LYON, France—Retired Lieut. Col. Serge Delahaye journeyed through traditional China’s 5,000 years of history, as presented by Shen Yun, from his seat in Lyon’s Amphitheater 3000 on April 10.
This former French Navy commando said he was “captivated by the performance, which blends modernity with ancient Chinese history. The dancers’ energy and the colors of the costumes are truly extraordinary.”
Mr. Delahaye praised Shen Yun’s artistic quality, which he considers “first-rate”, adding that “They are professionals with extraordinary training. It’s a performance definitely worth seeing.”
Shen Yun translates to “the beauty of divine beings,” as the company has made it its mission to revive the deeply spiritual traditional Chinese culture. All ancient Chinese people, from peasants to emperors, believed in a culture inherited from the divine. Thus, they placed the connection to the divine at the heart of their existence, honoring the deities and respecting the harmony between Heaven, Earth, and humankind.
“When you leave the theater, you feel uplifted and happy with what you’ve seen,” Mr. Delahaye said.
“You get swept up in the moment and feel a real connection with the actors,” he said.
“If only this performance could bring peace to the world, and everyone could live in harmony, that would truly be ideal.”
Claude Totel, a former CEO of a major banking group, attends Shen Yun in Lyon on April 10, 2026. NTD
Deep Emotional Response
Claude Totel, former CEO of a major banking group, said: “I really enjoyed the performance—it was fantastic. The synchronization is perfect, whether in the gestures, the movements, or with the music and digital visuals. It’s a truly spectacular performance.”
He added that he “was deeply moved by the dancing, the artistic quality, and the ballet,” noting that he experienced “many moving moments” thanks to “the quality of the performance and the choreography.”
By bringing traditional Chinese culture to life through its dances and songs, Shen Yun conveys universal values such as courage, perseverance, loyalty, and kindness.
Mr. Totel said he was deeply moved by this kindness. “It’s a very personal feeling,” Mr. Totel said. “Many things touched me gradually as the performance went on. It’s an inner emotion.”
Having visited China in the past, the former director was moved to see the magnificent landscapes displayed on the animated digital backdrop: “The backdrop reminded us of many Chinese landscapes, and honestly, I was moved throughout the entire performance and really enjoyed it.”
The connection to the divine is also evident throughout the performance. “Certain scenes clearly evoke the divine, so I really enjoyed them,” he said.
“I think that, in any case, the way this show is conceived—with its focus on the divine—is simply magical.”
Mr. Totel said that Shen Yun carries with it a sense of “calm, serenity, and peace.”
Amphitheater 3000 will host Shen Yun from April 6 to 12.
Reporting by Sarita Modmesaïb and translated from the French language Epoch Times by Sonia Rouleau.
