Educators Touched by Shen Yun: 'Just absolutely amazed' (Photo)

(Clearwisdom.net) Mr. Lebart, an instrumental music teacher in the Catholic school system, joined the enthusiastic audience attending the Shen Yun Performing Arts show on Saturday afternoon at the Canon Theatre in Toronto.

 

Mr. Lebart at Shen Yun Performing Arts in Toronto

Mr. Lebart expressed his deep appreciation for Shen Yun's music. In addition to performances of Chinese classical dance, Shen Yun also features a full orchestra which fuses Western and Chinese instruments and vocal performances by internationally acclaimed soloists.

"The music was beautiful; absolutely gorgeous songs. Even through I don't understand the language, even without the subtitles coming up, you can feel the emotion of the music, you can feel the strength of that, so it still comes across," he said adding that the singers' voices were so powerful that they did not need microphones.

He was impressed by Shen Yun's unique and interactive backdrops. "The visual--the visual is amazing. That's an amazing effect. Even though you know what it is, it gives you the sense of something descending from the heavens. It makes an incredible impression that way," he said.

Watching the performances gave Mr. Lebart a feeling of hope. "I think it's a sense. It's an anticipation we all have--that regardless of what religion ... we all have that feeling that we are hoping something is going to come down and save us, clean up this big mess for us," said Lebart.

He said he found it easy to relate to traditional Chinese culture and values. "I'm certainly Western by appearance, but probably more Chinese in my head," he said, laughing.

Mr. Lebart shared that after seeing Shen Yun before, not only did he make sure to return and see it again, but emphatically said he would come back. "Absolutely! I will be back again, no question."

Music Teacher Brings Family: 'Really proud to be here!'

Mr. Roach, a music teacher at an elementary school in Niagara, brought his entire family to see Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Canon Theatre in Toronto on Saturday afternoon. Not only did he bring his entire family to the show, but after hearing about Shen Yun from friends at Brock University he made sure to tell his teacher colleagues as well, many of whom were also at the show.

"We were just absolutely amazed with the performance. We're stunned with the choreography. We loved the audience as well, that participated so much during the performance."

As a musician, Mr. Roach was particularly interested in Shen Yun's vocalists and innovative East-meets-West symphony orchestra which combines both Western and traditional Chinese musical instruments.

"The live orchestra, the mixture of the Eastern and the Western was just terrific. I want a CD; that is what I was here [in the lobby] looking for...I can't help but want to do pieces of this with my school. I would love to bring that tradition even further to the Western feel. So I see a good mix of cultures together. It made us feel very welcome as well."

"We thought the singers were amazing--they brought the house down," he added.

Reflecting on the performances, Mr. Roach said, "I loved the drums, so all the drummers and the men that were going at the very end of the first half, that was my favorite. And the last song the tenor sang, that was fantastic."

"I guess I have to add one more, when the little girl came out at the end again, I must admit to crying again, because that was very moving--that whole dramatization of what is happening over there, that was very moving for me."

Mr. Roach was referring to "Heaven Awaits Us Despite Persecution," one of two dances in the performance that depict the persecution of Falun Gong in China today. The piece depicts the story of a father who dies for his spiritual practice.

Mr. Roach said his family were impressed and moved by the dances and he felt that the show offered a great experience for his children.

"It is a good show, a really great show. We are really interested in coming back. My daughters are musically inclined as well, and they absolutely loved it. They want to come back to any show these guys do. Really proud to be here."

Graphic Designer: 'Very beautiful!'

Also attending Saturday's matinée performance was Ms. Schwabe, a teacher and graphic designer from Mississauga, who highly praised the show. "All the performers deserve to recognized and appreciated. It was beautiful, not just in terms of technique, but in terms of message. I think it is very beautiful! The choreography is amazing."

Ms. Schwabe said the cultural differences between Western and the ancient Chinese traditions she saw in the show made an impact on her.

Shen Yun draws inspiration from China's rich 5,000-year history and presents dances that bring to life the ancient legends and spiritual traditions of that civilization. Included are pieces touching on Falun Dafa, a meditation and self-cultivation practice outlawed in China today.

"I love it. I learned a lot of things, the philosophy of the Dafa. I never heard about that before, so that was very nice as well. Somebody in the audience I asked gave me a quick review of the main values of the philosophy, which was quite interesting. It was really great."