Shen Yun Performing Arts concluded its final show in Paris on May 6. Many theatergoers at the Palais des Congrès said they felt uplifted after watching a performance by the world’s premier classical Chinese dance company.
“It’s brilliant! Because it shows all the magnificence and lightness of the dance, which is very difficult in the end to perform effortlessly,” said Christopher Taradoux, a former fashion photographer.
“It reminds me of various Chinese poetic elements in the tradition of folk tales that are embodied in both the earthly and the heavenly aspects,” he added.
“The level [of artistry] is exceptional. I imagine a very, very large ensemble to have this kind of level. I have never seen such a breathtaking performance, and I have no other word than to say that it’s really great,” said Frédéric Robert, the director of an IT company.
“I felt something new, emotions [stirred by] both old, magical, as well as new, contemporary stories. It’s a lot of things that mix in my head, and it’s magical.”
Project manager Sylvain Richalet said he drove 250 miles to Paris to see the performance and it was well worth it.
“There’s a sense of compassion. We see the dancers dancing with joy and precision. It’s superb, it’s superb!” said Sylvain Richalet, a project manager.
“In fact, you managed to recreate the three dimensions, namely the sky [and] the earth. And I was surprised to see this perspective from the sky, and all of a sudden, to see the dancers appearing on the dance floor. It’s really exceptional. It’s really well done. It’s the first time I’ve seen that in my life.” he added.
Shen Yun’s mission is to revive 5,000 years of Chinese civilization. Since 2006, it has performed at top venues all over the world, but it is banned from performing inside China.
“It’s a message of tradition, and a tradition that unfortunately you can’t have in your own country any more. And that’s something that really touched me a lot. It’s so beautiful. The message is so positive that it really upset me to know that it was not possible that the Chinese could see this show,” said Fabienne Roux, the director of Blumfields Estates’ Jewelry.
“I loved it, I loved it. It is a whole new world for me. Very Asian, very magical, and also almost mystical,” she added.
Theatergoers appreciated the traditional values that Shen Yun presents.
“It’s a moment of relaxation, a moment that makes you want to live, a moment that contributes to the development of each individual,” said Patrick Fillere, a co-director of a funeral agency network.
“It’s a show that does a lot of good, that’s also spiritual, and that takes us back in time to authentic values. Kindness, empathy, the heavens, divinity,” said Benedicte Fillere, a co-director of a funeral agency network. “It’s also a great lesson of life in the world we live in today.”
Audience members said the performance carries a message of positivity and hope.
“Personally, it’s something very moving, heavenly, really magical and exciting, and full of hope. It was a great message of hope for our current world, and I find that it’s something that touches me deeply because it’s the essence of life in the end. That’s it!” said Gildas Villemain, a horticulture engineer.
“You are transported to a better world where all the right contacts are made so that you become even better and communicate this to others,” Mr. Taradoux said.
“Shen Yun brings a serenity and a truth that we must always perpetuate because it’s the essence of our soul, our way of thinking, and of being able to keep the best values possible,” he added.
NTD News, Paris
