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（明慧记者章韵加拿大密西沙加报道）二零一二年一月十九日至二十二日，美国神韵国际艺术团再次莅临加拿大第六大城市密西沙加市，在生活艺术中心（LIVING ART CENTRE）上演了五场神韵晚会。五场爆满，再现一票难求，神韵艺术团在加东巡回最后一站圆满结束。

二零一二年一月十九日至二十二日，美国神韵国际艺术团再次莅临加拿大第六大城市密西沙加市，在生活艺术中心上演了五场神韵晚会。
截至密西沙加演出结束，美国神韵国际艺术团已分别在加拿大东部城市渥太华、汉密尔顿、蒙特利尔、基奇纳-滑铁卢、多伦多、密西沙加六座城市上演了二十四场晚会，现场观众将近三万五千人。

观众迫切要求开站票

这是神韵艺术团第二次莅临密西沙加演出，上次晚会是在二零一零年一月，当时有三场晚会，门票在开演前十天已全部售罄。很多人后悔错过了观赏那次晚会的机会。今年神韵演出增加到五场，最后还是五场爆满，到第三场时，剧场排队的几十个观众买不到票，主办方希望剧场开站票，但由于剧场有严格防火规定，所以无法开放站票。

有一年轻人自己已买了票，带来了六位朋友，以为可以买到票，但一直等都等不到票，主办方建议他们到下一站美国的底特律观看。

一位名叫卡达（Kada）的女士错过了在多伦多的演出，星期六下午和先生赶来密市，谁知票已售完，等了很长时间都没等到票，留下电话后离开了，说如果有退票马上告诉她。工作人员最后帮她找到两张票告诉她时，她马上赶来，拿到票后激动地把票抱在怀里说：“我终于得到了。”

市长赞神韵传播中华文化精髓

九十一岁高龄的密西沙加市女市长麦考莲（Hazel McCallion）给当地神韵主办方发出贺信，祝愿观众能从神韵演出中获得难忘经历。

麦考莲曾在两年前观赏过神韵晚会，纯善纯美的演出及高德意远的文化内涵给麦考莲留下了深刻的影响。在今年的贺信中，她表示，成立于二零零六年的神韵艺术团，以恢复五千年中华神传文化为使命，已将中国传统文化的精髓，包括仁、义、礼、智、信传播到世界各地。中国传统文化是世界最古老、最具活力的文化之一，密西沙加市民通过欣赏其他族裔的文化，得以相互理解及增进友谊。“我赞赏神韵演员对中华文化的奉献，以及与世界分享这份瑰宝。”她说。

大型超市老板：一辈子都没看过这么令人振奋的演出

神韵艺术团以纯善纯美的表演艺术，高超的中国古典舞身法、技巧及回味无穷的身韵，加上所呈现的中华传统文化精髓，不仅使西方观众成为神韵迷，也令来自大陆的海外华人重新认识自己民族的文化艺术。

林先生是一大型超市的老板，他买了两张最高价位的票和太太一起观赏了首场的演出。他说：“看这个演出，从头到尾我都有一种振奋的感觉，处在一种很舒服的状态中。看了一辈子的电影、电视都没有一样可以跟今晚看的演出相比。”

他说：“平时也没什么好看的，就看看电视，但好象现在的电视也没什么好看的了，而且还觉得越看越烦。而这个秀就不一样，令我耳目一新，真的很振奋。”

“我不会形容，只能这么说，那个舞蹈就象一股清泉，令你很流畅；那个音乐就象到了天宫里在那聆听；那个天幕比看立体电影还要自然，画面如真风景一样；那些历史故事，以前好象都知道，但象现在这样明白内涵，还是第一次。”

“中国五千年的传统文化，值得我们去承传和弘扬。我作为中国人感到自豪！”

女高音歌唱家：来自神的力量

来自加拿大西部的女高音歌唱家阿德莉娅‧麦卡洛克为神韵歌唱家的演唱所感动
来自加拿大西部的阿德莉娅‧麦卡洛克是一名女高音歌唱家，她在北美很多地方演唱，常在歌剧中演出。

