On the evening of December 18, 2025, the performance by the Shen Yun International Artistic Troupe of the United States at the Amnéville Grand Theater in France was sold out. (Zhang Le / The Dajiyuan)
[People News] Even before the curtain rose on the Shen Yun performance, enthusiastic audience members inside the Amnéville Grand Theater in France had already applauded three times.
On the evening of December 18, 2025, the Shen Yun International Artistic Troupe of the United States held its opening performance at the Amnéville Grand Theater (Galaxie Amnéville) in the city of Amnéville, France, bringing surprises to many families.
A few minutes before the performance began, as Shen Yun musicians filed into the orchestra pit, the long-waiting audience applauded in welcome; after the musicians took their seats, the audience paid their respects once again. When the lights throughout the entire theater gradually dimmed and the performance was about to begin, applause erupted once more from the otherwise quiet venue.
As the curtain opened, the heavenly realm seemed to reappear in the human world. On the digital backdrop, a vast galaxy of stars, layered seas of clouds, and celestial maidens dancing gracefully appeared, and the audience immediately responded with even more enthusiastic applause.
Shen Yun was founded in New York, United States, in 2006, with the aspiration to revive divinely inspired Chinese culture and recreate a brilliant civilization. From an initial fledgling group, Shen Yun has grown over 20 years into today’s eight world-class artistic companies, becoming a miracle in cultural history. On the occasion of its 20th anniversary, French audiences were fortunate to be among the first to witness it.
Ticket sales in Amnéville had long been sold out; the venue was packed, and the atmosphere was extremely enthusiastic. This city in northeastern France is close to the borders of Luxembourg, Germany, and Belgium, and on that day many foreign audience members came specifically to attend.
Some elderly audience members said that they shed tears while watching the performance; some said there was a magical “energy field” during the show, as if entering another dimension; a U.S. Army officer said that the voices of Shen Yun singers were filled with kindness, and that he had never heard such a compassionate call in his life. An IT consultant believed that Shen Yun’s music penetrates the heart and helps to “open up (the body’s) meridians.”
Business Leader: Shen Yun Benefits Us Greatly and Broadens Our Horizons
On December 18, 2025, Robert Schaus (right) and his friend Gareth Konijnenberg drove specially from Luxembourg to Amnéville to watch the performance by the Shen Yun International Artistic Troupe. (Zhang Ni / The Dajiyuan)
Robert Schaus is a senior executive and business leader who has led projects for thousands of companies. He and his friend Gareth Konijnenberg drove from Luxembourg specifically to Amnéville to watch the Shen Yun performance.
Shen Yun showcases ancient Chinese culture through world tours, which Schaus highly praised: “To a certain extent, they are doing something important!”
“I think this is very important. Sharing such (traditional) culture is very important. Shen Yun benefits us greatly, broadens our horizons, and also lets us see another side of China that is different from the commonly perceived ‘industrialized China’ or the ‘China on the economic news pages,’” he said.
Regarding the visual and auditory feast presented by Shen Yun, Schaus was also full of praise: “I think the music and dance are wonderfully integrated—truly amazing! And the coordination between the dance and the digital backdrop also left a deep impression on us. That level of technical presentation is precise and perfect, almost achieving complete synchronization.”
Schaus stated frankly that compared with ballet or classical dance familiar to Western audiences, Shen Yun dance is more expressive and full of innocence and vitality.
Telecommunications expert Konijnenberg said: “The dance with the long sleeves really moved me. The movements were fluid and beautiful, and the accompanying music was also very beautiful. I truly liked it very much.”
“The choreography (of Shen Yun) is excellent, and basically you can follow the development of the storyline,” he added. “For example, the Monkey King from Journey to the West—we were able to understand it completely.” He also said that from the Shen Yun programs, he especially felt traditional values such as mutual respect and harmony among people.
Shen Yun presents traditional culture from before communism. Schaus emphasized: “I oppose communism. I believe it will sooner or later disappear into the garbage heap of history!”
Shen Yun Presents Elegance and Tradition, Delighting a Corporate Executive Couple
On December 18, 2025, Edwin Borgatti watched Shen Yun’s first performance of the year in France at the Amnéville Grand Theater (Galaxie Amnéville). (Yifan / The Dajiyuan)
Edwin Borgatti is an executive of a multinational group headquartered in Luxembourg, with operations across France, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, and other countries. His wife, Claire De Lombaert, is a life insurance contract specialist. The couple attended the performance together and praised Shen Yun’s dances for their elegance and softness, the dance dramas for reviving tradition, and for bringing unforgettable surprises.
De Lombaert believed that the Shen Yun performance was “very elegant,” with artists rendering complex dance movements in a light and natural manner. She said: “For ordinary people, these are very complex dance movements, but in the hands of the (Shen Yun) artists, they become simple, light, and elegant.”
Borgatti also said: “The movements are very gentle. Their dancing looks effortless, but we know that behind it there is nothing simple at all—that is precisely what is admirable.”
The water-sleeve dance left a deep impression on De Lombaert: “The long-sleeved costume design, color choices, the visual effects of the movements, and the formations were all wonderful.”
