Teacher, Finance Specialist, Lawyer Reunite for Shen Yun

CLERMONT-FERRAND, France—International Women's Day, on March 8, ended in style for these audience members at Maison de la Culture who were seeing Shen Yun Performing Arts Touring Company, in Clermont-Ferrand as part of the New York-based company’s 2011 World Tour.

Mrs. Vilard, a science teacher, found it hard to get her feet back on the ground after the two-hour show. She said of the show, “Extraordinary! The dancing on its own, the backgrounds, the costumes, the harmony in the movements.

“I was very impressed by the scene when the women arrived from the two sides. Lots of grace.”

Catherine Raynaud, a lawyer, was also captivated by the grace of the artists. “Each gesture is harmonious. Each dancer is in perfect sync and each movement is executed in a perfect manner, in harmony. One feels like each number is the expression of a complete life,” she said.

“One also experiences all the Chinese culture throughout different millennia,” added Mrs. Sigaud, who works in finance and has a more analytical view on the depth of the Chinese heritage.

“On the cultural level, it's really quite complete, therefore, extremely interesting for us Westeners to be able to discover China differently, to understand China, its history; and what's equally quite interesting are the comments of the two presenters; there is also humor that is present throughout the show,” she said.

Ultimately, three friends whose sole purpose for coming to the show was to experience something new, depart floating on a cloud. “I'm not sure how to define it, because it's so grandiose! One feels as if travelling. It's as if I left abroad … while remaining on my seat … It changes the scenery; one escapes,” she said.

Reporting by Aurélien Girard.