DIJON, France—On Feb. 9, the former city of the Dukes of Burgundy began its journey to encounter 5,000 years of rich Chinese cultural heritage.
Serge Step did not expect to have such an intense experience when he attended Shen Yun at the Zénith in Dijon. “I had an absolutely fantastic time. The dances, the music, the atmosphere, the story... For me, it was perfect,” enthused the CEO of a major French household appliance group.
“The artistic level is quite exceptional: the movements, the acrobatics... It’s almost perfect,” said Mr. Step.
Shen Yun translates to “the beauty of divine beings dancing” because its performances bring to life a rich, diverse culture deeply imbued with spirituality. The ancient Chinese believed in a culture inherited from the Gods. Thus, from the humblest peasant to the prestigious emperor, all took care to honor the Gods and respect the harmony between Heaven, Earth, and Man.
Mr. Step was “attracted to the spiritual side” of the performance, and said he was touched by “the beauty” of its dancing and singing, while perceiving “a form of truth” in it.
“When you’re sitting alone in your seat, you can sometimes feel certain things. Of course, it’s still a performance shared with lots of other people around you, but I think that each individual can experience and feel something.”
The general manager also identified strong values conveyed by Shen Yun: “There is kindness, goodness, a genuine desire to connect with the audience... There is a message, a connection that is established, in any case.”
2-Year Anticipation
Father and daughter, Thierry Guérot and Claire Guérot, had been looking forward to seeing Shen Yun for two years and were not disappointed. “It’s magnificent,” said Ms. Guérot, who is a marketing project manager. “There’s so much movement, so many costumes, so many details, you don’t know where to look!”
While Ms. Guérot particularly liked the painting “Water Sleeves", Mr. Guérot said that he “liked everything,” with a preference for the ethnic dance featuring Manchu women. The performance’s brochure states that “the traditional dress of Manchu princesses is known for its elaborate headdress and platform ‘flowerpot’ shoes. Despite their height, their movements are full of grace and restraint, imbued with elegance and spirit.”
Ms. Guérot also enjoyed Shen Yun’s orchestra, describing it as “incredible”.
Through the stories told in the various dance scenes, Shen Yun conveys traditional values such as courage, loyalty, and kindness. “All of this is part of my philosophy,” said Mr. Guérot, “so I really like it.”
The Guérot family would like to congratulate the Shen Yun artists. “I can’t even imagine the training that goes into achieving this. It’s wow!” Ms. Guérot said.
“Such fluidity. You can tell that everything is under control,” added Mr. Guérot. “Watching the performance, I realize that everything is meticulously planned. Bravo to the direction and bravo to the artists, it’s a magnificent spectacle.”
