CHARLOTTE, N.C.—Shen Yun Performing Arts performed at the Belk Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center in Charlotte, N.C., on Jan. 6. Attorney Renner St. John loved the show when she attended a few years ago “so I thought I would come again,” she said. “I’m very interested in Chinese culture and dancing. I love ballet and all traditional dancing and music.”

She noted the importance of keeping traditional culture alive in the modern world.

“I think it is of the utmost importance. I think that young people today should embrace not only the traditions of the past but the beauty and the culture and the knowledge and the values of the past. I would love to see those things brought.”

“The divine spark in all of us—it’s portrayed right here,” she said.

Shen Yun’s first performance set featured the coming of the Creator to mankind to restore harmony to the world. “I love it. I love all of the history and the lore,” Ms. St. John said.

“I love that human beings came from heaven, and we were once heavenly beings; I love that aspect of it. And I love that this performance tries to show that there’s divinity in all of us if we embrace truth, and honesty, and forbearance. So I love that. I loved all of it.”

“I love the beautiful ladies, but I love the handsome men too. I love the dancing—when the men were dancing with the pipa [Chinese lute] and flutes—I loved that. They’re so athletic, and so handsome, and so masculine. I just loved it,” she said.

Rinn, who is in college, agreed. “It was amazing. I feel very privileged to be able to have seen it—it very much felt like history came to life,” she said.

Mr. Von Seggern, a systems engineer, thought it was well-produced. “It was a really well-thought-out performance,” he said.

“I think it’s a beautiful history of China before communism,” she added.” And it’s just lovely, beautiful, really entertaining, and just a beautiful history.”

Mr. and Mrs. Von Seggern stated they would make it a family tradition to attend. “I would definitely recommend [Shen Yun], and I think we’re going to make this a family tradition to be able to come back again,” Mrs. Von Seggern said.

Mr. Von Seggern added, “Absolutely.”

Mrs. Von Seggern had praise for the producers and performers: “I want to thank them for their craft, and their time and energy into putting this together, and sharing the culture with us. It was really lovely.