Shen Yun

In ancient times,
This country was heralded as the Land of the Divine.
Majesty flowed through its culture like a gift from above,
People sought harmony with nature and the universe.
But time has brought a regime
One that sanctions the people
And tries to erase its cultural heritage
Crushing the beauty that once was so prolific.
For believers who still practice Falun Dafa or Falun Gong
Shen Yun allows them to shed light
on those that believe and their struggle
They dance as a way to keep their history
And the cultural tradition alive

Like a painting come to life
The dancers move with a grace that is unmatched.
Their skill and talent are amazing intricate
And the backdrop of landscapes are vibrant with colour
Mauve, azure, and aquamarine
Dance and flit across the stage
Apricot and boldly blossoming crimson stand out from the alabaster.
The music captures you and wraps you in its essence
It is as if it is coming from a celestial place
One of beauty, and truth and light
One unable to be quashed or buried.

lines = 24.



Prompt for: Feb 3 (Ren) ▼

Subject or Theme: China -something about China - the country: what it is like or some aspect of China. Perhaps about something to see in China.
Word(s) to Include: at least six colors - but not the simple: red, green, blue, yellow, purple, white or black. be creative in your use of colors (ie: 'blue-green' would NOT be acceptable!), essence (or any derivatives of these words)
Forbidden Word(s): China, wall, dragon, rice, Mandarin, temple, mountain (or any derivatives of these words)
Additional Parameters: Use the place as the title of your poem. If the name of the place contains a 'forbidden word, it is OKAY to use it in the title, but nowhere else. Any type of poetry is fine, but the poem MUST be at least 24 lines long.
Remember, do not use forbidden words ANYWHERE, including title or the brief description.

https://www.shenyun.com/kitchener/centre-in-the-square

IN ANCIENT TIMES, China was heralded as the Land of the Divine. So majestic was its culture that it was thought to be a gift from above. Its people sought to live their lives in harmony with nature and the universe. It was a world rich with creativity, beauty, and virtue. We now invite you to visit this lost civilization, through Shen Yun.

Shen Yun pushes the boundaries of the performing arts, melding timeless artistry with cutting-edge innovation—transporting you to a world where legends come to life. Discover the breathtaking beauty of classical Chinese dance, and treat yourself to Shen Yun’s unique blend of costuming, high-tech backdrops, and live orchestra. Be prepared for a theater experience like no other.

The traditional Chinese culture Shen Yun presents cannot be seen anywhere else in the world—not even in China. There, the ruling communist regime has viewed China’s rich spiritual and artistic heritage as a threat to its ideology, and for decades sought to erase it. Chinese artists have suffered untold ordeals over the past century.

But in 2006, a group of Chinese artists came together in New York with a vision of preserving the best of China’s cultural heritage and sharing it with the world. They drew courage and inspiration from their shared practice of Falun Dafa (or “Falun Gong,” as it is also called)—a spiritual discipline common to all of Shen Yun’s artists. The company’s repertoire regularly includes important works shedding light on the plight of believers like themselves in communist China today.