TOURS, France—For its final performance in the city of Tours, the Shen Yun company played to a full house.
On Sunday, Feb. 15, the Grall family came to immerse themselves in the dazzling world of Shen Yun. Laureline, Jonathan, and Kattel discovered “beautiful costumes, beautiful performances, and beautiful energy from the dancers.”
Classical Chinese dance was a discovery for this family, who were surprised to see acrobatics combined with basic postures.
“It was really cool to watch! A beautiful show,” enthused Laureline Grall, a doctor.
Classical Chinese dance is one of the most comprehensive dance systems in the world, combining basic movements with acrobatics. It is also inspired by thousands of years of traditions, drawn from ethnic and folk dances, street theater, and imperial court dances.
An Orchestra That ‘Adds Extra Charm’
Jonathan Grall was impressed by Shen Yun’s orchestra, which “adds extra charm to the show.” Unique in the world, the instrumental ensemble combines a traditional Western symphony orchestra with Eastern instruments such as the pipa, erhu, and gong.
Laureline Grall particularly enjoyed the performance of the erhu soloist: “It was beautiful! Such virtuosity with just two strings.”
The erhu is an ancient oriental instrument with only two strings, but it expresses an infinite range of sounds that evoke a variety of emotions and feelings. “In its low and middle registers, the erhu’s somber expression is particularly moving, making it an ideal instrument for conveying the breadth of Chinese history and the emotions of its people,” according to the Shen Yun website.
Shen Yun’s mission is to revive a traditional culture deeply imbued with spirituality. In fact, Shen Yun means “the beauty of divine beings dancing,” paying tribute to the belief in a culture inherited from the divine.
Through the stories told in dance and song, Shen Yun conveys universal values such as courage, loyalty, kindness, and endurance.
Mrs. Grall was also able to identify “values of sharing and helping others.”
In addition to dance performances depicting ancient Chinese culture, the company highlights the current persecution taking place in communist China: since 1999, practitioners of the Falun Dafa meditation discipline have been harassed, persecuted, and tortured to death. Crimes of forced organ harvesting are also being committed in Chinese prisons.
Believing that dance, “like any art form,” is an interesting way to convey messages, Laureline Grall says she took the opportunity to discuss the issue of freedom of expression with her daughter: “We were able to explain to Kattel that we are lucky to live in a democracy, with the right to think and believe without being repressed. In some countries, such as China, not all religions or beliefs can be expressed freely. That’s a reality.”
‘We Are Amazed by the Precision of the Movements’
Attending Shen Yun in Tours on Feb. 15, 2026, Jean-Michel Lathière experienced a “sumptuous” show. Isabelle Meyer/The Epoch Times
Attending Shen Yun, Jean-Michel Lathière experienced a “sumptuous” show.
This independent GDPR consultant, who specializes in data protection and is AFNOR-certified, said he was “impressed by the backdrop and the synchronization between the dancers on stage and those on screen.”
To enhance the paintings and extend the stage to sumptuous landscapes, Shen Yun has developed an animated digital backdrop that allows dancers to move from the stage to the screen. This cutting-edge technology has been patented.
“We are amazed by the precision of the movements,” said the consultant, praising the harmony of the choreography and the artistic level of the dancers.
He also described the company’s commitment to reviving traditional Chinese culture as “very courageous.”
“It’s good to make it known, to spread the word, to present it,” agreed Mr. Lathière, adding, however, “I don’t know how it’s interpreted in their country, but in my opinion, it can’t be viewed very favorably.”
The Shen Yun website explains: “The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) views China’s spiritual and cultural traditions as a threat to its power. That is why the first thing it did when it came to power was to try to eliminate these traditions, and why it continues to suppress them. This is largely why Shen Yun cannot perform in China today.”
Jean-Michel Lathière also said he was sensitive to the spiritual dimension of the show: “The divine and, more generally, the religious aspect, is very present in this culture that has existed for millennia, so, inevitably, it will last, it will continue, that’s obvious,” he said.
“Long live them, above all!” concluded Mr. Lathière. “May they continue this adventure, which is so essential to their culture!”
Reporting by Sarita Modmesaïb and translated from the French language Epoch Times by Sonia Rouleau.
