(Minghui.org) Shen Yun Performing Arts continued its 2026 world tour, filling theaters in Austria, France, Italy, Switzerland, the UK, and the US, during the final days of January 2026.
Audience Member in Vienna, Austria: “The Beauty I Saw Tonight Has Enriched Me Deeply”
Shen Yun Touring Company performed at the Wiener Stadthalle, Halle F, in Vienna, Austria, on the evening of January 23.
Prince Gundakar of Liechtenstein (Gundakar Prinz von Liechtenstein) and Princess Marie of Liechtenstein (Marie Prinzessin von Liechtenstein) (Screenshot courtesy of NTD)
Prince Gundakar of Liechtenstein and Princess Marie of Liechtenstein saw Shen Yun in Vienna on January 23.
As the curtain rose and a celestial world unfolded on stage, Princess Marie said she immediately felt a sense of amazement. “I was truly astonished,” she recalled. “I was thrilled by the beauty and the depth of the entire performance.”
Prince Gundakar echoed her enthusiasm, describing Shen Yun as “absolutely fantastic,” and noted that the long history and depth of Chinese civilization left a strong and lasting impression on him.
Princess Marie said the spiritual meaning conveyed through the music was especially touching. She pointed to a song performed by the soprano, saying, “I really liked the lyrics sung by the soprano. They spoke about God—the Creator—as truly being the center of all life.” Reflecting further, she added, “When everything seems to be lost, when people lose their faith, one should think about something higher. That’s how I understood it.”
She also highlighted the Mongolian dance for its strength and vitality. “That Mongolian dance was very powerful,” she said. “You really feel how proud the people are of who they are. And it is also very beautiful. These ethnic dances are truly something very special.”
Shen Yun’s mission to revive traditional culture and values resonated with Princess Marie. “Traditions are being lost, and atheism is becoming dominant. People should rediscover their faith in God,” she said. “In today’s world, where spirituality is often overlooked, this is extremely important.”
In her view, European traditional culture and the traditional Chinese culture presented by Shen Yun share many similarities—in artistic expression, cultural customs, and underlying values.
“There are many connections within tradition,” she said. “For example, history and the transmission of music, dance, and folklore—this is also very important. Many European traditions can align with the traditions of this country.”
Both agreed that Shen Yun carries profound significance for contemporary society. Prince Gundakar stated, “I believe this is extremely important. The connection between the divine and humanity is conveyed with extraordinary beauty in these dance pieces. This is truly the central message of these works—to express beauty, transcendence, and everything that comes from the divine. It left a deep and lasting impression on me.”
Princess Marie added, “Traditional values are also very important in today’s era, because they are gradually being lost. They are expressed not only through language or words, but also through movement and a kind of longing. This is very important for people.”
Prince Gundakar was also impressed by Shen Yun’s live orchestra, the first in the world to successfully blend Eastern and Western musical traditions. “I liked it very much,” he said. “Chinese music is completely different from European music, yet the two work together extremely well. It is an entirely different kind of music, and that is precisely what makes it beautiful. Every culture has its own music—nothing is all the same.”
“The beauty I saw tonight has enriched me deeply,” Princess Marie said. “I will think of this beauty often, even when there are difficulties everywhere. This feeling—I will keep it in my heart.”
American Theatergoer: “A Big Celebration of Dance”
Shen Yun North America Company performed at the Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, California, on the evening of January 23.
Ethan Petersen (Screenshot courtesy of The Epoch Times)
Ethan Petersen, a casting director, saw Shen Yun in Los Angeles on January 25.
“It’s great, and something that’s different for me. I was so curious, and so I wanted to come in and expand my horizons,” Mr. Petersen said.
“Different cultures are so important, and for people that can’t necessarily travel the world, it’s so great to have the world come to them, and that’s what this is all about. I don’t care who you are, how old you are... nationality doesn’t matter. It makes everyone a better person. The arts are the most important thing in the world,” Mr. Petersen said.
“It’s beautiful. The costumes are just stunning, and I didn’t realize how much this form of dance consists of gymnastics—it’s incredible,” Mr. Petersen said.
Shen Yun consistently portrays a message of hope, and that goodness and compassion will always prevail. “We need that these days, and we definitely need the kindness and compassion. So it’s really great to see the interpretation, the message, and the dance interpretation of that,” Mr. Petersen said.
Regarding Shen Yun’s presentation of various Chinese ethnic and folk dance styles, he said, “It’s great too, to see so many different backgrounds here, which is really great. It’s a big celebration of dance.”
Audience Member in Geneva, Switzerland: “I Hope We Will See Them Regularly”
Swiss Senator Mauro Poggia (Screenshot courtesy of NTD)
Swiss Senator Mauro Poggia attended the Shen Yun performance in Geneva on January 20.
“It’s a great pleasure to see the company return here. We haven’t seen them in Geneva for a few years. I hope we will see them regularly every year now,” Mr. Poggia said.
“I think it’s good to have human values coming back, especially in times like these,” he said.
