Letter: Alberta and the Shen Yun Saga

If the Shen Yun saga doesn't get resolved positively any time soon, Albertans will have taken quite a loss in the arts department. This world-class show is just great and so rich in cultural heritage. It's nothing like I've ever seen before. The backdrop comes alive with the show like in 3-D motion, dancers have flawless moves and so in sync with the orchestra but seriously the net gets in the way Mrs. Kilmchuk! Anyhow, I thought the show was way beyond my expectations. It's so sad to see that a few people are trying to hurt the reputation of the Chinese expat artists. For the artists do a good job, first of all  they need cooperation from the theatre (Jube) where they play at and see that the terms of the contract are respected. That's only common sense. And the fact that the Chinese regime wants to stop the show because of their hatred for the artists and the presenters--as most of them practice Falun Gong--only gives an opportunity for our gov representatives to endorse our values and speak up. Bravo Wildrose and Rob Anders for doing just that! Let's hope that all is not lost and that Premier Redford can come to the rescue and honour artists with a cause.

Marie Beaulieu
Victoria BC

Shen Yun shut down: PC intimidation continues

Wildrose Party: Edmonton, AB (May 28, 2012): The PC government’s abrupt and arbitrary cancellation of annual Shen Yun performances at the provincially operated Jubilee Auditoriums in Edmonton and Calgary shows the PC culture of bullying and intimidation will continue even after the provincial election.

In a letter to the Falun Dafa Association of Calgary, Culture Minister Heather Klimchuk pulled the plug on all future Edmonton and Calgary performances of Shen Yun – an annual showcase of Chinese dance, music and other performing arts – after the Association publicly raised safety and privacy concerns at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium.

Falun Dafa had already scheduled their 2013 Shen Yun performances at both Jubilee Auditorium facilities.
“Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like this government’s intimidation tactics are going to stop any time soon,” Smith said. “It’s textbook PC politics – keep quiet or suffer their wrath. I hope Ms. Redford will signify a new tone for her government by reversing her Minister’s decision and issuing a public apology.”

Wildrose Culture Critic Blake Pedersen today asked Klimchuck to reinstate the performances and publicly apologize to the Falun Dafa Associations. He also said the annual Shen Yun performance is a beautiful and skillful display of the Chinese culture and adds to the diversity of Alberta’s performing arts scene.

“Falun Dafa and Shen Yun have a proud tradition in Alberta that goes back to 2007. It’s a shame Albertans will be denied this tradition because of petty PC politics,” Pedersen said.

Related:
Alberta revisits cancelling China dance group | Metro

Calgary MP disagrees with Chinese dance troupe ban

Shen Yun Performing Arts told to find new Alberta venues in 2013 by the province

The fight over the Alberta government's decision to cancel bookings by a traditional Chinese performance troupe has prompted criticism from a Calgary MP.

The province has cancelled the 2013 bookings made by the Shen Yung Performing Arts group following a dispute with the managers of government-owned auditoriums in Calgary and Edmonton.

Conservative Rob Anders says it appears Alberta is caving to pressure from Beijing as Premier Alison Redford prepares for an upcoming trip to China.

Anders has long been an out-spoken critic of what he calls a "brutal regime" in Beijing. He's accusing the Alberta government of being afraid of offending China.

"I just think it's a shame that we're not allowing this to go forward and I do think it's an opportunity for the powers that be to demonstrate their belief in freedom of speech," he said.

In the past, the Chinese government has pressured venues in other countries to cancel or delay Shen Yung Performing Arts events because the troupe highlights Chinese persecution of the spiritual movement of Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa.

The Falun Dafa Association of Calgary presents Shen Yun's Calgary performances.

 

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