PARIS, France—On Jan. 27, at the Palais des Congrès in Paris, Benoît Chantrel, a real estate investor, attended a performance of Shen Yun. He was struck by the cultural and informative dimension of the show, which he describes as “a reflection of today’s China,” conveying “messages that are passed on to us Westerners and that are not disseminated in China.”

For Benoît Chantrel, Shen Yun stands out for its originality. “It’s beautiful, it’s different from what you see in Europe or the United States,” he says, adding that it’s “something interesting and very informative.” He was also impressed by the artists’ technique: “The dancers are very flexible, orderly. Ultimately, you find a discipline that is distinctly Chinese.”

He associates these values with traditional Chinese culture, which he links to “kindness, in the gaze, in dance, in the way one behaves,” emphasizing the importance of moral values in artistic expression.

In the past, artists turned to the divine for inspiration. They practiced meditation and devoted themselves to virtue. They believed that in order to create art worthy of elevating the spirit, they must first cultivate goodness.

Benoît Chantrel was clearly moved by these themes. He spoke in particular about “the bond between the Chinese people, who have developed through their culture over 5,000 years and who are descended from the divine,” emphasizing that these messages “were understood and heard” by the audience.

He adds that it would be beneficial to raise awareness of “his wisdom and obedience,” because “here in the West, we are not very obedient.”

Finally, he highlights the collective spirit that emerges from the performances. He describes Shen Yun as “a disciplined art form” that is “imbued with strength through the unity of people.” For him, this coordination between the dancers creates “a collective force” that could inspire French society, which is often “very individualistic.”