(Minghui.org) In mid-February 2024, Shen Yun Performing Arts continued to tour Europe and North America with performances in France, Germany, Scotland, and the United States.
A third touring company of Shen Yun flew to Europe to continue the performing arts company’s world tour. Shen Yun World Company arrived in Paris, France, on February 12 to perform in seven European countries, with the first stop being Nantes, France.
Shen Yun is scheduled to perform in various cities in France over the next three months. Mr. Tang from the local presenter said, “Now [the shows in] almost every city are in a state of having a full house. So I think French audiences already can’t wait. Basically wherever Shen Yun goes to perform, they’re going there to see it.”
Shen Yun World Company arrived in Paris on February 12. The artists were welcomed by local fans with flowers and banners at the airport. (The Epoch Times)
Concertmaster Ryan Lee (The Epoch Times)
This was concertmaster Ryan Lee’s sixth year performing in Europe. “There are so many shows this year in France. So many new cities, so many places that opened up, so many more people are coming to watch the show. I think it’s because Shen Yun inspires hope in the audiences. I think especially in a time like this, in today’s world there’re so many things going on. I think what audiences want to see and want to hear in art is hope,” he said.
Principal dancer Pamela Du (NTD Television)
Principal dancer Pamela Du said, “I think the impact of art is very big. It can change society. It can also directly touch people’s hearts. So as an artist, I think [we] should present the values of kindness, beauty, and tradition. Actually, for every one of our performers on stage, our smiles are not for showing ourselves, but we truly want to share the essence of China’s five thousand years with the whole world, from the bottom of our heart.”
Cité des Congrès de Nantes in Nantes, France. Shen Yun presented eight performances in Nantes February 13–18, drawing over 13,000 theatergoers. Tickets were sold out three months in advance. (The Epoch Times)
Shen Yun World Company at the Cité des Congrès de Nantes on the afternoon of February 18. The performers took three bows. (The Epoch Times)
Fabrice Chapuzet at the Shen Yun performance in Nantes on February 18 (The Epoch Times)
Fabrice Chapuzet, president of Lou Légumes, saw Shen Yun in Nantes on February 18.
“I didn’t expect to feel so much emotion, spirituality, and even divinities! This is very moving,” Mr. Chapuzet said.
“Through these stories, we can feel a large amount of hope, luminosity... quite an extraordinary dynamic,” he said.
Shen Yun Global Company at the Forum am Schlosspark in Ludwigsburg, Germany, on February 18. The company presented six performances in Ludwigsburg February 14–18, with several shows sold-out. (The Epoch Times)
Martin and Konstanze Haas at the Shen Yun performance in Ludwigsburg (The Epoch Times)
Martin and Konstanze Haas saw Shen Yun in Ludwigsburg on February 18.
“Truly great. Enchanting and graceful. The music combined with costumes, colors, and dance – so magical,” said Martin, chairman of the supervisory board of Staufen AG, a company that provides business consulting and services.
“These traditions must be preserved,” said Konstanze, a lawyer.
Andreas Schenkel, an executive at Mercedes-Benz, at the Shen Yun performance in Ludwigsburg (NTD Television)
Andreas Schenkel, an executive at Mercedes-Benz, saw Shen Yun in Ludwigsburg on February 15.
“Great show, very nice evening. The animation in the back, the singing, and the live orchestra, everything was wonderful,” he said.
Maria-Luise Schäfer-Gruler, a former cultural director, at the Shen Yun performance in Ludwigsburg on February 15 (NTD Television)
Maria-Luise Schäfer-Gruler, a former cultural director in a city in Baden-Württemberg, also saw Shen Yun in Ludwigsburg.
“It’s great and it’s a total work of art. The choreography, the costumes, the music, I think everything harmonizes wonderfully together,” she said.
“The wisdom of the old culture, that’s being revived, that’s being shown, is apparently forbidden in today’s China. And that’s why I think it’s particularly important to be shown.
“First of all, thank you for the work that everyone is doing, for the sacrifice that everyone is making, because if they were [in China], then they would probably be facing [different] consequences.
“I wish everyone with all my heart that they may travel home [to China], that this work of art, that this show may also be shown in China, and so that a lot of people can see what they are creating,” Ms. Schäfer-Gruler said.
Christian Dietrich and Gabriele Roth-Dietrich at the Shen Yun performance in Ludwigsburg on February 15 (NTD Television)
Christian Dietrich and Gabriele Roth-Dietrich also saw Shen Yun in Ludwigsburg on February 15.
