From Sports To Culture

When you think of strange and obscure things that might just capture your attention one day it’s hard to imagine how the world turns, especially if you normally focus on one specific area or sport.

Everyone who knows me can either find me at a sporting event or just possibly a coffee shop, but last week “I took a walk down the wild side” and ventured out of my normal daily activities.

Strange as it sounds it’s true, but this one wasn’t at a rink, ball diamond or even connected to sports but rather venturing into the world of culture and the past.

I had a couple of business friends who were attending a convention in Vancouver for a couple of days but they had the odd day off , spending time with their wife shopping in Vancouver.

Apparently their wife’s had unknown to their husbands, had planned to attend an afternoon showing at the Queen Elizabeth Theater in Vancouver taking in the two hour production of Shen Yuen.

It should be known that Shen Yun Performing Arts is a non-profit performing arts and entertainment company based in the United States which tours internationally, producing performances which include dance and symphonic music. 

It is operated by the Falun Gong new religious movement founded and led by Li Hongzhi.

The event was something that never crossed my mind but there I was wandering inside the Queen Elizabeth Theater chatting with the staff who were doing a meet and greet answering questions from those attending.

It’s fair to say that those in the lobby waiting for the doors to open were of all ages and cultures, but the look from the group of guys I was with was that of shock or at least being mesmerized but just being there. 

Regardless there we were for the 2 pm show and preciously at two out came the two announcers who came out between each set or act and I must say were not only knowledgeable but exceptional and at times cracked the odd joke.

Regardless the show was a full two hours with a break at the halfway point, not for the performers but probably a short fifteen minute bathroom break for the audience but needed.

The second half started and no different from the first half the audience was silenced, probably in awe of the performers who were right off the stage in New York traveling from city to city performing.

The show wrapped up and to my surprise I was approached by the media persons from New York who wanted to get my impression of the performance and when I asked why she told me “ the guys had mentioned to her that I did sports” and she wanted a different perspective from me.

So here I am talking about something that wasn’t just out of my normal day but rather so far in left field I had to conjure up something to tell her which for some strange reason came fairly easy, which is below.

The performers were exceptional but the set design captured the mind and thoughts of yesteryear going back to the day’s before communism. 

To be honest it was utterly extraordinary with the traditional lines of Chinese traditional dancing with the sleeves along with choreography knowing how hard this must be for the dancers was flawless. 

The show highlighted the values of culture, discipline and devotion to the elders and families who in today’s society it seems that the world has lost touch with, sad but true!

I was quite impressed not just with the overall performance but the professionalism of everyone from the performers to the orchestra performers who played The Erhu which is a two stringed bowed instrument or “Chinese Violin’”

I asked if anyone else plays it and was told it was played only by one performer that is used in solo performances and along with a large orchestra.

Personally I have never seen one and asked how it’s different and was told it is played vertically resting on the musician’s lap and has no fingerboard, so the player’s fingers have to hold and vibrate the strings by pressing only against the strings themselves. 

The one thing I noticed when watching performers was the sheer joy they were having and I dare say working cause for them it was magical.

Would I go back – yes indeed and considering the day started with what was to be lunch it was much more that that.

Highly recommended and when they return next year – I’ll let you know!!!!

Here’s the interview

VANCOUVER, British Columbia—Hall of Fame broadcaster Steve Erickson says life has been hectic, but thought Shen Yun Performing Arts would be the perfect way to slow down and take in some culture.

“I was very impressed. I’d never been to one like this before at all,” Mr. Erickson said after seeing Shen Yun at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. “I guess you could say, well, given all the problems in today’s world, this was nice, relaxing, this was good. Takes away from all the problems.”

New York-based Shen Yun is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance company. Through music and dance, Shen Yun’s mission is to show audiences the beauty of China before communism.

Mr. Erickson said the modern change to China by its communist regime was a sad one, but what Shen Yun revived was a good experience and reminder.

“I know it’s a changing world, but I like this. I mean, this is good. It takes you back to sort of like yesteryear when you think about what the world was like in a better time. This was great. The performers were unreal,” he said.

Mr. Erickson said the performance had him thinking back to his own childhood and yesteryear, and his father, who fought in World War II.

He reflected on the negative changes that have occurred in the world and the positive traditional values that could be brought back.

He thought Shen Yun was beneficial for multiple generations.

“One thing I was really impressed with was I saw a lot of young kids here today … they were really enjoying it,” he said. “It was all ages … you got people in your 70s, and I’m assuming you probably would have had some people in their 80s, but some young kids as well. It was really good.”

He said he thought Shen Yun could have a “huge, huge, huge” impact on society.

“I think it’s got a big impact on society in general,” he said.

Mr. Erickson said the performance gets you out of your comfort zone and daily hectic life, almost like a reset. He said he had observed others in the audience, who seemed like they were in deep reflection as well, perhaps about the times and values from when they were growing up, “and I think that’s really good.”

“I would say the message I received was to get you back to real civilization and what yesteryear was like,” he said. “The world knows all about it because we can’t forget the past. We can’t forget our past. We can’t forget the generations before us.”

“This gets you back to the real world. It gets you back to when life was normal and sane. And you can’t forget your past. It’s good for cultures. It’s good for society, and it’s great for the generations to come.

“I would highly recommend this to anybody,” he said. “I’ll come back.”