麦卡洛克为神韵歌唱家的演唱所感动，她说：“他们是在展现内心散发出的美与真相，这些是来自神的力量。”

她说：“我太喜欢神韵了，今晚剧场大幕一拉开，就给我很大的惊喜。服饰是伟大的杰作，舞蹈简直是太辉煌。演唱与音乐都很美，打动我的心。”

“女高音和男高音歌唱家的嗓音都很美，他们的技巧难以置信。这是真正的震撼，我们相信演唱与歌词的联系很感人、很有力量，整体效果很好。因为他们的声音、表演太感人了。我不懂汉语，但我听懂他们唱的了。”麦卡洛克说。

麦卡洛克女士认为，音乐与美术是展现情感的最好方式。她表示，神韵艺术团乐团的现场演奏引人入胜，音乐很美，令人难以置信。她说：“我很喜欢听弦乐组合，尤其是欧洲弦乐。我也很喜欢中国古典乐器，这些乐器给整个乐团加分，与西方乐器融合得很好，很幽默，很有能量，使人兴奋，很有意思。”

第一次观看中国古典舞的麦卡洛克女士赞叹中国古典舞美不胜收，她注意到，演员们的手势也很美，用不同姿势表示着不同的意思，但舞蹈动作很流畅。她说：“我很想深入了解中国舞，想知道某些姿势代表什么意思。”

她表示，服饰颜色美得令人难以置信，是那么鲜亮、充满朝气，很有品位，很迷人。她说：“把各种服饰，比如长袖子，融入到舞蹈动作中，象是延长了手臂。”

麦卡洛克女士很赞赏关于表现信仰者面对中共迫害坚贞不屈的节目，她说：“我觉得很真实，非常感人，我不敢相信这些，但我会一直记着这些。舞台上的每位演员都很有表现力。在世界的很多地方演出，我想每个人都会喜欢和理解。每个人都认同它、见证它、谈论它，这很重要，然后改变这种迫害。”

最后麦卡洛克用了三个词语来形容神韵晚会：“引人入胜、激动人心，美妙神奇。”

资深外交官：创世主把握着宇宙的最终去向

加勒比海国驻多伦多资深外交官菲利普斯先生表示，我从节目中看到了对神、对创世主坚定的信仰
加勒比海国驻多伦多资深外交官菲利普斯先生表示，神韵演出如春风拂面，让他真正感受到中国传统文化的博大精深。

他说：“神韵艺术所展现的美丽让我深深陶醉其中，所有的节目展现的是与当今中国现状完全不同的景象，其体现的是中国所拥有的博大精深的传统文化，特别是每个节目都有精神层面的内涵在其中，耐人寻味，我深深地被吸引着，也很受震撼。”

“我从节目中看到了对神，对创世主坚定的信仰。我相信创世主确实掌握着宇宙的进程，并决定着最后的结局。创世主掌控着最后所要发生的事情，包括人类的命运。”

菲利普斯侃侃而谈：“我从这些节目中了解到中国的神传文化，其实有很深的历史根源，传统的中国文化是相信有神的存在，神创造了世界，并把握着宇宙的最终去向。”

他继续说：“尽管当今的世界正在经受磨难，世界经济不景气，自然灾难频频发生， 但是人类依然有希望，因为我们相信有神在主持，这让我们有勇气面对未知的未来， 这个未来不是由人们的想像来决定的，也不是人类所能决定的，是神在决定着这一切 。”

菲利普斯表示要向所有的人推荐神韵演出。他说：“神韵的节目帮助我们更好地理解 ，中国五千年传统文化和中华民族本身的内涵。我认为这样的文化节目让我们了解到中国文化中对人生真谛的孜孜追求。很遗憾当今中国大陆的民众没有机会看到神韵演 出。”

