SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Shen Yun Brings ‘Big Smiles’ and ’Hope,' Says Senior UN Official

Jan 23, 2026

1/23/2026Updated: 1/23/2026

GENEVA—Nestled between the Alps and Lake Geneva, Geneva offers an exceptional view of the majestic Mont Blanc.

On Tuesday, Jan. 20, the United Nations headquarters resonated with the traditional Chinese sounds of Shen Yun. For just two days, the residents of Geneva and its surroundings traveled through 5,000 years of traditional culture, rich in stories, characters, and spiritual values.

Martine Grigis was among the audience at the Geneva Arena. This general practitioner, who is head of the Occupational Health Unit at the United Nations, left Shen Yun with a “big smile”: “There are unexpected comical parts and, above all, beautiful scenes and colors! Lots of colors with big ribbons and hope!”

Indeed, this senior UN official said she was moved by “the political commitment at a given moment” in the show, referring to the dance scene depicting the contemporary persecution experienced by Falun Dafa practitioners in today’s communist China. Since 1999, practitioners of this meditation discipline, based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance, have been subjected to harassment, imprisonment, and torture to the point of death. Forced live organ harvesting has been perpetrated by the Chinese communist regime on these individuals since 2001.

Martine Grigis was sensitive to this grim news, which was nevertheless presented in a “gentle” manner, explaining: “namely that, as it is put into context, showing that these are phases of evolution over 5,000 years, we know that this is happening now, but that it will not last. So, it is still full of optimism.”

For this senior official, “all cultures have something to offer,” as exemplified by the classical dances of these different cultures.

Comparing classical Chinese dance to classical Western dance, Ms. Grigis believes that “it is far less expressive, more organized, more structured, and that everything is symmetrical.”

In fact, classical Chinese dance is one of the most comprehensive dance systems in the world. Its postures and movements draw from thousands of years of practice in folk and ethnic dances, imperial court dances, and street theater performances. Classical Chinese dance also has a unique feature: expressing the dancer’s deepest emotions through yun.

Through its dance performances and emotional expression, Shen Yun brings to life the stories of famous figures from Chinese history, mythology, and legends.

“I believe that we can learn a lot about human history through legends from here and elsewhere, so we can always come out on top,” concluded Ms. Grigis.

Céline Respinger, an applied arts teacher, came with her family to experience Shen Yun on Jan. 21, 2026, at the Geneva Arena. (The Epoch Times) — Céline Respinger, an applied arts teacher, came with her family to experience Shen Yun on Jan. 21, 2026, at the Geneva Arena. The Epoch Times

‘Good Harmony and a Beautiful Balance’

Céline Respinger is both an interior designer and a teacher at an applied arts school in Geneva. On Wednesday, January 21, she was pleasantly surprised to experience “a great show” in Geneva, “very beautiful in terms of the decor, the dancing, and the choreography.”

Mrs. Respinger was impressed by “the backdrop with other more visual elements, too,” referring to the animated digital stage background, which adds “another dimension to the show.”

“It’s also quite enjoyable and touching to see all these musicians in the pit,” said the teacher, referring to the Shen Yun orchestra, which is unique in that it combines a classical Western symphony orchestra with Eastern instruments such as the erhu, pipa, and gong.

Céline Respinger came with her family and was delighted to see that Shen Yun had won over her 14-year-old son, who is usually more interested in video games. “He seems to really enjoy it!” said the mother.

“I find that there is good harmony and balance between the dancers, and the movements are also pleasant,” Mrs. Respinger also observed. “In terms of movement, I see a lot of movements similar to tai chi, as well as movements in line with martial arts. And at certain moments, as it is a little calmer and more composed, you can feel a certain sense of spirituality.”

Indeed, on the Shen Yun website, we read that “when wushu appeared in China thousands of years ago, its jumps and techniques greatly influenced other art forms, including Chinese opera and dance. These art forms used movements that were originally intended for combat and transformed them into a means of entertainment for various celebrations, from occasional parties to imperial banquets. Over time, martial arts and classical Chinese dance became the distinct and complete art forms we know today.”

In addition, Shen Yun honors the ancient Chinese belief in a culture passed down by the gods. They placed spirituality at the center of their daily lives, praising the gods and respecting the harmony between Heaven, Earth, and humankind.

For Mrs. Respinger, there are “some messages conveyed” within Shen Yun, “transmitted in order to better understand Chinese culture, the deities, as well as what happened politically with communism.”

Reporting by Sarita Modmesaïb 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.