garrido's friend agreed and wistfully said, "They are coming back to the good roots and trying to give a good message to our children. It's really nice."

Mr. Garrido continued, saying, "Yes, they were talking about how public morals have gone downward, you know. I guess that's the reason for some of the problems we have in the world today. So, I loved it."

What was also memorable were the dazzling costumes and the dancing. "It was real dancing you know, beautiful," he said. "And the girls, I thought it would be too long for the five-year old, but she loved it too so it was a great show."

Mr. Garrido spoke of the dance Flowing Silk, where silken sleeves flow softly through the air, much like drifting ribbons in the breeze ... Dances such as this with what Chinese call "water sleeves" are a favorite in classical Chinese dance. The sleeves patterns conjure an image of rippling water.

"All the colors and the long sleeves are probably flying across the air, beautiful," he said.

The Shen Yun Orchestra brings together two of the world's greatest classical music traditions, Chinese and Western, something that Mr. Garrido also enjoyed.

"[The music was] very in tune with the dancing. So, I liked that too," he said. "It's a super production."

Next year, when the show comes back, he will not miss seeing it and at that time he will bring his wife, children and if possible other members of his family.

"My wife couldn't come because she's taking care of the one month old [baby]. But, if [Shen Yun] are here next year, the little one, and these three and my wife will be here too. Probably my sister and my brother-in-law too."

Source:

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/32631/

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/32640/