艺术之家看神韵感慨

电影制片人、Knightscove 媒体公司的执行主席布里斯托（右）已经是第六年观看神韵了。他与妻子加拿大作家布里斯托女士（中），女儿著名芭蕾舞演员布莉特妮（左）一起观看了神韵在密市最后一场演出。
1）电影制片人成神韵迷 年年盼年年看

电影制片人、Knightscove 媒体公司的执行主席布里斯托（Leif Bristow），自二零零六年观看神韵第一次在全世界的巡回演出后，就年年盼、年年看神韵。今年已经是他第六年观看神韵了，可以算是“神韵迷”了。他的妻子是加拿大作家布里斯托女士，他的女儿是著名芭蕾舞演员布莉特妮（Brittany Bristow），他们一起观看了神韵在密市最后一场演出。

布里斯托对神韵今年的全新节目钦佩至极。他说：“我认为神韵演出很出色，绝对是世界级的演出。舞蹈演员技艺娴熟，编舞完美，而服饰永远是那么美丽，讲述的故事是那么动人。”“神韵演出是如此壮观，内涵丰富。”

他说，“我喜欢神韵的高贵，通过（中国）传统的艺术形式讲故事。”

他表示，天幕太出色了！幕布上的情境与舞台演员搭配得天衣无缝，真是奇妙。

“风格迥异的服饰和天幕，特别是高科技天幕将舞台（舞蹈演员）与幕布上的人物分秒不差地连接在一起，那景象相当壮观，太棒了！” 他说。

布里斯托赞叹：“神韵是真正的辉煌的演出。”他认为神韵总能带给他很美好的感受，他表示：“我一直很喜欢神韵的平和。”

布里斯托表示，自己会一如既往地做“神韵迷”，年年等神韵、看神韵。

2）妻子——著名作家：给我充电的感觉

作家布里斯托表示：“我很喜欢神韵，感觉很温柔，服饰非同凡响，节奏很好。我很喜欢编舞，每个细节都很流畅。”“我一直都很喜欢传统中国文化，给我有充电的感觉。”

她提到，天幕上的图象也很好，给演出增加了很多人物，充实了整个舞台，帮助观众理解。她说：“天幕上的人物会变化，真人（演员）进入舞台，比如在关于美猴王的节目中，天幕上出现山、石头。这种设计很高明，很专业。”

她表示，今天是中国大年三十，她读过好几本关于中国与中国传统的书。“每年这个时候，我都会吃饺子，这个传统很好，提醒我这是一个家庭团聚的节日，应该庆祝。”

布里斯托说，她从演出中得到的信息是——善与恶的结果，引人入胜。她说：“演出展现了善良战胜邪恶的故事。邪恶势力导致我们生活不幸福。如果你的心纯，做人正派，最后会取胜，会去好的地方。这是很好的信息。”

她最后表示，与这么多华人一起欢度中国新年，她感到很高兴。

3）女儿——著名芭蕾舞演员：神韵是古典艺术的优雅呈现

出生于多伦多艺术世家的布莉特妮（Brittany Bristow）在芭蕾舞和演艺界是一颗闪烁的明星。她在幼年时期就在商业广告中初露头角，后来在加拿大国家芭蕾舞学校受训，曾和许多世界著名的舞蹈家和艺术家同台演出。

自十岁起她就在电影“Perfect Pie”中担任重要角色，她在电影界不断发展，两年前在家庭频道的电视系列片 “Baxter” 中担任主角。

布莉特妮曾数次观赏过神韵，每次观看神韵演出对她都是一次美丽的体验，对她有着重要的意义。

她说，“我经常在思考，为什么神韵会这么受欢迎，为什么神韵的演出如此绚丽多姿，我发现其实神韵节目中涵括了欢快的舞蹈，也有悲壮的舞蹈，有中国历史文化的舞蹈，也有神话故事的舞蹈。还有舞蹈服装也是画龙点睛的一部份。我非常喜欢双语主持，把舞蹈内容介绍得非常清楚，所有的环节，包括独唱部份一起组成神韵的完美呈现。”

