“It’s excellent, excellent. Full of emotion, music, art, and dance. More than I expected, actually,” enthuses Imad Sabbagh, a retired doctor who still works in the emergency room.
“It’s actually hard to put an emotion into words. It’s still an emotion, and it’s still a discovery,” he said.
“We are carried away by the music, by the dance, by the presentation, which is also very beautiful, and by the special effects, which are equally impressive,” Dr. Sabbagh added. “There are only positive points, to be honest.”
“The show wouldn’t be what it is without the orchestra performing live. Oh yes, that’s an undeniable plus,” said Dr. Sabbagh. “If we were playing records or videos, it wouldn’t be the same. When you see the musicians, the emotional impact is much greater.”
The company draws inspiration from the divine to convey, through dance and music, a spiritual dimension that uplifts the soul and revives the sacred essence of traditional Chinese culture. Shen Yun, in fact, means “the beauty of divine beings dancing.”
“I enjoy reading, and I’m interested in spirituality,” the doctor admits. “And it’s true that ‘the divine’ is a term that’s very apt because it encapsulates a number of religions. If you don’t believe in spirituality, if you don’t believe in the importance of nature or in the existence of a higher power, you’re undoubtedly missing out on something. ”
According to Dr. Sabbagh, the Shen Yun performance can offer inspiration and a fresh perspective on today’s society.
“There are people who may be a little too caught up in materialism, and they need other things—other perspectives—to begin to find peace within themselves, through music, through dance, but also through discovering what life is all about, of course, and how life has evolved in China.”
Without hesitation, Dr. Sabbagh would recommend the Shen Yun performance to everyone he knows, primarily for the quality of the show itself, as well as for its orchestra.
“That said, we shouldn’t underestimate the people who sang or played two-stringed instruments either—that’s important too,” he said.
There are other reasons why Dr. Sabbagh recommends the show.
“It’s the atmosphere, it’s the joy. It gives you energy, it brings you joy, it brings you happiness. That’s why I recommend it.”
François-Xavier Ozustovicz and his wife drove two and a half hours from Dunkirk to the Zénith in Amiens on March 17 to see Shen Yun. They enjoyed the show so much that they’re already thinking of coming back to see it again.
“It’s really beautiful, with lots of special effects—it’s great,” remarks Mr. Ozustovicz, a business executive in the insurance and mortgage industry. “A physical performance backed by a fantastic orchestra. So, honestly, I think it was a wonderful evening.”
François-Xavier Ozustovicz appreciated the fact that Shen Yun features, in addition to numerous classical Chinese dance performances, a baritone and an erhu virtuoso.
“So honestly, yes, we were expecting just a dance show, but it’s the whole package that makes it really great, and we’ll definitely recommend it to our friends and family.”
It was during the performance that Mr. Ozustovicz learned of these facts.
“When you hear what’s going on in China, it’s not surprising,” he admits.
“Unfortunately, because honestly, the whole philosophy behind the dances is really powerful, and it’s a shame they can’t do it at home.”
“That’s great because, precisely, we mustn’t let this fall into oblivion, and it’s wonderful to share it with everyone. I didn’t even know there were several companies performing around the world, and I think that in the brutal and violent world we live in, this can contribute something to society,” says François-Xavier Ozustovicz.
“It lets you see things differently and realize that it’s not all about war—it’s not just this or that. There are still beautiful things happening,” he says.
