The Divine Performing Arts of New York, a traveling ensemble of 60, will make its Hawai'i debut Monday in "Chinese Spectacular," an eye-filling explosion of colorful costumes and cultural dance forms rarely seen by Western audiences.

"We feature classical Chinese dance and music, showcasing 5,000 years of Chinese culture, with legends and stories from Chinese history," said Hong Jiang, media honcho for the show.

China previously was called Shenzhou, or "Land of the Divine," following the belief that Chinese culture was gifted by the heavens. The Divine Performing Arts company reclaims this heritage and preserves ancient traditions of Chinese song and dance.

The performers are young, agile and linked to a rich cultural tradition, Jiang said.

"You'll see some acrobatic movements, but this is not an acrobatic show," she said. "The Western counterpart of this company would be ballet."

The company rarely performs outside China on such a grand scale.

"This is the first time here," said Jiang, who is associated with the New Dynasty Culture Center, a supportive wing for the show dedicated to helping locals to better understand Chinese culture. "The form would be very unfamiliar to Western audiences."

The thrust is the grandeur and elegance of China's golden age, the Tang dynasty.

The company totals 200 members, but not all travel on the road.

There are more women than men — about 60 percent women, 40 percent men — largely because "the women are more colorful," she said, referring to the expansive and extensive costumes.

The company was formed in 2004, when it gave seven shows in five cities, playing for 10,000. This year, the itinerary includes 60 cities, 90 shows, and potentially audiences totaling 650,000.

The repertoire scopes tales of courage, compassion and beauty, with an emphasis on the spiritual and moral quest of humanity — elements that have eroded in modern times, according to Jiang.

To bridge the language barrier, the company retains a narrator who speaks both English and Chinese to explain the significance of the production numbers.

There are vocals, too, said Jiang. "A limited number of operatic arias," she said.

For this visit, the music is pre-recorded, but a live orchestra sometimes accompanies the dancing company.