MONTPELLIER—On Monday, March 24, Dominique Picout made a “discovery” at the Corum Opéra Berlioz.

“It’s a show that’s both beautiful and aesthetically pleasing, but also speaks to the heart and mind,” said Mr. Picout, a retired pneumonologist, after seeing Shen Yun Performing Arts.

“I loved the color of the costumes. I loved the dances, the absolutely perfect synchronization of the dancers. It was a real treat!”

New York-based Shen Yun’s mission is to revive 5,000 years of Chinese civilization, presenting the traditional Chinese culture inspired by the divine, placing spiritual values at the heart of its dance and song.

“It’s the profound meaning of human life that has been described and explained by Lao Tzu, Confucius, Buddha and all the great wisemen of Asia and elsewhere,” Mr. Picout said.

For the doctor, “spirituality is the backbone of the human being,” he added.

The benevolence displayed by Shen Yun artists is “intimately linked to spirituality,” Mr. Picout said.

“It’s something you discover when you know how to become calm, when your mind is capable of calming down and opening up to everything that’s going on around you. If you’re self-centred, you forget all compassion. And if you forget yourself a little, then the other person is there,” said Mr. Picout, who saw this philosophy represented in the art.

Shen Yun’s mission was “essential” to him. “It’s very important to rekindle the flame,” Mr. Picout said.

Bertrand Delalonde, company director, found Shen Yun’s artistic level “exceptional.”

“It’s quite magnificent I'd say, something quite exceptional! With all these colors and all these choreographed dances, it’s magnificent. It’s something to behold,” Mr. Delalonde said.

Mr. Delalonde was impressed by the special effects created by the animated digital backdrop, creating a connection between the dancers’ movements and the backdrop landscape: “The appearance of people on stage arriving through the screen, it’s something fantastic!”

Mr. Delalonde was also touched by the benevolence felt among the artists. “There’s a lot of goodwill, it’s something quite exceptional,” he said.

Shen Yun is banned by the Chinese Communist Party, which has been intent on destroying this rich culture since it came to power in 1949.

“It’s a bit of a shame that this culture is not accepted by the Chinese government at the moment, and that the people are still persecuted to this extent and can’t have the freedom precisely to show this show really to the Chinese,” Mr. Delalonde said.

For Sophie Semeilhon, Shen Yun is “a delight.”

“You’re completely captivated by the colors, the music, and the costumes. And it’s true that these group dances are marvelous,” she said.

Mrs. Semeilhon appreciated the artistic level, which was “very good.”

“What’s more, they’re all smiles! And it’s true that the figures aren’t always easy to execute. Frankly, they’re a joy to watch. The ladies are so elegant and graceful,” she said.

Mrs. Semeilhon said she was “astonished,” not expecting “the scenes in the villages”, nor “the humor in what is represented,” referencing the many story-based dance vignettes, and the ethnic and folk dances.

“And the music is really, really beautiful,” she added.

But she was also surprised “when they talked about divinities, about Heaven ... It’s true that I wasn’t expecting that. I totally discovered it, and it’s very pretty.  It speaks to us too!”

“Preserving traditions simply serves as a guide. In these troubled times, it’s good to have a path. And frankly, it’s carried off with such soulful grandeur. It’s a show we really enjoy,” she said.