LIMOGES, France—On Thursday, March 12, the French capital of porcelain had the opportunity to immerse itself for the very first time in 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture.
‘Classical Chinese Dance Is Probably The Most Demanding Form of Dance’
Mrs. Lalle praises the “exceptional” artistic skill of the Shen Yun dancers, noting, “I think that, of all the dance forms in existence, classical Chinese dance is probably the most demanding.”With a history spanning several millennia, classical Chinese dance draws its techniques for movement, postures, and acrobatics from ethnic and folk dances, street theater, and imperial court dances, refining its techniques over the course of various dynasties.
The official Shen Yun website states that in ancient times, “China was known as the ‘Land of the Divine,’ evoking a world where deities and mortals lived together on Earth. 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 humans to the divine.”
In this way, by bringing these 5,000 years of authentic traditional Chinese culture to life, Shen Yun places spirituality and a connection to the divine at the heart of its dance and song performances.
Having traveled extensively in Asia, Mrs. Lalle says she felt “a confirmation of certain aspects of her soul and memories that were already very much present, of certain life experiences and certain moments.”
Particularly moved by the painting depicting the Creator’s arrival on Earth, Mrs. Lalle describes her reaction this way: “The word that comes to mind is ‘right.’ I think it’s right. I don’t know when, but something like that will probably happen—I have no idea.”
According to this director, “Everyone should see Shen Yun,” because “perhaps the show will ignite a spark in the soul.”
‘It’s All About Kindness, Goodness, Smiles, And Faith’
“I don’t know, I’m still a little breathless,” Odile Bernard said after experiencing Shen Yun.“It’s magnificent, truly beautiful! So graceful and profound. The art is truly beautiful,” said the business executive in the cosmetics and biotechnology industries.
The business leader was quick to praise the artistic quality of the performance: “It’s a lot of work; I think it’s actually very difficult to pull off. All these young people are teaching us a valuable life lesson. To reach this level, they must have worked for hours and hours and hours! Today, in the 21st century, that’s rare.”
For Odile Bernard, kindness is evident throughout the entire performance: “Even in the dancing, the movements are gentle; everything is performed with grace and tenderness. It’s nothing but kindness, goodness, smiles, and faith.”
‘A Whole World Completely Unknown to Us Humble French People’
“In the past, artists turned to the divine for inspiration, explains the Shen Yun company on its website. They practiced meditation and devoted themselves to virtue. They believed that to create art worthy of elevating the spirit, they must first cultivate goodness. Today, Shen Yun’s artists carry on this noble tradition. Their source of inspiration? The spiritual discipline known as Falun Dafa. Rooted in traditional Chinese culture, Falun Dafa includes meditation exercises and teachings based on the values of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance. Alongside their rigorous training, the artists meditate together and apply altruism and self-discipline in their daily lives.“That’s one of the reasons why audiences feel that Shen Yun is different.”
The chemist and business owner was also deeply moved by the painting depicting the Creator’s arrival on Earth: “I strongly believe in it! I think that without kindness and compassion, humanity won’t get very far.”
Odile Bernard recommends experiencing Shen Yun, “taking the children along, and seeing that by cultivating grace, simple movements, kindness, and compassion, we can create a better world.”
“I feel more at peace with myself,” the business owner said.
