“My grandfathers were Chinese, and I never knew them, so this really reconnects me to my roots. I am truly happy to see all these colors, it’s magnificent, really,” she said. She works as a hypnotherapist.
“If there’s another show next year, I’ll gladly come back.”
“As a Vietnamese and a Confucian, I also felt a sense of benevolence. It’s about turning toward others. We can make mistakes, but we learn from them and are supported by others who help us grow and awaken,” Quang Le added. “This show reminds me of that.”
Ms. Cao, an export manager, said, “I feel very proud because I am Chinese. Seeing Chinese culture appreciated by foreigners, by the French, by Europeans makes me very proud.”
In the traditional culture, the Chinese believed their culture to be inspired by the divine. Audience members highlighted the recurring theme of spirituality in the performance.
“We felt transported by the dance and the soprano, it really connected me to something higher,” Ms. Guilbert said. “It’s about reconnecting to our roots and all the knowledge that makes us human, and transforming the difficulties we’ve heard about, the struggles of the Chinese people, into something that amazes. It’s good to share the strength of resilience.”
Shen Yun brings a message of “openness, understanding others, and recognizing that there are many traditions that are important to preserve,” François Vuillemin, an auditor, said.