她说：“演出非常的优美。我非常喜欢中国古典舞，我知道要跳好中国古典舞是很不容易的，不仅要非常刻苦地训练基本功，而且每个动作要点都要做得很准确。我所学的芭蕾舞也属于古典舞，但我还是不能想象如果自己去学中国古典舞是否能学得这么好。神韵的舞蹈演员们跳得实在是太好了。”

“我观察到女舞蹈演员们的舞姿非常优雅舒展，身着舞蹈服装的男女舞蹈演员们的舞姿中都有一种美丽的力量，他们都是出色的舞蹈演员。”

“我这次特意挑了很靠前的位置，我对每个舞蹈都看到很清楚。我看到这些舞蹈演员们都非常的投入，他们用舞姿和观众们分享他们的故事，他们的舞蹈非常有激情，非常有表现力，非常的优美动人。”

“我最喜欢《飞雪迎春》这个节目，我认为这是最美最美的一个节目，她们把雪花的动态表现得细致入微，淋漓尽致。我很想看清楚到底她们的每个动作是怎么做出来的，而我完全被舞蹈所带出来的美给震慑了。”

“至于舞蹈服装，我只能用艳丽惊人来形容。色彩之斑斓，样式之多彩，让整台演出非常的雍容华贵。我喜欢其中的每一套服装。”

“今天是中国新年的前一天，神韵演出是我最好的新年礼物。”

Shen Yun’s five-show run at the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga, Canada, from January 19-22 evoked thunderous applause and lavish praise from audience members.

Shen Yun’s five-show run at the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga, Canada from January 19-22
Diplomat discovers China’s heart in Shen Yun

Mr. Phillips, a diplomat stationed in Canada from a Caribbean country, said Shen Yun opened his eyes to China's ethnic diversity and true spiritual heritage.
Mr. Phillips, a diplomat posted to Canada from a Caribbean country, said that Shen Yun was “beautiful.”
“I thoroughly enjoyed it. It gives a completely different picture of China and the rich culture that this nation possesses. And what is also interesting is the spiritual overtones that comes through with each performance; very rich, very powerful, very interesting,” he said.
“I see a strong belief in God, in the creator, and in the fact that he is really in charge of whatever is happening and he determines the end. He’s in charge of the last events, and deliverance will come for mankind.”
He continued, “It tells me, therefore, that the Chinese have had a strong heritage of belief in a divine being who is creator and also the controller of the universe.
“I will recommend this performance to anyone. It gives a better understanding of Chinese culture and of the Chinese nation as a whole. … It’s really unfortunate that these performances cannot be performed in China.”
While the forms of Chinese dance are being staged in China, the connotations originally invoked by this art form are absent, notes Shen Yun’s website.
“Today, on the surface, the Chinese Communist Party claims to be reviving traditional Chinese culture. But no matter how its efforts are framed, they are ineffectual. For the Chinese Communist Party removes the cultural essence of respect for the divine, thereby extracting the heart and soul of traditional Chinese culture. Shen Yun seeks to revive these virtues the world over,” it reads.
For Mr. Phillips, Shen Yun was not only an introduction to true Chinese culture, but also a reminder of the deeper meaning of life.
“In spite of what the world is going through at this time, which seems to be economic gloom and natural calamities, there is hope because God is in charge, which gives you courage to face the future knowing that the future is not left to man’s imaginations or man’s doings, but to the workings of a divine being.”
China’s diverse ethnicities
Mr. Phillips commented on the different Chinese ethnicities presented in the show, saying that they were an eye-opening and memorable experience for him.
“Sometimes one gets the impression that all China is one, but there are different groups that possess their own unique culture, which contributes to the rich nature of the country.
“I will recommend this show for anyone who wants to understand Chinese culture better—the wide diversity and the hugeness of this nation.”
Beyond the subject of the dances, he was also impressed with the caliber of the performance.
“I think it was excellent. I’m certainly impressed, as I said, with the discipline, the professionalism, and the kind of perfection that goes into it. I’m impressed and I enjoyed it,” he said.
“The orchestra was wonderful. I think the music and the performances were just in perfect harmony. And the variety of instruments, you know it was just impressive that everything was so harmonized.
“The costumes were very colorful. Quite a lot of thought, imagination, and creativity, went into the production of those costumes. There was a costume for just about every performance which I think was quite impressive and it must have demanded quite a lot of creativity to do that,” noted Mr. Phillips.
“The show is great, it is a wonderful performance. It really demonstrates great discipline and everything was performed with grace.”
Actress and ballerina: Shen Yun is an ‘amazing experience’

