"Shen Yun a Good Fit for Multicultural Toronto," Says Diplomat (Photos)

(Clearwisdom.net) Shen Yun Performing Arts was warmly received at the Canon Theatre in Toronto, Canada, on May 7-9, 2010. It was the first time for Toronto to host Shen Yun.

Among the many distinguished guests in attendence was Julio Fernández Torrejón, the Consul General for the Spanish Consulate in Toronto.

Mr. Torrejón said that this multicultural city was a perfect fit for Shen Yun. "It fits well in Toronto, where there are so many different ethnic communities."

He also said the choreography was "fantastic."

Alan Lokuware, who accompanied Mr. Torrejón, enthusiastically agreed, "Very nice. Very delicate colors. The movements of the dancers were very interesting and elegant. Very special, very different. I enjoyed it."

Overall, he thought that the dance sets had "absolutely perfect movement."

When discussing the state-of-the art digital backdrops, Mr. Lokuware said, "The background is sometimes poetic.

"Colors, pictures, tempo--everything is beautiful. This is very beautiful. It is very surprising!"

MP candidate: Shen Yun presents "themes of compassion, fairness, and courage"

Joe Oliver at Canon Theatre

Joe Oliver, a candidate for the Conservative Party of Canada in Eglinton--Lawrence, was very happy to see traditional Chinese culture and values expressed throughout the show.

A graduate of Harvard Business School, Mr. Oliver was the President & CEO at Investment Dealers Association of Canada for 12 years.

"This is my second time coming here, and I'm struck again, of course, by the beauty, the pageantry, and the tremendous athleticism of the performers," he said.

Mr. Oliver was very attracted to the show's "gorgeous backdrops and the themes of compassion, fairness, and courage that infuse themselves in all of the performances.

"It's really quite remarkable. It's great entertainment and very moving. I'm very pleased to be here!

"There are some values that we all cherish, and sometimes people have great difficulty in asserting them, but over time, they should be triumphant. So, it's a moving experience and I really appreciate being here again."

The ancient values and traditions he referred to were best expressed for Mr. Oliver in the dance performance, "Splitting the Mountain."

He described the piece as a "moving, dramatic story" that showed "hope and the divine spirit ... the power of truth."

He thought that people of all cultures and backgrounds would enjoy the performance.

"Breathtaking!" says Provincial Parliament member

Member of the Provincial Parliament Bob Delaney at the May 8th Saturday matinee

Ontario Member of Parliament Bob Delaney, who serves as the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Revenue, thought the show was "Breathtaking!

"You can't say enough about the dancing, the costumes, or the music. I have seen it once before, and I think it's an awful lot like reading a favorite book or going to see one of your old favorite movies--each time you see it, you pick up more subtle things that impress you even more," he said.

"For example, in the story with the fellow fighting the tiger and with the girls dancing with the very long sleeves--the first time I saw it I was sort of awed by it.

"The second time I saw it, I started to notice the synchronization of the steps and the way that they configure their bodies and some of the subtle things that make the show so memorable," he explained.

Regarding the choreography, Mr. Delaney said, "I think the choreography is wonderful--you can't help but be impressed at the athleticism of the performers and mostly how they come together as one mind.

"Something that seems to be uniquely Chinese is the ability to express a single sentiment through many minds and many bodies, all synchronized perfectly."

Mr. Delaney said the he was also impressed by Shen Yun's digital backdrops, which he thought captured the beauty and essence of China.

"I have always been impressed with the backdrops, particularly. You start to notice subtle things like the flags fluttering and things moving in the backdrop, and it's often as if the backdrop is a film in and of itself."

Mr. Delaney concluded by saying that he would "definitely" recommend Shen Yun to others, adding, "The show is unlike anything you can prepare yourself for."

Toronto area MP: "It was magnificent!"

Members of the audience enjoying the Shen Yun show at Canon Theatre in Toronto Saturday night.

Also in the audience was Mario Silva, Toronto area Member of Parliament, who brought his mother and aunt to the show.

"It was an incredible show," he said. "Certainly everybody who saw it was very impressed with the performance, the cultural aspect, and the singers. It was magnificent. It was certainly something worth seeing."

Mr. Silva said that his overall impression of the show was that it was "very well done, excellent. I think everybody should go see it."

The performances "give you a very interesting perspective on 5,000 years of Chinese culture and history," he said.

"It also had a message of hope and peace, which I thought was quite beautiful. I think, overall, this is a very powerful show. I think it was very well put together, very well orchestrated."

Congratulating everyone involved with the production, he said, "It was an incredible performance, and I think everyone should be very proud of the dancers and the singers. It was quite remarkable."

He concluded by saying that the show gives people food for thought. "There is a lot to see here and a lot to really reflect upon as well."

Sources:

http://theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/34994/
http://theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/34996/
http://theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/35007/
http://theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/35005/