STRASBOURG, France—On Feb. 3, the European capital vibrated at the Zénith de Strasbourg to the exceptional performance of Shen Yun, and among the audience was missionary priest Karl Elsener.
Rev. Eslner has traveled around the world twice, and while he knows Africa well through his missionary work, he knows a little less about Asia.
Based in New York, Shen Yun artists are highly trained in classical Chinese dance—an art form with a history spanning thousands of years, celebrated for its athleticism and expressive power. According to the company’s website, the classical Chinese dance seen in China today is heavily mixed with military and modern styles. Only at Shen Yun can the audience experience it in its purest form, preserved as it was passed down through generations.
‘We Need to Awaken to the Good’
“In today’s technology-oriented civilization, I think we need to awaken to the good, in connection to the Creator, the one who is at the origin of everything,” Rev. Elsener said. “We did not create ourselves; someone else did. It is also a personal joy to rediscover this: every morning, I give thanks to God, to the one who created me through my parents and generations before me.”For the clergyman, the beauty of the performance radiates a profound love: “This creation is expressed through the beauty of the dancers, and ultimately through an even deeper mystery: love. The love of human beings who could love each other more if they could recognize the image of God in every man and woman. There would be peace on Earth.”
Rev. Elsener said he believes that Shen Yun “awakens our civilization a little and truly increases peace and joy. I wish for everyone who has seen it—and I prayed for this during the performance—that this peace will truly be realized in their hearts, not only in beauty, but that beauty will pierce their hearts.”
“It is a great joy for us, and for me personally. I will share this experience with my brothers and sisters as well,” said the priest.
“If you want to see beauty, if you want to discover something other than Western culture, mechanics, and technology, but feel the beauty of creation, the human body highlighted in its spiritual dimension, as the image of God...” then you must see Shen Yun, Rev. Elsener said.