Actress and ballet dancer Brittany Bristow (left); her father, Leif (right); and mother, writer Agnes Bristow (center), attended the Shen Yun Performing Arts on Sunday Jan. 22.
Actress and classically trained ballet dancer Brittany Bristow attended the Shen Yun show to get a deeper appreciation for the artists’ talent, and for the challenging techniques in classical Chinese dance.
“I just appreciate it so much because I know how much precision it takes, how much practice, and just how difficult it is. I’m a classically trained ballet dancer, but I can’t imagine studying [classical] Chinese dance. It's remarkable,” she said.
‘They’re just phenomenal dancers’
“There’s a beautiful power to the men and women in the troupe. They’re just phenomenal dancers.”
Ms. Bristow, who sees the show every year, attended Shen Yun with her father, Leif, and mother, screenwriter Agnes Bristow. She said it’s obvious the Shen Yun performers have a deep passion and commitment to their craft.
“I was lucky this time. I got to sit very close and you feel how much those dancers love what they do, and how much they love sharing their story,” she said.
“It's just beautiful to watch, they’re so passionate and expressive.”
Ms. Bristow chose to see the show for a second time because of the diversity of ideas and themes presented through the dances and costuming.
“I think a lot of why it’s so enjoyable is how colorful it is. There’s so many different types of dance within it. There’s the happier dances and the sad, and the dances explaining some of Chinese history and the fairytales,” she said.
“I love the costuming, I think it’s absolutely stunning. The colors are brilliant. It’s not very often that you get to see such extravagant costuming in a performance and it’s beautiful. I loved all of them.”
One dance that stood out for her was a dance called “Snowflakes Welcoming Spring.”
In this folk dance, the performers use sequined handkerchief “snowflakes” as continuously-twirling props to capture the mood of a season’s transition.
“I loved the snowflakes—that was a beautiful, beautiful piece. I loved the handwork and the intricate handwork of the snowflakes themselves. I was sort of captivated trying to figure out how they were doing everything. That was beautiful.”
“Its an amazing experience and a beautiful display of artwork. It was a wonderful gift,” she concluded.
Soprano ‘blown away from the moment the curtain rose’

