Divine Performing Arts World Tour Begins

While the rest of the company prepared for tonight's performance, the trio took time to explain the mission and the meaning behind the tour.

Lee said every aspect of the show is carefully researched to ensure complete authenticity. The colors of each dance or song's costumes are the colors favored by the dynasty in which each story is set. The digital backgrounds are true to the painting styles of the periods they represent. Madsen added "there was so much research from so many sources … books, tapestries, paintings, even caves."

Wen described the collaborative process the artists use as they develop the work. They talk among themselves and humbly consider each other's ideas, trying to harmonize to create the best result. She and Madsen develop the script for their between-the-scenes dialogues.

"We try to interpret, for the sake of those in the audience who may not be familiar with Chinese culture, and we also try to add as much comic relief as we can while still respecting the material," she said. Her gowns were designed to complement the stories. The show is bilingual, with supra-titles when songs are in Chinese, and the hosts teaching some language and history as the show proceeds.

Co-Hosts: Jenny Wen of Toronto and Jared Madsen of Minneapolis discuss tonights' performance of the Chinese New Year Spectacular at the Cobb Energy Centre in Atlanta. The two explain the cultural backgrounds of the music and dance performances, and add levity and playfulness to the production. They are in front of the "Alabaster Light Wall" at the theater.

Madsen is fluent in Mandarin. He lived in Beijing and earned a college degree there.

Lee and Wen are fluent in English. Both were born in China but emigrated years ago. Lee left soon after the Tiananmen massacre. "I had no hope at that time," she said, but Australia quickly granted her residency status. Lee has the dancer's graceful carriage, and she spoke with dignity and charm about the inner meaning of classical Chinese dance.

"I cannot express it in words…it is a feeling." She said the movement has a curved or free and gentle quality, less linear than the movements of ballet. Somewhere between each physical gesture is an intangible thing that expresses the nature of the person. "The feeling of a lady is gentleness. The feeling of a man is strength, but a restrained or controlled strength, not aggressive. The feeling of an elder; they all have different inner meanings," said Lee.

The purpose of the show is more than just to entertain. The purpose of the show is to showcase 5,000 years of Chinese civilization. Wen told a story about a Chinese man, an executive with an overseas Chinese newspaper, who attended one of the company's performances. She said he told her he had been to many, many Chinese shows, but none of them felt genuine to him. She said he told her "Thank you. I know in my heart this is real."

The Chinese New year Spectacular can be seen at 7:30pm January 4th and 5th at the Cobb Energy Centre in Atlanta, Ga. For ticket information please visit bestchineseshows.com.