(Clearwisdom.net) REGINA, Canada--Saskatchewan Member of the Legislative Assembly Mr. Trent Wotherspoon, after seeing Shen Yun Performing Arts for the first time, said the show was, "just a breathtaking performance, beautiful."

Mr. Wotherspoon was at the New York-based Shen Yun opening presentation at Regina's Conexus Art Centre on April 3 with his wife, Stephanie. "My wife and I were both privileged to come here this evening and see classical dance that represents the great history, thousands of years, just a beautiful, beautiful display," Mr. Wotherspoon said.

He said not only did the show portray China's 5,000 years of traditional history, but also the dances told stories taken from ancient legends, folk tales and modern stories of courage. "It's something that's incredibly unique. The colors added to it. It is just an absolutely breathtaking performance."

Mr. Wotherspoon after the Shen Yun performance in Regina

Mr. Wotherspoon particularly enjoyed "Wu Song Battles the Tiger." "The one where the individual had a few too many at the tavern and made his way up into the mountains on a tiger hunt, and coming back with the tiger. There was some humor involved in that one as well, but just a beautiful, beautiful display of dance."

The Canadian politician said the community was privileged to have Shen Yun come to Regina. "To have a show like this come to our centre and to have a show that's traveling the world come to Saskatchewan is just of great pride for myself. I wish all of the organizers incredibly well with their world travels and their display, and it's just a real opportunity ... I'm so pleased that it's stopped in Regina," Mr. Wotherspoon enthused.

And how would he rate the production? "Absolutely phenomenal, breathtaking. If we're talking a numerical scale, a 10 out of 10 without a doubt. Just the organization and the dance is done impeccably well. And anybody who is able to see the show will realize what a privilege that is. So thank you so much."

Business Owner: "I was really touched"

Reggie Newkirk, owner of a consulting business in Lumsden, was also in the audience. Mr. Newkirk appreciated the beauty of the show as well as the personal connection he found to Shen Yun's portrayal of ancient China's cultural heritage in classical Chinese dance and music.

"I liked all of the movements. I felt that the story lines were just excellent," said Mr. Newkirk, a well-recognized expert and leader in Saskatchewan for his work in promoting culture, diversity, and human rights protection. "I was really touched, particularly by the last one, the 'Search for Buddhist Scriptures,' and bringing them back to the people for their own enlightenment and so forth.

"I have a great love for Buddha. I'm not a Buddhist but I have a great respect for Buddhism and what it has contributed to world civilization." The final dance he was referring to presents a scene from the classic Chinese novel, Journey to the West, in which the Tang monk completes his mission to bring Buddhist scriptures back to the emperor. The stories in the book have inspired Chinese performing arts for hundreds of years.

Mr. Newkirk said he followed his own path and felt a connection to the Shen Yun presentation.

"That's what really touched me, and I also think that it's a powerful way for people to follow towards enlightenment for themselves," he said. "I'm very delighted to see that story being told in the West. I think that so many of us that were born here know so little about Buddhism and the struggles of people in the past, and present day struggles as well."

Reggie Newkirk after the Shen Yun performance on April 3

Recent economic difficulties, Mr. Newkirk said, presented a very interesting challenge. "In one of the lines, I read where it said that this life is an illusion and we work so hard for power, for wealth, etc., and then we don't take any of it with us." ... "And it asks the question, what is the purpose of life? I think anything that causes us to step back from the grind of daily living to reflect on what is the purpose of life, is very, very important."

He said that one of the themes he saw in the show was, "As a species we are all one, that humankind is one, even though we are diverse at the same time."

"And in that diversity, as in the colors in the presentation, the vast colors... when brought together, they paint a beautiful picture, so in diversity there was unity. I think of the unity of humankind that also touched me because I'm a big supporter of that as well."

Mr. Newkirk said that "If [mankind] put our minds to it, our wills to it, and our learning, we can really create the world anew."

"[Then] everyone, irrespective of religious views and philosophies and meditations, will live in peace, harmony and respect for one another."

Sources:

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/32677/

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/32694/

Category: Shen Yun Performing Arts