After seeing the acclaimed classical Chinese dance and music production on Friday night at the Living Arts Centre, soprano and vocal teacher Adria McCulloch was deeply moved.
When soprano and vocal teacher Adria McCulloch was given a ticket by one of her students to see the Shen Yun Performing show, she had no idea what to expect.
But after seeing the acclaimed classical Chinese dance and music production, she was deeply moved.
“Absolutely loved it,” said Ms. McCulloch.
“I was just blown away from the moment the curtain rose. The costumes are just breathtaking, the dancing is just phenomenal, and the singing and the music was just so beautiful, and it was really, really emotionally moving.”
Ms. McCulloch teaches in Toronto, holds a Master of Music degree, and has performed with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Regina Philharmonic Chorus, and Cowtown Opera. After hearing the vocal soloists of Shen Yun, Ms. McCulloch had a burst of warm praise to give.
‘They use incredible technique, that’s opera’
“They use incredible technique, that’s opera, it’s a really authentic vibration that comes from the core, and they obviously believed in what they were singing, and their connection to the text was especially powerful and moving and just really created a lovely overall shape. It was beautiful,” she said.
The singers perform original compositions in the Chinese Mandarin language using the bel canto operatic singing technique, grasping its highly difficult technical requirements while retaining the proper Chinese articulation and diction.
Although the lyrics are displayed in Chinese with English translation on the backdrop, she said that was not important for her.
“Honestly, I wasn’t even watching the lyrics, because I didn’t need to, because they emote so well with their vocal color and their performance … To be honest, I couldn’t take my eyes off of them, so I didn’t need to look at the translation.”
She said she believes she understood the songs even without knowing the language.
“I think they were trying to emote a beauty from within—a beauty and a truth—and that it comes from a divine light.”
In its spiritual core, Chinese culture embraces the values of benevolence, honor, propriety, wisdom, sincerity, and a deep reverence for the gods and the heavens, something that strongly resonated with Ms. McCulloch.
“I think it’s really important to have that connection, and I think that music and the fine arts especially are sort of the highest form of praise for that type of emotion, for that type of feeling,” she said.
She added, “In saying that fine art is the highest art form for praising that type of feeling, I believe that the voice is the direct link to the emotional center and their authenticity in performing with their voices, I was just blown away. It was beautiful.”
Ms. McCulloch was also fascinated by the Shen Yun Orchestra, a unique fusion with a Western philharmonic orchestra.
“They’re incredible. They’re just incredible,” she said of the musicians. “It was really beautiful. I loved hearing the unison strings, the European strings, and then I loved the color that the traditional Chinese instruments added to that. They blend, yet they don’t blend, but it’s really interesting!”
Exciting energy of the colors

Commenting on the costumes of the dancers, Ms. McCulloch expressed how impressed she was by the brilliant colors and designs.
“I think [the colors] really added to the drama on stage because it was almost very jovial … It was really fun. It was really exciting energy that it brought,” she said.
“The colors were incredible,” she added. “A few times there I thought my retinas were going to explode in my head, and the color choices were just so tasteful and interesting. They were beautiful.”
She also took special notice of the “water sleeves” used in classical Chinese dance and “how [the dancers] incorporated their costumes into the dance moves, like an extension of their arms.”
The sleeves linger in the air after a movement is finished, producing a trailing-ripples or fluttering-wings effect.
It was Ms. McCulloch’s first time seeing classical Chinese dance, and its rich expressive power stood out for her, especially the lovely postures and hand gestures of the dancers.
“It’s beautiful. I watched their hands … their hands are just so beautiful and I can see that there were different postures that they were using, and I saw them repeated throughout,” she said. “I’m really excited to learn more about that, specifically what their positions mean. It was just so fluid.”
Authentic stories

A hallmark of Shen Yun is its mini-drama pieces inspired by stories and legends that span Chinese history from the Yellow Emperor through the Tang and Song dynasties up to the modern day.
Some of the story-based dances tell of the persecution of the practitioners of the Falun Dafa spiritual faith by the communist regime in contemporary China.
Those were the pieces that spoke to Ms. McCulloch the most.
“Overall, the pieces that I enjoyed the most were the pieces of religious persecution. I thought that they were particularly authentic and really tragic and moving and I just, I can’t believe it … I really will take that away with me,” she said.
‘Spectacular, breathtaking, just beautiful, pure magic’

