SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Shen Yun Is a Beautiful Show Full of Ingenuity, Says Paris Theatergoer

Mar 04, 2024

PARIS, France—While on his trip to China, bank director Mr. Bernard Gombault witnessed the aftermath of the Cultural Revolution.

The Chinese Communist Party “destroyed the temples and so many works of historical Chinese heritage,” he said.

After attending Shen Yun’s matinee on Feb. 29 at the Palais des Congres de Paris, he said the artists are doing a good job bringing back China’s “tradition, compassion, and spirituality.”

“Bravo. Keep up the good work,” he added.

“It was a beautiful show. I liked the rich choreography, and there was a lot of ingenuity. The special effects with the background—I’ve never seen that anywhere else. I thought it was really cool.”

Based in New York, Shen Yun Performing Arts was established in 2006. Its dancers are highly trained in classical Chinese dance. Dating back thousands of years, it is one of the most athletic and expressive art forms in the world.

Together with the company’s patented 3D digital backdrop, Shen Yun creates a magical illusion for the audience that extends the stage to infinite realms.

Reflecting on the show’s story-based dances aimed to raise awareness for ongoing human rights issues in present-day China, Mr. Gombault said the situation is very concerning.

“It’s an appalling dictatorship,” he said, referring to the Chinese communist regime.

“The lack of freedom of expression, in particular, affects a billion people. [The regime] is impossible to question. You can’t have a different opinion from that of the party, there is no plurality in China.”

Having seen communist China years ago, Mr. Gombault had hoped that with time, there would be more freedom for the people. However, as it is depicted by Shen Yun, that is not the case.

Due to the company’s focus on reviving traditional culture and presenting the truth of events under communist rule in present-day China, Shen Yun is currently forbidden by the regime to perform in China.

A lover of music, Mr. Gombault also enjoyed the solo performance by the erhu—a 4,000-year-old Chinese instrument that mimics the human voice. Though it only has two strings, it is capable of expressing a wide range of emotions, resonating with the profound depths of the human soul.

“I’ve heard of it before. It is a fine exercise in virtuosity,” he expressed. “To make so many expressive sounds with just two strings, I imagine, is not easy. My mother played the violin, and it was already complicated.”

“This is a quality show, I do recommend it.”

For its 2024 touring season, Shen Yun’s eight equally-sized companies will be performing in over 200 cities across five continents. The company can be expected to return with a brand-new set of programs every year.

Linda Edery enjoyed Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Palais des Congrès de Paris on Feb. 29, 2024. (Ying Wu/The Epoch Times) — Linda Edery enjoyed Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Palais des Congrès de Paris on Feb. 29, 2024. Ying Wu/The Epoch Times

Also enjoying the performance was Linda Edery, a porcelain painter. She, too, said the show was “magnificent and sublime.”

“The special effects are extraordinary, it’s breathtaking. I’ve been waiting six years to see this show, but every time I miss it because I’m never in the right place at the right time,” she exclaimed.

“Today, I took the opportunity to come with my little girl and let her enjoy it, too. The performers are magnificent. Their spins are spectacular. It was really great. A moment of pleasure and happiness.”

Though Ms. Edery isn’t doing much porcelain painting anymore, she said Shen Yun’s superb colors are inspiring her to get back into art.

“The colors were alive. It’s vivid, it’s spiritual. It’s really breathtaking, it’s beauty, it’s goodness. I loved it, I really did.”

She agreed that the performers’ mission to revive Chinese traditional culture is very important in modern society because the world is evolving and we all need to get back to our roots and hold on to our traditions.

For Ms. Edery, Shen Yun’s message is one of hope and comfort. The show “is all about compassion,” she said.

“With the time we live in today, it opens a little window. [The show tells us] that there are still people who hope, people who do things so that we can attend a show like this. It’s wonderful. It should be done everywhere.”

Reporting by Ying Wu and Jennifer Tseng.

The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.