‘Light’ and ‘Love’: International Beauty Pageant Winner Can’t Wait to See Shen Yun

March 5, 2024

Shen Yun Performing Arts will begin its Canadian tour schedule in Vancouver on March 20.

Elena Suleymanova is the 2017–18 winner of the Beauties Of 5 Continents International Pageant. She’s seen Shen Yun twice before, and says she can’t wait to see this year’s all-new performance.

“It is the precision of the moment of every performer at every time, making it so perfectly synchronized in any given moment of the show,” said Ms. Suleymanova.

Ms. Suleymanova also won the highest Humanitarian Award by Miss World Canada. She now serves as CEO of the pageant.

Traditional Chinese culture is believed to find its roots in the divine. Ms. Sulaymanova took note of the beauty and spirituality she saw on stage.

“When I say the light, I’m referring to the spirituality of it. I know Shen Yun takes its inspiration from the divine and expresses it through art. The classic Chinese dance, the music. So that’s why when you watch the performance, you feel connected to the spirituality, the light, the love of the story that they’re telling.”

She says Shen Yun’s artistry impressed her, and left her deeply inspired. Especially through its mission to revive ancient Chinese culture from before communist rule.

“Shen Yun has displayed beliefs that are from ancient China. And they are compassion, and that’s love, and that’s honesty and faith,” she said. “I got inspired to do a lot more work, a lot more good work for people who are in need.”

“I wish that it would be revived in modern China,” she added.

Shen Yun presents an all-new program every season, including new dances, music, stories, and backdrops.

“It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and a must-see world-class performance,” said Ms. Suleymanova. “I will want to come back because I know we will not be disappointed, and on the contrary, I’ll have the time of my life and my breath will be taken away yet again.”

Shen Yun will travel across Canada for performances from March 20 through April 24.

NTD News, New York