She said the dancers and other performers showed conviction and shared something everyone could identify with in their hopes to an end to spiritual suppression.
“It’s really important for everyone to come together and identify that and witness that and talk about it, and express that, and try to change that,” she said.
“Spectacular, breathtaking, just beautiful, pure magic,” said Ms. McCulloch.
Writer: ‘I always enjoy traditional Chinese culture’
Also in the audience was writer Agnes Bristow, a big fan of traditional culture.
“I thought the costumes were phenomenal,” she said.
“I thought the pacing of it was very good. I love the choreography, it has such a nice, gentle flow to everything, and I like the graphics,” Mrs. Bristow said after the performance.
“I think it’s very professional,” added Mrs. Bristow, who has seen Shen Yun several times and attended Sunday’s performance with her husband, Leif Bristow, a film producer and director, and their daughter, Brittany, an actress and dancer.
“I always enjoy the traditional Chinese culture. It’s really nice—it’s really refreshing to see that. I always, always enjoy it, and this year, actually, many family members came out to see it as well and they really enjoyed it.”
Mrs. Bristow co-wrote Blizzard, a 2003 movie starring Christopher Plummer, Whoopi Goldberg, and her daughter, Brittany.
She was particularly impressed by Shen Yun’s unique animated backdrops that often act as an extension of the pieces being played out on stage.
“I think it really adds so much character to the show, because you get more of a fuller picture of what’s going on.
“With the characters in the background and the way it transforms, like with the Monkey King you’ve got the mountain and the stone, and it just progressively comes, reaching out to the audience, and by the time it gets to the stage you see the real-life character emerge from that and I thought that was quite brilliantly done,” she said.
Shen Yun endeavors to renew the ancient Chinese heritage through dance and music that is true to the culture’s deep spiritual essence with its values of compassion, propriety, wisdom, honor, and reverence for the gods and the heavens.
“I always find it fascinating, the whole concept of good and evil and the contradictions between those two forces, and I think the show depicts the good triumphing over the evil forces that compromise us and interfere with our ability to have happiness in our lives,” said Mrs. Bristow.
“I think that certainly is the message I get from the show, that if you have purity in your heart and your spirit and in the way you conduct life, that you will triumph in the end. That’s what I get from it and I think that’s a good message.”
She concluded, “I think it’s wonderful, really enjoyed it, so I’m really glad we came.”
Chinese supermarket owner: ‘The most exhilarating performance ever!’
Mr. Lin, a large supermarket owner, attended the show with his wife.
“From the beginning to the end of this performance, I felt inspired and perfectly at peace. I've watched many movies and TV shows in my life, but none can compare to what I saw today” he enthused.
“This show is like a breath of fresh air, I'm really excited.
“The dancing was like a crystal, clear spring water, making me feel thoroughly refreshed; the music, it was as if I was listening to it in a heavenly palace; the backdrop was even more natural than watching three-dimensional movies, the scenery and landscape were very real; and the historical stories, it seems like I’ve known them before, but today is the first time that I understand their inner meaning.”
“China's 5,000 years of traditional culture is worthwhile for us to pass on, carry on, and promote. I'm proud to be Chinese!”

Name: Shen Yueqian (沈越千)
Gender: Female
Age: 41
Address: Beijing
Occupation: Business owner
Date of Most Recent Arrest: November 17, 2011
Most Recent Place of Detention: Beijing Women's Forced Labor Camp (北京女子劳教所)
City: Beijing
Persecution Suffered: Home ransacked, detention, forced labor, physical abuse and mistreatment

(Clearwisdom.net) Ms. Shen Yueqian, a Falun Gong practitioner from Beijing, was helping her eight-year-old daughter with her homework when a group of police officers broke in to her home and arrested her. After more than one month of illegal detention, her family learned that she has been sentenced to two years of forced labor.

Ms. Shen's family requested to visit her numerous times, but they were rejected. They finally received a notice for visitation from the Beijing Women's Forced Labor Camp, and on January 16, Ms. Shen's husband, father and daughter met with her. By that time she had been detained for two months in the Beijing Women's Forced Labor Camp in Daxing County.

Ms. Shen Yueqian
Ms. Shen looked pale and thin. Her family learned that she was forced to sit motionless for more than ten hours daily, a torture method that the camp guards used to cause her to undergo physical and mental torment.

Shen Yueqian owns and operates a golfing merchandise company in Beijing. In 2004, after she read Zhuan Falun, she was deeply drawn by the principles expounded in the book, and decided to practice Falun Dafa. Dafa not only gave her a new outlook on life, but also sound health, good moral character and a serene, peaceful mind. She follows the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance in her daily life and work, and treats others with tolerance and kindness. Her employees and customers alike hold her in high regard.

