PARIS—At the Palais des Congrès on May 3, French National Assembly Member Thierry Frappé discovered Shen Yun Performing Arts, a classical Chinese dance performance he described as magnificent and extraordinary.

“I’ve been to a lot of shows before, but this is the first time I’ve ever seen a show of this quality,” Mr. Frappé said.

“It’s part dream, part enchantment. The color, the dance, the dreams, the sets, everything is absolutely remarkable,” said Mr. Frappé, who is also deputy mayor of Labuissière, town councillor of Bruay-La-Buissière, and has worked as a general practitioner.

Chinese culture was deeply spiritual before the Chinese Communist Party came to power. Shen Yun means “the beauty of divine beings dancing,” which many audience members, including Mr. Frappé, say fits perfectly.

“I think the name is apt: ‘divine art.’ You do feel celestial. You feel divine in this show,” Mr. Frappé said.

“The celestial part is profound. The themes are also deep, and the whole history of China over the past 5,000 years is very well represented,” said Mr. Frappé, who discovered “a lot of scenes I didn’t know about, of course.”

Through the powerful expression of classical Chinese dance, Shen Yun’s artists are able to express a whole range of emotions and values audience members say go straight to the heart, which Mr. Frappé also felt.

“We feel serene, we sense the benevolence, the tranquility, the passion, while still having deep convictions that are there,” he said.

“And Shen Yun, I think people must get to know this show,” he said. “You have to experience the divinity and serenity that it represents, to perhaps better understand the world today. Be happy to be in this world.”

“I'd simply add, don’t hesitate to go and see this show, which now takes place annually, I believe, between January and May,” Mr. Frappé said. “You have to make the trip and take part in the show that takes your breath away.”