In a world he described as troubled, where “human values are disappearing” and “solidarity is no longer present,” he said he believes that this type of show plays an essential role, “It feels good to have values expressed in this way.”
“These are human values that enable us to respect others and also earn their respect. They allow us to express what is deepest within ourselves and to earn the respect of those around us,” he said.
“When you find yourself surrounded by this traditional music and these traditional instruments, it’s a moment without words, without movement, where you refocus on your inner values,” he said, adding that it was “a feast for the eyes.”
“I Feel Like the Artists Were Flying”
Aurélien Barakat (Screenshot courtesy of NTD)
Aurélien Barakat, lawyer, Geneva city councilor, and president of the Geneva Green Liberal Party, saw Shen Yun in Geneva on January 21.
He said he was immediately struck by “the magic of the show.”
“I feel like the artists were flying. It’s extraordinary how light on their feet they are; it feels like they’re barely touching the ground... The grace of the artists, and the way they communicate the history of this country through dance, is truly beautiful,” he said.
Beyond aesthetics, Aurélien Barakat was moved by the values of ancient China highlighted in the show. “I think they bring us back to our fundamentals... Something was said: it’s true that the world is changing, very quickly, but sometimes we forget the importance of living together in harmony, of simplicity,” he said.
“We see scenes that convey very simple life lessons: sharing, accepting others for who they are. These are values that we should embrace more often in our highly connected world, where it is easy to become disconnected,” he continued.
The Geneva representative was also moved by the dance performances depicting the ongoing persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners in China.
“This refers to the fact that people are persecuted because of their beliefs. Freedom of belief, whether one is religious, agnostic, practicing, or upholds certain values or not, should be defended when one embraces humanist values and tolerance of others.
“From what I understand, it’s a very tolerant culture, and it’s hard to understand why people who advocate kindness and tolerance would be persecuted, so... yes, I think it’s a good reminder, and it’s good to shine a light on it... Art should also be used to condemn certain injustices,” he added.
Finally, for him, Shen Yun represents an invitation to travel, “Many people love to travel. But sometimes, you don’t need to travel; travel comes to you. And I think that to discover a new culture, this is a very good first step!”
Parisian Theatergoer: “It’s Full of Life”
Shen Yun International Company’s opened a sold-out performance at the Palais des Congrès de Paris in Paris, France, on the evening of January 23.
Pascal Lesselingue (Screenshot courtesy of NTD)
Pascal Lesselingue, deputy mayor of the Paris suburb of L’Haÿ-les-Roses, saw Shen Yun in Paris on January 23.
“The show is very refreshing... It’s full of color. It’s full of life, and very, very pleasant to watch. It’s fluid. It’s very nice!” he said.
“I am a supporter of ancestral traditions,” said Mr. Lesselingue. “And I find that reviving this ancestral tradition through these performances is something quite extraordinary because it is the history of China. Shen Yun has brought this history back to life, and it is indeed something very enjoyable.”
“For me, the future is the future, the present is the present, and the past is the past. However, I think that everything should be intertwined. History is important for all people. For all people on this earth, the history of each civilization is important, and I think Shen Yun is able to give us a small dose of this ancient tradition through its performances.
“There is so much going on in the world today that trying to bring a different form of struggle through shows... It is extremely important to bring all this back to life and to fight in a peaceful way against oppression, since that is somewhat the purpose of the show.
“You feel good when you watch the show. I truly believe that someone who has kindness transmits it to others. And this kindness is there, it exists, and you can feel it,” he said.
Audience Member in Milan, Italy: “Full of Magic”
Shen Yun New York Company’s curtain call at the sold-out performance at the Teatro degli Arcimboldi in Milan, Italy, on the evening of January 23
Katia Alghisi (Screenshot courtesy of NTD)
Company owner Katia Alghisi saw Shen Yun in Milan on January 25.
“The performance was wonderful and excellent. It was full of magic and spiritual messages. The extreme gentleness and kindness deeply moved me. Truly beautiful,” she said.
“I believe that the Creator is with every living being. Every person has a divine side in their heart. They just need to search and discover. The program portraying the Creator descending to save people was very sacred.
“Search within the heart to find the inner kindness, beauty, and all beautiful qualities,” she said.
“We Felt an Inner Peace From Beginning to End”
Olivier Reboah (Screenshot courtesy of NTD)
Olivier Reboah, who is in charge of the French market for a multinational company, saw Shen Yun in Paris on January 25.
“The performance was full of vitality. We felt the kindness coming from the bottom of the hearts of all the artists on stage,” he said.
“We felt an inner peace from beginning to end. From the first choreography of the opening piece, the first scene, to the singer’s performance – everything was delivering a kind of inner beauty to us.
“At the beginning of the performance when divine beings descended to the human world, we felt the arrival of the divine, where the earth was full of peace. I think the performance can bring extremely great blessings and benefits to different countries around the world. It can harmonize the yin and yang of all things in the world,” he said.
For more information about performance times, locations, and tickets, please visit www.shenyun.com.
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