LYON, France—The Shen Yun Performing Arts company gave its final performance in the City of Lights on April 11.

Brothers Joseph and Michel Briguet are die-hard Shen Yun fans: for the past four years, they’ve come every year to immerse themselves in this world in Lyon.

“This is our fourth year here, and to be honest, we’re still just as impressed,” said Michel, a mechanical engineer and draftsman.

“I’ve always been very interested in Asian culture,” added Joseph, a software developer. “I really love the traditional aspect, as well as the chance to experience beautiful music, beautiful dancers, beautiful choreography, and beautiful colors all in one show. These days, the world feels a bit dull, and in fact, we get a real explosion of colors—it’s honestly wonderful.”

For Joseph, Shen Yun embodies an ideal way of life to strive for. “When you see a performance like this, you can’t help but realize that it really does you good,“ he said. ”You leave feeling full of energy, and you think to yourself that it would be truly wonderful if we lived in a world that was a little more colorful, more beautiful, and filled with joy.”

However, he said, “This performance is beautiful, yet it also evokes a sense of melancholy, because it represents something that sometimes seems out of reach. It’s incredible because we want to strive toward it, but in the world we live in, it’s hard to achieve. But it’s also a challenge.”

“We’re getting closer to utopia,” his brother added. “Getting as close to it as possible without going completely in the opposite direction, as we’re doing now.”

Michel added, “You really feel transported, both physically and emotionally. You feel a weight lifting off your shoulders. But you really have to experience it for yourself. You don’t just watch this show—you live it.”