Performance uses mix of Chinese dance, ballet and martial arts to explore historical narratives

Kerry Lee, the co-artistic director of the Atlanta Chinese Dance Company, remembers when her fourth grade class studied the Civil War. Her teacher asked the class which side their ancestors had fought on, the Union or the Confederacy. While her classmates had answers, Lee realized neither applied to her. As the American-born daughter of Chinese immigrants, she suddenly found herself outside a history presented as everyone’s.

Years later, that memory became the inspiration behind Ribbon Dance of Empowerment, one of three original dance dramas she choreographed that comprise Chinese American Journeys, the latest production by Atlanta Chinese Dance Company.

Presented August 15 and August 16 at the Emory Performing Arts Studio, the show marks a milestone for the nonprofit dance company. In its 35-year history, it is the company’s first full evening devoted entirely to original works centered on Chinese American stories.

Founded in 1991 by Lee’s mother, Hwee-Eng Y. Lee, Atlanta Chinese Dance Company has long introduced audiences to the traditions and artistry of Chinese dance. Now, under the co-artistic leadership of the mother-daughter duo, the company is expanding its mission by using the Chinese dance traditions to tell stories rooted in the Chinese American experience.

For Kerry, the production grew from a deeply personal place. The earliest choreography in the show dates back to 2018, when she began creating Ribbon Dance of Empowerment, a work inspired by her own journey growing up Chinese American in the South. Through movement and narration, the piece reflects on her childhood navigating two cultures while searching for a sense of belonging.

“My mom is an immigrant from Singapore, and I was born and raised in Atlanta,” Kerry says. “She came here already knowing who she was. I was trying to figure out what it meant to have Chinese heritage and also be American.”

The difference in their perspectives shaped early conversations between the two artists. Kerry said her mother didn’t immediately understand why her daughter wanted to create choreography centered on identity. For Kerry, though, the work was never about celebrating Chinese dance for its own sake — it was about recognizing how the art form gave her the confidence to embrace every part of who she is.

As audiences began responding to Kerry’s work, she discovered the conversation extended beyond her own family. Some immigrant parents told her the performance helped them better understand their own children’s struggles. What began as a personal story became a broader, intergenerational one.

That thread continues throughout Chinese American Journeys, which is composed of three dance dramas, each examining different moments in history and identity. Votes for Women tells the story of Chinese American suffragist Mabel Ping-Hua Lee, who led thousands in New York’s 1912 suffrage parade during the time of the Chinese Exclusion Act. Ribbon Dance of Empowerment traces one girl’s path toward self-acceptance. We Belong Here celebrates resilience, community and solidarity.

Although rooted in Chinese American history, Lee believes the production speaks to experiences far beyond one community.

“The stories are Chinese American,” she says, “but the questions are American.”

Those questions — who belongs, whose history is remembered and how communities come together in difficult moments — unfold through Chinese dance traditions, contemporary movement, ballet and martial arts. Long silk ribbons, folding fans and wushu become storytelling tools rather than simply visual spectacle. The performance reflects Lee’s artistic background across multiple dance disciplines.

Created with guest artists from contemporary dance, ballet and martial arts, the production also marks a new chapter for the company. After more than two decades presenting performances in suburban Duluth, Atlanta Chinese Dance Company is moving its annual production to Emory Performing Arts Studio, hoping to introduce its work to new audiences in the city. For Kerry, that invitation extends to everyone, regardless of cultural background.

For most of her life, she rarely saw Chinese American stories reflected on stage. With Chinese American Journeys, she hopes audiences will recognize that those stories aren’t separate from the American story — they’re part of it.

Chinese American Journeys will be presented August 15 at 8 p.m. and August 16 at 3 p.m. at the Emory Performing Arts Studio, 1804 N. Decatur Road. Admission is $27. Tickets can be purchased on Zeffy here.

::

Brittany Mackins is an Atlanta-based writer and creative with a deep love for the intersections of art, healing and community. Blending her background in journalism, brand storytelling, creative writing and event production, she writes to honor the stories behind the art, the lived experiences, emotions and cultural roots that shape creative expression. Her lens centers diverse artistry in all its expansive forms.