TURIN, Italy—“This is an exceptional mission, because what the performance conveys is a love of life and joy,” Mayor of Dro Ginetta Santoni said after attending Shen Yun Performing Arts. “I believe they successfully transmitted this message through the performance.”

On the afternoon of Jan. 4, New York-based Shen Yun concluded its sixth performance at the Teatro Regio Torino in Italy, ahead of its Italy performances in Udine, Milan, Livorno, Bari, Ancona, Rome, Avellino, Genova, and performances in other countries on its 2026 global tour.

The theater was filled to capacity, and the audience responded to its presentation of “China before communism” with sustained applause at the curtain call, prompting the artists to return to the stage twice.

“It was a magnificent performance,” she said. “For us, it was also the first time seeing this type of show. The beauty is found first in the costumes and the dance, and it continues throughout the entire performance in the musical expression as well.”

She recalled feeling an immediate sense of joy when the curtain rose.

“When the performance began, what struck me was the surprise and happiness,” she said. “The explosion of colors, and the joy of being there in that moment.”

The opening piece depicts the Creator summoning divine beings in heaven to descend to Earth and establish China’s 5,000 years of civilization.

“First of all, the Shen Yun artists show great skill in creating closeness with the audience, and that is not easy,” she said. “Through the music and this very welcoming, inclusive form of dance, they succeed in transmitting these values. They’re truly very talented.”

“I’ve read some related material and have an interest in it,” she said. “To be able to see this concept expressed in the performance makes it even more beautiful and more impactful.”

“I believe what they want to convey is this sense of universal love and fraternity—this shared emotional bond. It is positive, very optimistic,” she said.

Ms. Santoni summed up her experience in three words—“serenity, light, and color”—adding that the performance brought her a deep sense of inner peace.

She said she was also impressed by the audience’s attentiveness.

“You could really feel the overall focus and engagement,” she said. “When people are truly paying attention to what they’re watching, you can sense that interest very clearly.”

Shen Yun has eight equally-sized groups touring the world simultaneously each year.