Shen Yun Brings ‘A Tremendous Feeling of Joy, of Peace’: Portfolio Manager

LAUSANNE, Switzerland—Lausanne, Switzerland, Oxford, UK, and Frankfurt, Germany are the first European cities to welcome Shen Yun Performing Arts in early 2023.

Like Geneva, Vevey, or Evian-les-Bains, Lausanne is one of those small cities nestled between the foothills of the Alps and the majestic crescent of Lake Geneva.

While Lausanne’s medieval streets and romantic beaches are bathed in a delightful atmosphere, the city is also an outstanding sports symbol: indeed, it has hosted the International Olympic Committee since 1915 and has been classified as the Olympic capital since 1993.

Thus, it is perhaps no coincidence that New York-based Shen Yun has chosen to start its 2023 season in this city that celebrates sport and physical endurance in general.

Classical Chinese dance, the mainstay of the show, is one of the most complete dance systems in the world, combining both athletic prowess of jumps and twists with a unique expressiveness of the dancers.

On Saturday, Jan. 14, many spectators crowded in front of the Théâtre de Beaulieu to discover the new program of the famous classical Chinese dance and music company.

‘I Want to Advise All My Friends to Go and See It”

Dimitris Lagopoulos, a Canton of Vaud resident, shared his impressions. This portfolio manager was part of the audience for the premiere of Shen Yun in Lausanne, and was still bedazzled after the show.

“The show is really extraordinary! It’s really beautiful … really, it’s magnificent,” said Mr. Lagopoulos, visibly moved.

“I had tears in my eyes at certain moments during the show. I found it very, very beautiful; it is really extraordinary. I want to advise all my friends to go and see it,” said Mr. Lagopoulos.

“The performance is at a very high level,” said the manager, adding that “the technique is extraordinary, and it is completely unusual. It’s not the kind of show we often have here in Europe.”

Mr. Lagopoulos believes “there is a tremendous amount of work behind everything we see,” feeling an “extraordinary” energy.

“You feel an extraordinary technical level and, at the same time, the dancers are calm, they do difficult things, but in a calm, with an extraordinary control,” he said.

Along with the aesthetics and energy of the movements, Mr. Lagopoulos had the pleasant surprise of discovering that “part of the Chinese culture showcased here is something we don’t necessarily know.”

‘What Is Beyond This Material World’

He also mentioned the spiritual aspect, “the philosophical side and the connection with the divine, with what is beyond this material world.”

According to the Vaud townships resident, originally from Greece, “there is a lot of spirituality” in Shen Yun, “there are a lot of beliefs, philosophy, and I liked that too.”

Shen Yun brings to life the 5,000 years of culture and history of ancient China and also revives the considerable spiritual heritage that has been part of all the Chinese people for these thousands of years.

China was called the “Land of the Divine,” reflecting the belief that its glorious culture was brought by the gods. People aimed at the harmony between Heaven, Earth, and humans, praised the divine and respected the guiding principles of nature.

Throughout its program, Shen Yun  draws attention to the values of courage, loyalty, and compassion that accompanied the Chinese people.

Mr. Lagopoulos was able to appreciate this spirituality, explaining his feeling: “I feel like we are losing the connection a little bit … The world is losing it and shows like these help us connect to this spiritual side that is a little bit divine … Yes, absolutely!”

For Mr. Lagopoulos, seeing Shen Yun brought him a “great feeling of joy!”

“A tremendous feeling of joy, of peace. .. And precisely … once or twice, I had tears in my eyes,” he said.

Reporting by NTD.

The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.