SPARTANBURG, S.C.—Andy and Renee Locklair attended
Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium on March 26.
Mr. Locklair, a vice president in the design-build industry, said he had read much about the performance. “Then, my wife and I wanted to celebrate the Chinese tradition prior to communism.”
Based in New York,
Shen Yun was founded in 2006 by leading Chinese artists and quickly became the world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music company. Shen Yun’s
mission is to revive 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture.
He said his heart was deeply touched by the performance. “It’s very moving,” he said. “Very moving. It’s great to see the art, and the creativity, and
the history.”
Mr. Locklair said his heart is with the people of China as they suffer under an oppressive regime. “Just the oppression that’s associated with communism, and the freedom of the people of China. So that’s where my heart goes: for the people of China.”
He said he also felt a connection to the artistic
aspects of Shen Yun. “The dancing is spectacular, and I enjoyed the singing as well.”
The vocalists gave a profound message, he said. “Just specifically about the oppression and their freedom, and their creativity to be able to get that out and not be able to do that in the current communism.”
“I think we’re all in pursuit to be better people in general: to get closer to God, to be able to recognise who we are inside and try to live that out. More morality, in search of our inner supreme being,” he said.
Mr. Locklair also commented on the return to
traditional values, including morality. “I like the tradition; that they’re saving the tradition. And that it’s not been lost, which is important for the identity of the people, I think.”
Mrs. Locklair said the performance, which is touring the world, is “absolutely beautiful” and inspirational.
Reporting by Sherry Dong.
