SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

‘Values That Should Be Upheld More Often in Our World,’ Doctor of Law on Shen Yun

Jan 24, 2026

1/24/2026Updated: 1/24/2026

GENEVA—Following Shen Yun’s performance on January 21 at the Geneva Arena, Aurélien Barakat shares his thoughts on a show that combines artistic excellence, cultural transmission, and reflection on universal values.

Among the audience members at Shen Yun was Aurélien Barakat, a lawyer, doctor of law, certified tax expert, city councilor for Geneva, and president of the Geneva Green Liberal Party. He said he was immediately struck by “the magic of the show.”

“I feel like the artists are flying. It’s extraordinary how light on their feet they are; it feels like they’re barely touching the ground. ... The grace of the artists, and the way they communicate the history of this country through dance, is truly beautiful.”

The Magic of Dance in the Service of History and Culture

Classical Chinese dance is one of the most comprehensive dance systems in the world. Its movements, postures, and acrobatics draw on thousands of years of practice, notably from ethnic and folk dances, imperial court dances, and popular theatrical traditions.

Beyond aesthetics, Aurélien Barakat was moved by the values of ancient China highlighted in the show. “I think they bring us back to our fundamentals. ... Something was said: it’s true that the world is changing, very quickly, but sometimes we forget the importance of living together in harmony, of simplicity ...”

“We see scenes that convey very simple life lessons: sharing, accepting others for who they are. These are values that we should embrace more often in our highly connected world, where it is easy to become disconnected,” he continues.

‘Art Should also be Used to Condemn Certain Injustices’

The Geneva representative was also moved by the dance performances depicting the ongoing persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners in China. This meditation practice, based on the universal principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance, has been targeted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999, which persecutes, imprisons, and tortures its practitioners. Forced organ harvesting has also been perpetrated since 2001.

“This refers to the fact that people are persecuted because of their beliefs. Freedom of belief, whether one is religious, agnostic, practicing, or upholds certain values or not, should be defended when one embraces humanist values and tolerance of others.”

“From what I understand, it’s a very tolerant culture, and it’s hard to understand why people who advocate kindness and tolerance would be persecuted, so ... yes, I think it’s a good reminder, and it’s good to shine a light on it. ... Art should also be used to condemn certain injustices,” he adds.

Finally, for the city councilman, Shen Yun represents an invitation to travel: “Many people love to travel. But sometimes, you don’t need to travel; travel comes to you. And I think that to discover a new culture, this is a very good first step!”

Reporting by Sarita Modmesaïb and translated by Sonia Rouleau.

The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.