Farid Jean Chrabieh loved the Shen Yun trailer he saw online, so his wife gifted him a ticket for his birthday. Mr. Chrabieh is the co-founder of Chrabieh and Schweizer Consultancy, a Geneva-based firm specializing in humanitarian negotiation and mediation.
One of the Best Shows I’ve Ever Seen
“It’s one of the best shows I’ve ever seen, and the themes are excellent!” Mr. Chrabieh said from the theater. “You get to discover Chinese culture, and I loved it!”“It’s a whirlwind of emotions, but really, it’s mostly about discovering an entire culture that dates back 5,000 years,” added the business leader, highlighting the contribution of “all things modern, with 3D technology! It was amazing!”
Mr. Chrabieh made a point of praising “the strength they show in preserving all these traditions—which are sometimes suppressed in their home country. And keeping them alive abroad, it’s truly amazing!”
He praised Shen Yun’s artistic quality: “They’re top-notch!” while also expressing his appreciation for “learning about this persecution [of faith in modern China], these cultures, these beliefs … it’s all very moving!”
An Inspiring Spiritual Dimension
Shen Yun means “the beauty of divine beings” because the performance pays tribute to China’s deeply spiritual culture. On its website, Shen Yun explains that in ancient times, China was called the “Land of the Divine,” where deities and mortals lived together on Earth.“It was said then that music, medicine, calligraphy, fashion, language, and many other aspects of culture constituted a heritage passed down from the heavens,” according to the website. “Buddhism, Taoism, and other disciplines were at the heart of society. Emperors sought the Way of Heaven, and daily life was punctuated by rituals connecting human beings to the divine.”
Mr. Chrabieh says he felt “joy, and I think joy is something divine.”
He said that Shen Yun is an “inspiring” performance that can offer a fresh perspective on foreign cultures.
‘A Beautiful Harmony’
Alexia Brossard has been dancing since childhood. She earned a Diplôme National Supérieur Professionnel du Danseur (DNSPD) and now teaches dance in Dardilly, near Lyon.
On April 10, she came to experience Shen Yun accompanied by Grégoire Bonnel, a sales executive.
“There’s a wonderful harmony between the music, the dance, and the visuals in the background,” Ms. Brossard said. “We’re having a great time!”
A Complete and Immersive Dance Experience
“The level of dancing is excellent. It’s a beautiful blend of classical dance, martial arts, and gymnastics,” the dance teacher said about classical Chinese dance.“The staging is very theatrical,” Ms. Brossard noted. “You can really grasp the whole story being told.”
In fact, classical Chinese dance is also notable for its expressiveness, as it highlights the dancer’s “yun”—the ability to convey their deepest emotions without words.
‘Peace of Mind’
“The show has a very pleasant atmosphere,” Mr. Bonnel said. “It’s very gentle; you don’t feel rushed during the performance, and there’s emotion but it’s conveyed in a fairly straightforward way.”For Ms. Brossard, Shen Yun embodies “beautiful values” and promotes “peace of mind.”
“It’s about inner well-being, respect for nature, passing on knowledge, and tradition,” Mr. Bonnel added. “It’s everything we already know about cultures that are a little more respectful of the elderly and of children … You can feel all of that in the show.”
“The show helps raise awareness of Chinese history,” Ms. Brossard said, noting that “it’s truly a show suitable for all ages, including children.”
Shen Yun offers “a touch of insight and gentleness, while shedding light on some of the lesser-known aspects of this country, which Europeans often perceive as distant and complex,” she added.
