MONTPELLIER, France—When Shen Yun passes through the Languedoc capital on its annual world tour, artist Joséphine Laurens never misses the opportunity to see the Chinese classical dance company’s new show.

“Every time I’ve come to see this show, I’ve always had the impression that a new step had been taken towards this quest for light, which brings people together instead of dividing them as religions do,” said Mrs. Laurens, who is a musician, author, director, actor, and a set designer. “And I found it very beautiful.”

Mrs. Laurens was thrilled to discover Shen Yun’s brand new show at the Corum in Montpellier on March 28, underscoring the tremendous impact she believed the performances have on audiences around the world.

“I’m very moved by this show,” she said. She believes that the New York-based company’s performance offers “steps towards spirituality,” just as she strives to do in her own creations.

Before the Chinese communist regime seized power in 1949, launching violent campaigns to destroy traditional culture, China had for thousands of years had a culture its people believed was a gift from the heavens.

“That the body eventually rises, and as a result, the spirit supports the body and opens doors, even through tragedy, is what these shows have revealed to me every time since I’ve been in Montpellier,” Ms. Laurens said. She confided that she arrived in this city herself following a tragedy—a fire in her apartment building in Auteuil.

“At the same time, there’s this bodywork that does everything it can to represent what really is, this spiritual truth. And I find that very, very powerful,” she said.

A musician, Mrs. Laurens is also the creator and performer of musical shows. A violinist, she won the gold medal for violin at the Marseille Conservatoire.

“That’s what I like, is that each time we advance a little more in this spiritual approach that elevates, but without losing this rootedness, this beauty of earthly life in a way, because the body continues to hold its importance, but it is tuned to the light and the spiritual dynamic,” she said.

“I find it very, very beautiful. And I come every time,” she said.

In artistic terms, Mrs. Laurens believes that Shen Yun presents perfection.

“One wonders how it’s possible to achieve such perfection. Yes, we do, through hours and hours and hours of work,” she said. “It’s perfection, it’s perfection.”

She was also touched by the singers, as well as by the erhu virtuoso who came to perform a solo on stage. The erhu is an ancient Chinese instrument, a kind of two-string violin dating back 4,000 years.

“It was magnificent. And the pianist was supportive,” said Mrs. Laurens, a singer herself who has had a concert pianist as a partner for several of her musical performances.

Mrs. Laurens came away from the show with hope and positivity.

“When you walk into this show, you come from the streets. We’ve heard news reports that give the impression that the Earth is degenerating. And when you leave this show, you say no. There’s still that flame that exists somewhere, and it’s up to us to choose whether we want to be part of those people or whether we want to be dragged down.”

For Mrs. Laurens, Shen Yun can bring “a force” to spectators, helping them to make a decisive choice.

“I think there are a lot of people who, when they come out of there, feel that there’s something going on somewhere. Now, there are those who will have the courage, I would say the will, to be part of those who are there, and then the others, as we see in certain elements of the show, who will let themselves fall back because it’s easier,” she said.

“But at the same time, there’s this flame that goes on, and I think we need it at a time when we have the impression that the world is degenerating. We see violence everywhere, because we are never shown precisely that everywhere, there are also living flames that seek to make the world a better place; people becoming better themselves to bear witness,” she continues. “And I find that very beautiful.

“I’m very happy because I finally find myself in a fraternity, because sometimes you feel like you’re all alone in wanting this,” Mrs. Laurens said. “And when you see shows like this one, you feel surrounded, strengthened, with the desire to continue on the path you started all alone.”