MONTPELLIER, France—When a professor emeritus, music lover, and dance enthusiast discovered Shen Yun Performing Arts at Le Corum, he couldn’t help but be captivated by the classical Chinese dance and music performance, currently on its 2026 global tour.
“I booked on Aug. 25 to be sure of getting a seat,” said the professor emeritus at the Charles Gerhardt Institute at the University of Montpellier). In 2011, he received the Medal of Honor in recognition of his outstanding contributions to fuel cell science and technology at the Electrolyser Fuel Cell Forum.
“Obviously, Shen Yun is something exceptional,” said the man who describes himself as a “great music lover” since a young age and who enjoys concerts as much as dance performances.
“I’ve seen a few Chinese shows, but I’ve never seen anything as exceptional as this,” the professor continued.
“I can’t figure out how they manage to dance in this setting. It’s amazing!” Prof. Lamy exclaimed, before wondering about the unique technology: “Is it AI? Is it magic? I don’t know. Maybe it’s Buddhism? Or perhaps deep reflection?”
This technique combines digital animation synchronized with the choreography and movement of the performers, creating visual effects where the dancers seem to appear, disappear, or dive into the projected scenery.
“The orchestra was fantastic. And the conductor was very good,” the music lover said.
Despite having visited China and having Chinese friends, Prof. Lamy said that ancient Chinese culture still remains a mystery to him.
“For us, it’s very mysterious. But hey, it’s magnificent!”
Prof. Lamy said he “100 percent” recommends going to see Shen Yun. “You have to go see Chinese dance, Chinese tradition, Chinese music dating back thousands of years,” he said.
It was Alice Warnery, a sixth-grader, who asked her family to see Shen Yun, much to their delight.
“We came to see Shen Yun because Alice wanted to see the show,” her father Eric Warnery said.
“And we are amazed by the dances, the choreography. There is something quite powerful that comes out of it all,” the engineer said. “It allows us to see China through new eyes and from a different perspective.”
Alice was not disappointed by the show she had been so eager to see.
“I really liked the short stories and all the costumes. It moved me deeply, and I loved it,” said the middle school student. “It’s truly magnificent to watch.”
The young girl was impressed seeing a live orchestra play “in real life.”
Her father also enjoyed Shen Yun’s music, with “a mix of instruments that are traditional Chinese on one hand, and modern and classical on the other.”
This is how Mr. Warnery would explain what Shen Yun is: “A different way of seeing China, Chinese culture, and its history, with legends, tales, and characters that have special significance in terms of morality, history, and living together.”
Alice “highly recommends” going to see Shen Yun, which is currently touring France. “It’s wonderful to see. It’s fantastic. I learned a lot,” she said.