After dinner on November 17, 2011, Ms. Shen was helping her eight-year-old daughter as she did her homework, when five officers from the Chaoyang Domestic Security Division and the Asia Games Village Police Station broke in and took her away. The police proceeded to harass and interrogate Ms. Shen's mother, who is in her 70s, and her younger sister until midnight. Afterward, Domestic Security Division head Ye and others conducted another round of home ransacking. They took several DVDs, Ms. Shen's notebook computer, a calendar with Falun Gong messages hung in the kitchen, and decorative pendants hung on the dresser mirror. Her family members were frightened and hurt, her daughter couldn't sleep all night, and her sister's two-month-old baby kept crying.

On the morning of November 18, Ms. Shen's family learned that she had been taken to the Chaoyang District Detention Center. On December 27, her husband received a phone call from the Beijing Women's Forced Labor Camp and learned that Ms. Shen had been sentenced to two years of forced labor. However, her family hasn't received written notice of her forced labor sentence.

Since Ms. Shen was arrested, her daughter has been deprived of her mother's care. Her elderly parents-in-law have been sick and bed-ridden after learning about her arrest. Her company is in a paralyzed state, as employees, customers and business contracts are in a holding pattern, which will bring major financial losses to the company and her employees.

Ms. Shen Yueqian is currently being held in Division No. 4 of the Beijing Women's Forced Labor Camp.

Division No. 4 of Beijing Women's Forced Labor Camp:
+86-10-60278899 ext. 5819 (Custodial Office); Fax: +86-10-60279648

Practitioners in Helsinki, Finland, gathered at the central railway station on January 14, 2012, to expose the persecution of Falun Gong by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and to call for people to work together to bring an end to the persecution in China.

Passersby by take truth clarification materials from a Falun Gong practitioner

Passersby sign the petition to support Falun Gong

At noon, despite the cold winter wind, practitioners held banners, set up display boards, distributed truth clarification materials to passersby, and demonstrated the exercises. As a steady stream of people passed by, what they saw first was a banner with the golden words “Falun Dafa” on a blue background.

A Finnish lady said, “I signed the petition to support (Falun Gong) in the summer. I'm often concerned about your news. Please remember that I've always supported you! I hope everything goes well for you!”

A group of Chinese tourists passed by. After viewing the displays, they walked up to a practitioner, saying, “We're here traveling and want to take more informational materials to read. We also read the Epoch Times newspaper regularly. We are on your side.” They happily left with materials.

Western practitioner Heikki said, “The presidential election is coming up, and many people in the street are passing out flyers for their candidates. At first, people thought that we were giving them some kind of political flyer, so they were reluctant to take it. But later on, when they saw clearly the content of our flyer, they said, 'Falun Gong. It's what I want.' Some people took the flyer and asked for information about the venue and time of our local group practice.”

After Falun Dafa was introduced to the Commissioner of Public Instruction of Karnataka, he expressed a keen interest in introducing Falun Dafa to all primary school teachers in the state of Karnataka. The director of the Department of State Education and Research Training and the principal and deputy director of public instruction in Bangalore organized a pilot program on January 17-18, 2012, to introduce Falun Dafa to the coordinators of the government schoolteachers. The program was conducted by six practitioners at the District Institute of Education and Training, Bangalore. It was attended by 70 teachers from the rural districts of Karnataka.

Falun Dafa was introduced via a presentation, and practitioners shared their understandings. The five sets of exercises were then taught to the entire group. The next day individual corrections to the exercises were done in smaller groups. A video was shown of the ongoing persecution of practitioners in China and the details were explained. This was followed by group reading of Lunyu and a portion of Lecture 1 of Zhuan Falun.

The participants were happy to learn and experience Falun Dafa. They experienced peace and harmony through the practice over the two days. They said they had the feeling of energy being activated in their bodies and expressed their happiness at being introduced to this wonderful cultivation practice. Most of them said in their written feedback that Falun Dafa seemed very good for them, and said they will spread the practice to the schools under their jurisdiction.