SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

‘Beyond Its Aesthetic Appeal, Shen Yun Conveys a Beautiful Message,’ Lawyer Says

Apr 20, 2026

4/20/2026Updated: 4/20/2026

AIX-EN-PROVENCE, France—From April 15 to 20, Shen Yun will bring 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture to life at the Grand Théâtre de Provence.

On Friday, April 17, Lauriane Buonomano treated herself to a magical evening with Shen Yun in Aix-en-Provence.

This attorney, a member of the Aix-en-Provence Bar Association, trained in mediation to keep pace with changes in the legal profession.

“It’s magnificent,” Mrs. Buonomano said, pleasantly surprised to discover much more than just a ballet: Shen Yun presents stories from “China before communism.”

“From the Yellow Emperor to the splendor of the Tang Dynasty, through the exquisite elegance of the Qing Dynasty, the lineage of Chinese civilization spans five millennia,” reads the company’s website. “A history marked by real and imaginary heroes, whose legacy has been preserved through tales illustrating courage and sacrifice, integrity and loyalty, compassion and virtue.”

“The show is ‘truly amazing’ and ‘absolutely beautiful,’” the lawyer said. She added, “I certainly don’t regret coming—it’s so beautiful!”

An Artistic and Spiritual Journey

Mrs. Buonomano said she was moved by “the technical skill and beauty” of the performance, while also appreciating “the orchestra’s presence: you can really feel the music.”

The Shen Yun Orchestra is distinguished by its unique sound, which results from the combination of a Western symphony orchestra and Eastern musical instruments such as the erhu, the pipa, and the suona.

“In ancient times, China was known as the ‘Land of the Divine,’ evoking a world where deities and mortals lived together on Earth,” reads the Shen Yun website. “It was said then that music, medicine, calligraphy, fashion, language, and many other aspects constituted a legacy handed down from the heavens. 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.”

Shen Yun means “the beauty of divine beings dancing,” paying tribute to this traditional culture deeply rooted in spirituality.

Mrs. Buonomano could sense the connection to the divine present in many of the paintings: “It feels good; beyond the aesthetics, there’s a message being conveyed, and it’s beautiful. It’s rare to see performances like this.”

‘Another Side of China’

The lawyer also expressed her appreciation for Shen Yun’s mission: to revive authentic traditional Chinese culture, which nearly disappeared, and to share it on an international scale. Indeed, since coming to power in 1949, the Chinese Communist Party has viewed this rich culture as a threat and an obstacle to the single-minded ideology imposed on the Chinese people.

Through campaigns such as the Cultural Revolution, the communist regime set out to uproot traditional beliefs and destroy certain monuments, such as monasteries.

“Today, we only see China as it is portrayed in the media, along with its current policies, which are often criticized,” Mrs. Buonomano said. “So it’s true that Shen Yun shows us a different side of China.”

The lawyer also appreciated the traditional values conveyed by Shen Yun in its stories: courage, loyalty, kindness, and perseverance.

“It’s a heartwarming message—one we love to hear. It’s true that we don’t hear much talk about these virtues or the divine anymore. It’s a beautiful message,” Mrs. Buonomano said.

A Performance Praised for Its Precision and Aesthetic Appeal

Maurice Vinçon, an actor and director with nearly 60 years of experience, attended the Shen Yun performance in Aix-en-Provence on April 17, 2026. (NTD) — Maurice Vinçon, an actor and director with nearly 60 years of experience, attended the Shen Yun performance in Aix-en-Provence on April 17, 2026. NTD

Maurice Vinçon is a well-known figure in Marseille, having devoted more than 60 years to the development of theater in the city.

An actor and director, he also served as the artistic director of the Théâtre de Lenche, while performing on stages across France, Switzerland, and Belgium.

For him, Shen Yun is “a beautiful show—visually, it’s a stunning success, choreographed with extraordinary precision. The dancers are truly talented; they must be exhausted after a performance like that. And the stories are entertaining—I really enjoyed them.”

Mr. Vinçon noted “a very interesting musical form” as well as “the exceptional dance section.”

Indeed, classical Chinese dance, the foundation of Shen Yun’s performances, is considered one of the most comprehensive dance systems, combining basic movements and postures with acrobatic elements such as twists, jumps, and pirouettes, all while remaining highly expressive. To achieve this, classical Chinese dance draws its techniques from millennia of ethnic and folk dances, street theater, and imperial court dances.

“I was visually moved,” Mr. Vinçon said. “I think the choreography is of very high quality, and the dancers, beyond their technical skill, demonstrate great precision. It’s truly beautiful in that regard.

“The stories are told with great artistic flair and a good dose of humor; you can tell it’s excellent work—no doubt about it!” he continued.

“I’ve heard that the show is updated fairly regularly,” he said. “So I think I’ll probably come back to see it again because I think it’s very well done.”

Reporting by Sarita Modmesaïb and translated from the French language Epoch Times by Sonia Rouleau.

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