PARIS, France—Shen Yun Performing Arts wrapped up its 2026 tour in Paris on May 10, after 16 performances at the Palais des Congrès. The New York-based classical Chinese dance company’s performance on May 8 was sold out, as were most of the others.
Attending the May 8 performance, Prof. Mouhcine El Bakkali, an ophthalmologist and director of an eye clinic in Morocco, spoke of the performance’s quality.
“It was magnificent, honestly,“ Prof. El Bakkali said. ”I loved the costumes; the choice of costumes is excellent. The dancing, the quality of the show, the music is magnificent […] I’ve seen many shows around the world, and this one—bravo.”
Guillaume Hourdeaux, a notary in the Marne region, shared the same enthusiasm. He discovered Shen Yun for the first time thanks to his daughter. “A beautiful performance, very well organized, beautiful music, beautiful dancers—a truly wonderful experience,” Mr. Hourdeaux said.
He gave an assessment of the artistic level. “Very high. Really, very high. My wife used to dance, and she confirmed that the level was very high,” he said.
As a former practitioner of French classical ballet, Julie Delavault, who is also a notary at the same firm, offered an interesting perspective by comparing styles. “It was a wonderful discovery—very different from the French classical ballet I practiced myself,” she said.
In particular, she highlighted “an extremely high level—they are genuine elite athletes.”
This athletic aspect is indeed a key feature of classical Chinese dance. According to information on Shen Yun’s official website, this ancient art form is based on a comprehensive system that encompasses technique, posture, and expressiveness. It incorporates highly complex jumps, spins, and acrobatic moves—while retaining a deeply expressive quality.
Guillaume Hourdeaux attends Shen Yun at the Palais des Congrès in Paris on May 8, 2026. NTD
Beyond the technical quality, it is Shen Yun’s structure that captivates many in the audience. Composed of a series of short scenes, it blends ancient legends,historical scenes, and contemporary stories.
“It was wonderful, full of little stories […] I really liked the short breaks. We summarize the story and then present the show,” Prof. El Bakkali said.
‘A Lot of Emotions’
Mr. Hourdeaux described Shen Yun as an immersive experience.“It’s very captivating; you feel swept away […] it stirs up a lot of emotions,” he said.
Ms. Delavault expressed a similar sentiment. “It was my daughter’s birthday present—everyone […] was able to enjoy it and share a lovely moment, certainly as a family,” she said.
Former practitioner of French classical ballet, Julie Delavault, attends Shen Yun at the Palais des Congrès in Paris, on May 8, 2026. NTD
As for Mouhcine El Bakkali, he expressed a sense of fulfillment. “I’m satisfied. I enjoyed it. I’m going to recommend it to my family […] and lots of friends,” he said.
Another aspect that frequently comes up in testimonials is the spiritual dimension of Shen Yun. Inspired by Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian traditions, the performance highlights values such as compassion, loyalty, and faith.
“Yes, you can feel it […] everything is very harmonious, very delicate […] you can sense the deeply spiritual aspect of things,” Mr. Hourdeaux said while adding he felt “a great sense of peace—you feel very at ease.”
Ms. Delavault described Shen Yun as “quite spiritual—very beautiful.” She also highlighted the values it conveys: “serenity, reaching out to others, kindness.”
For Prof. El Bakkali, said, “There is divinity, there is spirituality. You feel a sense of peace—it speaks to both body and soul.”
He said Shen Yun is a form of “Divine art.”
A connection between movement and inner state lies at the heart of classical Chinese dance, which seeks to express not only the external form but also the artist’s inner state—a fundamental concept known as “yun,” or the spirit’s presence.
‘Serenity, Joy, Tolerance, and Love’
Ms. Delavault spoke of how Shen Yun also served as a gateway to a culture that is still relatively unknown to her. “It’s already a wonderful discovery […] classical Chinese dance—which isn’t well known—it’s truly absolutely beautiful,” she said.
Prof. El Bakkali also praised Shen Yun’s “excellent mission” to promote this civilization worldwide.
“We need things like this that bring comfort, that remind us of peace, that remind us of love, that remind us of history,” he said.
Mr. Hourdeaux sums up what he thought the performance’s message was: “Serenity […] joy […] tolerance […] and love.”
Reporting by Nathalie Dieul and translated from the French language Epoch Times by Sonia Rouleau.
