SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Former Director Says He Hadn’t Seen Shows Like Shen Yun in China

Mar 09, 2026

3/9/2026Updated: 3/10/2026

MONTPELLIER, France—The ancient “Mountain of Maidens” continues its extraordinary journey through 5,000 years of rich traditional Chinese culture.

Claude Nassar is no stranger to Chinese performances. Formerly director of international development for construction companies in the electrical sector, he traveled to China several times and attended performances between the 1970s and 1990s.

On Friday, March 6, he came with a group of 16 people to experience Shen Yun at the Corum in Montpellier.

“Shows like this, no, I hadn’t seen shows like this in China, whether in Shanghai, Beijing, or anywhere else,” said the former director. “They are excellent,” he said about the Shen Yun performers.

“It’s very enjoyable,” said Mr. Nassar. “It’s remarkable work, extremely precise, with highly trained actors, performers, and dancers. It’s a show that’s choreographed down to the last detail and really very well done.”

Classical Chinese dance, the foundation of Shen Yun’s performances, is considered one of the most comprehensive dance systems in the world, combining basic postures and movements with acrobatics such as spins, pirouettes, and jumps. It is graceful, athletic, and highly expressive due to the manifestation of yun, the dancer’s expression of their deepest emotions.

Shen Yun ‘Is a Truly Complete Show’

“What fascinates me about their work is the apparent ease with which they do what they do, even though we obviously understand that there is a tremendous amount of work behind it. It’s something very important,” said Mr. Nassar. “We also see traditions reflected in the sets and colors: the result is a truly complete show.”

Shen Yun’s dance and song performances are enhanced by an animated digital backdrop displaying magnificent landscapes while allowing dancers to move seamlessly between the stage and the screen.

By reviving this rich traditional Chinese culture, Shen Yun celebrates the mosaic of ethnicities and cultures present in the Celestial Empire, as well as the diversity of the dynasties that have succeeded one another over the millennia.

“I traveled from Hong Kong to Shanghai, Beijing, Xi'an, Chongqing, I went all over China, and I know that China has as many facets and cultures as there are different places,” Mr. Nassar said.

For the former director, Shen Yun “is a must-see show, both for its richness and for the work accomplished by the dancers and actors. It is a show that should be encouraged.”

Jacques Mauret, former bank director and Knight of the Legion of Honor, came to see Shen Yun in Montpellier on March 6, 2026. (NTD) — Jacques Mauret, former bank director and Knight of the Legion of Honor, came to see Shen Yun in Montpellier on March 6, 2026. NTD

“We Leave Feeling Truly Fulfilled!”

It was on the advice of his daughter-in-law that Jacques Mauret came with his family to see Shen Yun from the Nîmes area.

This former regional bank director was also heavily involved in community work and helping the most vulnerable members of society. Jacques Mauret was awarded the Legion of Honor in 2019.

“It’s a magnificent show with splendid colors and majestic choreography,” said the former bank manager. “We’re leaving feeling truly fulfilled!”

“I think there has been an extraordinary training effort,” said the 90-year-old. “We’re leaving feeling a little bit on cloud nine, delighted!”

He also enjoyed Shen Yun’s orchestra, which is unique in the world as it combines a traditional Western symphony orchestra with Eastern instruments such as the gong, pipa, suona, and others.

The former director also praised the performance of the soloist on the erhu, a traditional two-stringed fiddle capable of expressing a wide range of sounds and emotions.

“Magnificent, magnificent! These sounds are a little unfamiliar to us, but so harmonious.”

‘The Beauty of Divine Beings Dancing’

Shen Yun means “the beauty of divine beings dancing,” as the company pays tribute to a culture inherited from the divine and therefore deeply spiritual. All ancient Chinese, from the humblest peasant to the prestigious emperor, praised and honored the deities, respecting the harmony of Heaven, Earth, and Man.

Shen Yun, therefore, places spirituality and connection to the divine at the heart of its performance.

“There is certainly a religious connotation behind it that may surprise some, but it is entirely acceptable,” said Mr. Mauret. He added, “Today, children are somewhat distant from religion, which is a shame. I was raised in a religious environment, in a private school, and I think that gives you a solid foundation for the future.”

Jacques Mauret recommends coming to see Shen Yun, which offers “beauty and everything that is enjoyable in a show.”

Reporting by Sarita Modmesaïb and translated from the French language Epoch Times 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.