Astrid Vautrin is a leather goods designer. Using synthetic leather and other materials, often recycled, she creates bags, pouches, and satchels, each one more original than the last and, above all, unique. This former student of the Beaux-Arts in Nancy was at the Zénith in Eckbolsheim, near Strasbourg, on Wednesday, Feb. 4, to experience Shen Yun.
“It was truly magical!” exclaimed Mrs. Vautrin. “It carries you away, at the same time, you feel like you’re in a dream, a waking dream. It’s magnificent!”
Astrid Vautrin agrees with this desire to promote authentic traditional culture, hoping that “cultures will continue to be shared across all countries, and that every nation will make this effort too.”
“It’s very important to have beliefs nowadays,” Mrs. Vautrin emphasized, explaining that this helps to preserve “a certain kindness” in individuals. “That’s exactly what we see in the show: all the kindness in people!”
In addition to this kindness, the fashion designer was also able to identify and feel strong values and emotions, such as “mutual aid, wisdom, humility, and then a lot of sharing, happiness, and joy,” which were present throughout the show.
“I encourage everyone to come and see this show, which was so magical!” concluded Astrid Vautrin.
‘They Made Us Laugh, They Made Us Cry a Little Too’
While attending Shen Yun, Jonathan Girard and Leonore Walch made an exceptional discovery. For this IT manager, Shen Yun is imbued with “poetry” and “tells beautiful stories.”The schoolteacher also praised the quality of the “stage production.” “They gave it their all, they made us laugh, and I must admit, they made us cry a little, too. It was beautiful!”
“The baritone also made a big impression on me,” added Mrs. Walch, saying that she “appreciated the lyrics. It was truly beautiful.”
Shen Yun ‘Really Emphasized Kindness and Benevolence’
By reviving traditional Chinese culture deeply rooted in spirituality, Shen Yun also exposes the ongoing persecution of Chinese people for their faith: since 1999, practitioners of the Falun Dafa meditation discipline have been victims of unprecedented persecution, harassed, imprisoned, and tortured to death in Chinese jails by the communist regime.“We know that the Chinese regime has its peculiarities,” Mr. Girard pointed out. “For us, who have experienced everything in terms of open-mindedness, it’s true that it’s hard to imagine that this still exists today. We are fortunate not to live under a regime like that. And it’s wonderful to see that there are people on the other side who are fighting and trying to bring this to light through performances and dance.”
For this manager, Shen Yun “really emphasized kindness and benevolence. At least, that’s what I felt through the lyrics and choreography. Because every time, good is rewarded and evil is punished or set right. These values were conveyed very well.”
Léonore Walch felt reassured in “believing in something. For me, you always have to believe in something! If we no longer believe in ourselves enough, if we no longer have enough faith in ourselves and in others, if we continue like this, the world will go from bad to worse.”
“Go see this show,” recommends Mr. Girard, “for several reasons: I think this is the first time we can see a high-quality Chinese dance performance. Everything is top-notch: a beautiful orchestra, beautiful costumes, beautiful dances. And Shen Yun is multigenerational: there were children, adults, seniors—everyone enjoyed it.”
“I can’t wait to take my son there!” added Mrs. Walch. “He’s too young now, but I can’t wait to come back with him, maybe in a few years, because it was really great!”
