SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Company Director Marvels at Shen Yun Performers’ Synchronicity: ‘It Looks Like a Single Being Dancing’

Jan 13, 2026

1/13/2026Updated: 1/14/2026

ROUEN, France—On Jan. 12, the Zénith de Rouen welcomed Shen Yun, again offering the Normandy audience an artistic journey to the heart of traditional China.

Among the audience was Iyad Khuja, CEO of Association Coup de Main (ACDM), a Paris-based social enterprise, who came to experience Shen Yun for the first time. From the opening scene, Mr. Khuja was struck by the performance’s visual richness.

“What I like is that there are lots of colors, lots of different scenes, lots of movement,” he said. “I also really like the choreography as a whole, and especially the [digital] background that’s behind the dancers and performers. I think it’s very beautiful. Really, really beautiful. Bravo!”

When asked about the performance’s artistic level, he spoke of the precision and harmony of the artists. “Very good. Honestly, I was watching the movements, the harmony between the dancers. It looks like a single man is dancing ... Frankly, bravo! It’s very, very well done! Bravo to the choreographers and bravo to the organizers as well.”

Shen Yun’s animated digital backdrop also made an impression on Mr. Khuja. He said. “I think we have to be connected; we have no choice. If we want to experience this story, we really have to immerse ourselves in it. And when the characters descend from the sky to arrive on stage, it’s very well thought out.”

As a lover of Chinese culture, Mr. Khuja particularly appreciated the paintings used in the performance, highlighting ancestral traditions.

“I really like history, for example, the emperor’s ladies, the way people dance, and how they learn to dance,“ he said. ”We are experiencing Chinese traditions. I am a fan of China. I haven’t been there yet, but I will be soon.”

‘Feels Good to be Carried Away’

Also among the audience were Vincent Bonnin, a former hotel-restaurant owner, and Laurence Colin, an executive assistant at a medical nursing home who made a special trip to attend Shen Yun.

“It’s simply breathtaking,” said Mr. Bonnin. “The colors especially ... well, we really loved it. That’s what we came for, and we got exactly what we wanted.”

Ms. Colin shares this enthusiasm: “We came from Caen, and this show is magnificent. The colors, the dances, it’s so refined. It’s extraordinary. Really a very, very beautiful show.”

Vincent Bonnin and Laurence Colin attend Shen Yun at the Zénith in Rouen on Jan. 12, 2026. (NTD) — Vincent Bonnin and Laurence Colin attend Shen Yun at the Zénith in Rouen on Jan. 12, 2026. NTD

When asked about his feelings during the performance, Mr. Bonnin describes a moment of total immersion. “You feel good. You don’t think about anything else but the show. I even brought my binoculars to watch the dancers a little closer,” he said.

Ms. Colin emphasized the special atmosphere in the hall: “You’re carried away by the whole spirit of the show. Everyone is focused, there’s silence, and you can hear the orchestra live. It’s really great.”

Regarding the artistic level, Mr. Bonnin praised the performers’ physical prowess. “You can clearly see that they are high-level athletes. The artistic presentation really matches what I expected from a traditional Chinese show. It takes a lot of training and hard work.”

Ms. Colin was also impressed by the dancers’ coordination. “It’s a very high level of dancing,“ she said. ”It takes a lot of work, both physically and mentally, and the choreography is very complex. All the dancers are together, perfectly coordinated. There’s a real symbiosis.”

“We want to dance like them, to go on stage. We really feel like we’re part of the performance,” she said.

“It’s a very special performance, unlike anything you'll find anywhere else. It’s not like Swan Lake, for example. It’s completely different. It’s very interesting to watch, really great. We’re delighted to have come.”

Shen Yun is being performed from Jan. 11 to Jan. 14 at the Zénith de Rouen.

Reporting by Isabelle Meyer and translated 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.