Lyon Audiences Praise Shen Yun’s Grace, Precision, and Timeless Tradition

Apr 13, 2026Shen Yun

LYON, France—The City of Lights celebrates 5,000 years of traditional culture from the Middle Kingdom, from April 6 to 12. As part of that, Gildas Pérol visited the Amphithéâtre de Lyon on April 7 to experience Shen Yun. This former technical director made a name for himself in the Creuse region by purchasing and renovating a small hydroelectric power plant.

With a passion for electricity, Mr. Pérol carried out the masonry, earthwork, and, of course, electrical work almost entirely on his own. His hydroelectric plant at La Croix-Blanche in Aubusson thus supplies the town with much-needed energy.

Speaking about his experience with Shen Yun, he said, “What I appreciate most of all is the discipline and precision. That’s what’s missing in our country, and it’s a real shame. You can tell that hours of practice go into every movement, and I found that amazing. I really love that level of dedication.”

Mr. Pérol said he was particularly moved by “the dancers’ grace. You can see it in their faces: kindness, simplicity, grace, and elegance.”

Shen Yun has made it its mission to revive 5,000 years of rich traditional Chinese culture, deeply rooted in spirituality: “Since 1949, communism has prevented this tradition from continuing,” notes Mr. Pérol. “I skimmed through the program available at the seats and realized that this tradition is suppressed in China. And, unfortunately, under a totalitarian regime, I fear that this type of performance cannot be presented there.”

Indeed, the Shen Yun website notes that over “the past few decades, the Chinese Communist Party has viewed this traditional culture as a threat to its power. Through campaigns such as the Cultural Revolution, it has systematically uprooted traditional beliefs and destroyed ancestral treasures, bringing 5,000 years of civilization to the brink of extinction.”

In addition to works depicting traditional Chinese culture, Shen Yun also highlights the current situation in mainland China regarding the persecution of Falun Dafa. Since 1999, practitioners of this meditation discipline—based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance—have been subjected to harassment, persecution, imprisonment, forced labor, and torture in Chinese prisons. Crimes of forced organ harvesting are being committed against these practitioners, imprisoned by the Chinese communist regime.

Mr. Pérol was aware that persecution was taking place in China, “but not on that scale. The performance made me fully realize it.”

By reviving China’s divinely inspired traditional culture and exposing the crimes of persecution to the world, the Shen Yun Performing Arts company has become one of the Chinese communist regime’s targets and is therefore not permitted to perform in mainland China.

Jean-Jacques David, former mayor of Lyon’s 6th arrondissement, attends the Shen Yun performance in Lyon on April 7, 2026. (NTD) — Jean-Jacques David, former mayor of Lyon’s 6th arrondissement, attends the Shen Yun performance in Lyon on April 7, 2026. NTD

Jean-Jacques David also treated himself to an immersive experience with Shen Yun.“This show is magnificent; I was already thrilled by the first half,” said the former mayor of Lyon’s 6th arrondissement.

Recalling that he had practiced acrobatics and gymnastics himself in his youth, the former mayor said: “It’s wonderful to see these women and men who are both incredibly agile and graceful.”

This former construction manager also enjoyed the Shen Yun orchestra accompanying the dance performances, as well as the baritone’s performance: “I really like the baritone and the orchestra down in the pit. Besides, we have a great seat to enjoy it.”

For Jean-Jacques David, Shen Yun’s mission “is wonderful: it’s only natural for people to highlight their culture, keep it alive, and promote its recognition.”

Franck Ougier, a business owner, attends Shen Yun in Lyon with his daughters on April 7, 2026. (NTD) — Franck Ougier, a business owner, attends Shen Yun in Lyon with his daughters on April 7, 2026. NTD

After experiencing Shen Yun, Franck Ougier, who is the manager of a home improvement store, described it as “a moment of sweetness and happiness—oh, how delightful!”“It was a riot of colors and kindness,” he said.

“It was so much fun! It was really, really beautiful, full of colors,” added his daughters, Lisa Ougier and Zoé Viard.

For Mr. Ougier, the show is “very inspiring”: Shen Yun “makes you want to learn more about Chinese history, take an interest in it, and perhaps read some of the stories as well.”

“The dancers’ perfect synchronization is remarkable, and the staging is superb,” he said.

The girls were particularly taken with Shen Yun’s costumes, which are handmade and remain as faithful as possible to the designs seen in old engravings.

“I love fashion,” says Zoé Viard. “The costumes were just so, so beautiful! And the colors were so vibrant—I loved it!”

Lisa Ougier added, “The scene with the long sleeves was really, really beautiful! They managed to dance in them—it was so beautiful.”

Upon learning that Shen Yun cannot perform in today’s communist China, Mr. Ougier remarked, “It’s truly unfortunate, but I think it’s a wonderful way to spread this message of hope around the world for a change that may yet come.”

For Mr. Ougier, Shen Yun embodies certain values: “I find that in a highly individualistic society, being able to speak as one and dance in unison speaks to the collective spirit and the well-being of society, beyond the messages conveyed in each scene. It is both uplifting and deeply comforting.”

Reporting by Sarita Modmesaïb and translated from the French language Epoch Times by Sonia Rouleau.

From The Epoch Times

NTD is a media sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts, covering audience reactions since 2006.