ROUEN, France—On Tuesday, Jan. 14, the Zenith was sold out for the last of Shen Yun’s five performances scheduled in the Norman capital. It was a remarkable success, with four out of five performances playing to full houses. After the show, several audience members shared their impressions, describing it as artistic, poetic, and meaningful.

Through this discipline, Shen Yun recounts ancient legends, historical narratives, and contemporary stories, conveyed with great technical precision and expressive power.

Ms. Rey was also impressed by the music: “There’s a lot of music, it’s superb, the orchestra is great—exceptional, really!” For her, Shen Yun is “a beautiful, colorful show” performed by “fabulous artists.” “We are happy to be here, we are enjoying ourselves,” she added.

Some scenes particularly moved her, especially those featuring female dancers: “I really like the scenes with women. They are graceful, and it really touches me deeply. It looks like they are gliding across the floor rather than walking. It doesn’t seem like they are touching the ground; they almost look like goddesses.”

“We understand the messages, and we are lucky to live in a free country where we can dance and say what we want without risking anything,” says Ms. Rey. She expresses her support for people living under oppressive regimes: “Our hearts go out to the people who are suffering in all those countries where they are not allowed to do what they want.”

For her, artistic freedom is essential: “It’s a shame because art should be universal, really, and no one should be forbidden from living, from dancing.”

For Dr. Carré, Shen Yun provides a genuine sense of well-being that goes beyond the stage performance: “It’s very relaxing, very enjoyable. It’s a show that really brings a touch of ‘zenitude,’ as we say now, a certain relaxation, calm, and serenity.”

When asked what Shen Yun brought him that evening, his answer was simple and straightforward: “Enjoyment!”