French media spotlight the upcoming 'Wing Chun' Paris premiere

The dance drama “Wing Chun,” featuring the traditional Chinese kung fu style of the same name and its legendary master, Yip Man — who was the mentor of renowned martial arts film actor Bruce Lee — has garnered attention from French media.

A poster for the upcoming performances of Shenzhen dance drama "Wing Chun" in Paris, France. File photos

Numerous French outlets have published articles promoting the acclaimed Shenzhen-produced dance drama. The program is set to perform at the Palais des Congrès de Paris from Oct. 4 to 6, with four performances scheduled over those three days.

France Soir, a national news platform, highly recommended the dance drama to its readers, praising its high standards in scenography and scenic quality. According to the report, enthusiasts of martial arts and dance, as well as those curious about a unique aspect of Chinese culture, will find “Wing Chun” well worth attending.

A screenshot from France Soir, the French national news platform.

Its journalism team conducted an in-depth investigation of the production, offering a behind-the-scenes look at “Wing Chun.” They traveled to Shenzhen and Guangdong Province to attend rehearsals and performances. 

During their visit to the Pingshan Theatre in Shenzhen in late June, the journalists were impressed by the production's scale, noting that “the sets have nothing to envy of Broadway theaters, and the scenography is absolutely modern.”

On Sept. 21, the French newspaper Le Figaro published an article titled “Wing Chun: When a Chinese Soft Power Treasure Comes to Paris.” The piece describes master Yip’s character as a captivating blend of Rudolf Nureyev and Bruce Lee, showcasing both grace and agility.

Established in 1825, Le Figaro is a prestigious newspaper known for its authority, catering primarily to influential business figures and politicians.

A post on the French blogging platform Overblog praised the dance drama for embodying two key elements of Chinese cultural heritage: Wing Chun martial arts and Xiangyunsha silk, from which all costumes are crafted. The post claimed that the show was a cultural feast for the eyes and the soul.

Cision PR Newswire also released a report on its French site, highlighting how “Wing Chun” elegantly merges Eastern traditions with the vibrancy of modern art, weaving together martial arts and contemporary dance into a compelling narrative. Cision PR Newswire is renowned as the industry's most trusted press release distribution and content amplification network. 

These articles were among several of French media’s reports in “Wing Chun” which would reflect the growing interest in the dance drama in France. With performances set to take the stage in less than a week, this production, rich in traditional Chinese culture, is poised to greet local audiences and is expected to leave an impression on the local arts scene after its successful overseas performances in the U.K and Singapore.