(Clearwisdom.net) The Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, Calgary's premier performing arts and community venue, and home of the Alberta Ballet and Calgary Opera, was the venue for a unique and dazzling stage performance by the New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts on March 31, the second of three performances in Calgary. The internationally acclaimed performing company's repertoire of ancient Chinese culture in classical dance and music was warmly received by an audience comprised of people from all walks of life, young and old.

Mr. Dale Erickson, the superintendent of Calgary Arts Academy expressed his admiration for Shen Yun. "All of the dancing is unique, ... how they move is very unique. Everyone is completely precise in their dance, it's amazing!"

Noting the high skill of the dancers, Mr. Erickson said he "can't believe how precise they are and how full of energy they are, how much enthusiasm they have. I think it's wonderful."

Calgary Arts Academy is an arts immersion Alberta charter school. The Academy also features an Adult Choir directed by Mr. Erickson.

Mr. Erickson was intrigued by the live orchestra accompanying the show, which combines classical Chinese and Western instruments. "I feel excited, it's very uplifting music," he said.

"The music is delightful, the orchestra is doing a wonderful job, and the mix between the East and the West, I think we have a lot to learn from the Chinese culture here in Canada."

Shen Yun displays "how to be precise in art forms," and it brings "very strong moral values for all cultures", said Mr. Erickson.

Mr. Dale Erickson, the superintendent of Calgary Arts Academy

"And that is something we need, so I think it's great for families to see."

One of the trademarks of Shen Yun is story-telling through dance, stories ranging from ancient legends to modern day tales of courage. Mr. Erickson said he found this an amazing way "to tell stories about different cultures".

He said he would recommend the show to his students and would bring them to the show.

"I love the costumes. I think the show is delightful. I am enjoying it."

MLA Expresses Support for Shen Yun

Dr. David Swann, MLA for Calgary-Mountain View and Leader of the Opposition, expressed his admiration for Shen Yun Performing Arts, calling it, "The top, the top of anything I've seen"

Dr. Swann has always been active within his community and was responsible for initiating the Healthy City Project in Calgary in 1987. He is also actively involved in raising human rights issues locally and internationally.

This was the second time the MLA was attending Shen Yun, and he was "equally impressed" this time.
"All new, very, very creative, and wonderful talent, all of them," he said.

Dr. David Swann, MLA for Calgary-Mountain View and Leader of the Opposition.

"I was surprised with every part of it."

Noting that Shen Yun Performing Arts has two other companies touring the world, Dr. Swann said, "I think the world is ready for this," and he hopes that Shen Yun is well-supported in every country they visit. He added that he will support Shen Yun Performing Arts in whatever form he can.

City of Calgary Alderman: 'Excellent!'

Among the delighted audience experiencing the millennia-old authentic Chinese culture were Ric McIver, a City of Calgary Alderman, and his wife, the chief executive of the Kids Cancer Foundation, who had also seen the show last year.

"I think the show is excellent. The talent is wonderful and my wife, Christine and I, both love the costumes," Mr. McIver said.

He particularly enjoyed the story-based dances of ancient heroic legends and folk tales, saying, "It was wonderful. The theatrical pieces were very well done and meaningful.

"I liked the part with the bow and arrows, the archers Imperial Archers ... that just really appealed to me. I thought it was well done."

Mrs. McIvor was moved by the dance that told a contemporary story in modern day China of the persecution of Falun Gong, a peaceful meditation practice.

She explained that this was the part that moved her the most, as it had last year, saying, "I guess it's because of the injustice that's done in China surrounding the abuse. They aren't free to practice their religion. The mother is murdered and goes to heaven and her husband and daughter are left to reconcile that. And it was very heartfelt but it was very beautifully done and the artistic impression around it was just marvelous."

They both loved the live orchestra, which combines classical Western and traditional Chinese instruments, as well as the solo artists.

Mrs. McIvor said, "Oh, the music was fabulous. And the singing was also very good. The operatic pieces are just outstanding."

Mr. McIvor added, "The singing was beautiful. Both the lady that did the solo with the piano and the gentleman were very talented and I enjoyed it very much, and I appreciate the fact that they had the English translation so that I could tell what they were singing."

According to the City of Calgary Web site, Alderman Ric McIver was first elected to office in 2001. He has a strong background in business and has owned and operated two businesses in Calgary-one in construction and one in distribution. He presently sits on many civic boards and committees.

Moved by the Performances

Miss Canada, Abelle Avanti joined the appreciative audience who came to watch Shen Yun. Abelle Avanti was crowned Miss Canada 2009, and Miss North America 2010.

She was seeing the New York-based Shen Yun for a second time, and she said she was once again full of praise for the beauty of the performances.

"I love dance so I have to say the choreography in the dance, I really appreciated," said Ms. Avanti, commenting that her experience a second time was "even better than before."

"I still really like the fact that the dancers were so passionate and that you could really feel the passion. You can see it in the emotion ...you can see it in everything combined--the colors, the music, the feeling. You can see how much emotion the dancers are putting into their choreography."

Abelle Avanti at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium.

"Some of the pieces, you were holding your chest and going,'Oh no!'" she said. "Some of them--where the men came in and were beating the woman, [Nothing Can Block the Divine Path]"--that she described as very painful. "And you could feel that emotion and you know the dancers were feeling that as well," she added.

"But there was a lot of beauty behind it," Ms. Avanti added.

Reflecting on how the performances touched her, she said, "I think all beauty starts within, inner beauty. I don't think you can be beautiful on the outside, without being truly beautiful on the inside."

"That kind of inner beauty represents empowerment for women. It represents peace; it represents a belief in knowing who you are and in being happy with who you are."

Ms. Avanti, owner and CEO of Avanti Productions, holds a number of job titles, including producer, writer, actress, and model.

Source:

http://theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/32521/
http://theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/32443/
http://theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/32519/
http://theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/32480/

Category: Shen Yun Performing Arts