Shen Yun dance dramas include scenes depicting Falun Gong practitioners resisting persecution, revealing the evil of the persecution while also showing practitioners’ steadfast faith. This scene deeply shocked De Lombaert: “The scenes of persecution by the Chinese Communist Party send chills down your spine. The Shen Yun performers have great acting talent—that scene was performed so realistically that it made one feel cold to the core. Persecution truly makes one’s heart feel cold.”
Shen Yun presents traditional Chinese culture, which she deeply respected: “The performance strives to present the traditional side, and I respect that very much.”
The seamless connection between the dynamic digital backdrop and the stage made Borgatti marvel at Shen Yun’s visual effects, exclaiming repeatedly: “How did they do that?”
De Lombaert said that the orchestra’s performance and its ingenious integration with the stage dancing made audiences almost forget the existence of the orchestra. “To some extent, we forget that there is a live orchestra here,” she said. “The music is so beautiful, it sounds extremely well integrated, and both visually and aurally it is wonderfully beautiful.”
They attended the performance because De Lombaert had seen Shen Yun advertisements several times, after which the couple discussed it, and Borgatti gave the Shen Yun performance to his wife as a gift ahead of St. Nicholas Day and Christmas.
Shen Yun Awakens All the Senses; Museum Art Director Feels a Connection With the Divine
On the evening of December 18, 2025, Jean-Louis Janin Daviet, art director and curator of the Abbey Museum of the city of Lunéville, France, watched the Shen Yun performance at the Amnéville Grand Theater (Galaxie Amnéville). (New Tang Dynasty Television)
Jean-Louis Janin Daviet, the current art director and curator of the Abbey Museum of the city of Lunéville (Musée de l’Hôtel Abbatial de la ville de Lunéville) in France, said after watching the performance that he was deeply moved.
He said that Shen Yun allows people to become completely immersed. The stage colors are rich and delicate, and the scene design is vivid. Through dance, costumes, and stories, he was able to glimpse the cultural landscapes of different periods of Chinese history.
“For me, this performance is a truly immersive experience. It is a journey of our dreams. It is a successful journey achieved through color,” he said.
“When the female performers hold lotus flowers, we can almost smell the fragrance of the lotus. When the kites fly, it is as if we see real kites. Through this performance, we learn about (traditional Chinese) history, just as the elegant introductions by the young hosts described—those painful periods, forbidden periods, mythological periods, as well as those incredible and fantastical historical eras. I think the performance wonderfully interprets what China looks like.”
Daviet believed that Shen Yun’s artistic standard is extremely high: “This is a form of coordination, harmony, and absolutely impeccable choreography. With the use of digital imagery, characters sometimes appear from the backdrop and then disappear. Combined with choreography that is precise and flawless, it becomes almost impossible to tell whether what is before our eyes is a live performance or projected imagery. It’s magical.”
The performance awakened all of Daviet’s senses completely, with the first being the visual impact. “All my senses are awakening. Obviously the first sense is visual, and then my hearing is drawn in by the music.”
As an art professional, Daviet said that Shen Yun’s use of color was astonishing, and that the water-sleeve dance was light, fluid, and outstanding, leaving a deep impression on him. “For someone like me who is sensitive to color, the combination of colors is fantastical. The costumes are excellent and magnificent, and I also really loved that water-sleeve dance—it was so light and fluid. The young female dancers danced lightly and smoothly on stage, their sleeves moving like ribbons. Their bodies seemed to become even softer, lighter, and as smooth as silk.”
The performance by the Shen Yun orchestra also deeply touched Daviet. He said: “What truly moved me was seeing a genuine group of musicians performing, along with my favorite instrument—the harp. When I heard the sound of the harp and saw it on the far left of the orchestra, I was deeply drawn in.”
“Music, scent, color, fragrance—I believe all my senses are awakening. We truly feel carried along and feel light. One cannot help but think: why can’t we walk as lightly as those dancers, or suddenly perform three forward somersaults and backward flips? They really master all the skills—whether gymnastic movements, dance movements, or bodily (coordination). Added to that are their perfect expressions, while their faces remain calm. (The performance is) extraordinary and magnificent. This is really… wonderful!”
Daviet also said that while watching the performance, he felt a profound connection with divinity. Every detail on stage radiated a sacred aura, bringing a shock to the soul and a sense of spiritual cleansing.
“For me, I truly felt the image of God—the image that appears at the opening—(and then) all these gods and heavenly beings descend to Earth to search for humanity. I like the diversity of characters presented in this image, because it shows various possibilities. One could almost say it includes guardians from all nationalities, all ethnicities, and all the gods who protect us.”
Daviet said: “I believe that God truly exists. Without God, our world could not exist. In all countries, all regions, and all social structures, we need to see this sacred essence. He follows us, helps us, and protects us, giving us firm faith in Him.”
On December 18, 2025, audience members purchased Shen Yun merchandise and books such as Zhuan Falun inside the Amnéville Grand Theater (Galaxie Amnéville). (Zhang Le / The Dajiyuan)
On December 18, 2025, audience members purchased Shen Yun merchandise and books such as Zhuan Falun inside the Amnéville Grand Theater (Galaxie Amnéville). (Zhang Le / The Dajiyuan)
On December 18, 2025, audience members purchased Shen Yun merchandise and books such as Zhuan Falun inside the Amnéville Grand Theater (Galaxie Amnéville). (Zhang Le / The Dajiyuan)
(Reported by The Dajiyuan France Amnéville Correspondent Station)
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