“I also like it very much. I find the variety exciting, and I enjoyed the choreography. Just get involved in something new and let yourself be whisked away to new worlds,” said Christian, the managing director of Baden-Württemberg State Chamber of Psychotherapists.
He believed that Shen Yun’s mission to revive 5,000 years of traditional culture is very important. He calls those values the cornerstone of humanity. “I believe [Shen Yun] is an introduction to understanding the Chinese world... Traditional values are always a good thing because that’s the foundation we all stand on.”
Gabriele, a professor of business informatics at Mannheim University of Applied Sciences, said: “I realized that Chinese culture is not one-dimensional, but includes different traditions from different regions and different ethnic groups that form into one, wonderfully. I understood that we humans have a relationship with heaven and that our goal is to return to heaven.”
Thomas Falk, a businessman, at the Shen Yun performance in Ludwigsburg (The Epoch Times)
Thomas Falk, a businessman, saw Shen Yun in Ludwigsburg on February 15.
“I like Shen Yun very much. First is the dancing, I think the skills are very high and very good. The erhu solo was excellent. The images were also very good. I think Shen Yun is a high-quality performance,” he said.
From February 13–18, Shen Yun New Era Company presented four performances at the SEC Armadillo in Glasgow, Scotland, all to packed houses.
Joe and Lea Rennie at the Shen Yun performance in Glasgow, Scotland
Joe Rennie, director of an award-winning graphics company, and his wife Lea, also a company director, saw Shen Yun in Glasgow, Scotland, on February 15.
“Spectacular. It’s very good. The musicians and the orchestra are absolutely amazing and so professional to watch and to see it live!” Joe said.
He said it’s a different side of China than what is seen in the media and on television.
Lea said the dancing was “very expressive.” “The girls are just beautiful, the men as well, very beautiful, very talented,” she said.
Shen Yun North America Company at the Phoenix Orpheum in Phoenix, Arizona, on February 16. The company presented eight sold-out performances in Phoenix on February 13–18. (The Epoch Times)
Michael and YeSun Wiltse at the Shen Yun performance in Augusta, Georgia (The Epoch Times)
Michael Wiltse, chairman of the Georgia Republican Party (GAGOP)’s 12th congressional district, and YeSun Wiltse, at large commission chair of Columbia County Republican Party, saw Shen Yun in Augusta, Georgia, on February 17. This was their third time seeing Shen Yun.
“I like this show very much... Awe-striking. The awe comes from the messages in the show, the dancing, the music, and everything,” Michael said.
“This is my third time seeing Shen Yun. I tell other people that I would give up other entertainment activities for this show. Because Shen Yun’s dancers are amazingly talented, and the show presents the beauty of purity. Very graceful,” YeSun said.
Eric Granger, CEO of Aracari Films, at the Shen Yun performance in Burlington, Vermont (NTD Television)
Eric Granger, CEO of Aracari Films, saw Shen Yun in Burlington, Vermont, on February 18.
“I think it’s a very worthwhile mission. It’s a story that most of the people don’t know, most of the people in this country don’t know the hardship that’s really going on in communist China. And it’s a good way to express it and get it out,” said Mr. Granger.
“I think it’s the inspiration in the message. And because they have such an important message, and they want to get the message out to the rest of the world. So I think the inspiration comes from within, and the energy comes from the inspiration,” he said.
Felix Gonzalez at the Shen Yun performance in San Antonio, Texas (NTD Television)
Felix Gonzalez, a vice president at a financial institution, saw Shen Yun in San Antonio, Texas, on February 16
“The show was amazing, absolutely amazing,” Mr. Gonzalez said.
“It showed the values between good and evil, and making sure that we always try to choose the side of good,” he said.
Shen Yun Touring Company at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts in San Antonio, Texas, on February 18. The company presented four performances in Antonio February 16–18, all to full theaters. The performance on February 16 was added three weeks prior to meet the demand. (The Epoch Times)
Joseph Lynch, former Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (CMSgt) and the founder of a consulting company, at the Shen Yun performance (The Epoch Times)
Joseph Lynch, former Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (CMSgt) and the founder of a consulting company, saw Shen Yun in San Antonio, Texas, on February 18.
“They are undoubtedly excellent spokespeople,” Mr. Lynch said.
“I want to say thank you to him [the Artistic Director]. Everything he’s doing is creating positive impact,” he said.
For more information about performance times, locations, and tickets, please visit www.shenyun.com.