Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company

Biography

Bridging the grace of Asian elegance and American dynamism, the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company aims to be a premier provider of cultural experiences that reflect the inspiring hope and energy of the immigrant’s journey. The company dances at the intersection of innovations and tradition, empowering communities through performances and interactive engagements.

Choreographer/Dancer, Nai-Ni Chen is a unique choreographer whose work crosses cultural boundaries.  Each of her dances reflect her personal vision as an immigrant American female artist with deep roots in the Asian culture, creating new works that reflect the current issues with global influences developed in collaboration with renowned artists such as the Ahn Trio, Glen Velez Joan La Barbara, and the New Asian Chamber Music Society. The Company’s success is evident in its extensive performance schedule and its exuberant productions which have been presented at some of the most prestigious concert halls such as the Joyce Theater in New York, Lincoln Center, Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts in California, the Raymond F. Kravis Center, and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center as well as thirteen international tours spanning the globe.

Advancing Dance Education, the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company works with K-12 schools year-round on imagination-filled thematic dance projects that advance learning and creativity.  Currently in residence in New Jersey City University, Nai-Ni Chen is creating a new program with the University’s A Harry Moore Laboratory School on teaching dance to children with multiple disabilities.

The COVID-19 Chronicle project is made possible by Choreographer Fellowship from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Dance/NYC COVID-19 Relief Fund, CARES Act funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, the NJSCA/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the NEA, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, and Foundation among others.

Leaning into the Unknown Performance Summary

Chen will present five excerpts from a masterful new body of work including “Ripple Effect”, showing the connections between us using water as a metaphor;  “Desk and I”, a solo piece expressing the mindset of being isolated, working from home; “Emissary of Light”, a solo work expressing the optimism discovered in the endless cycles of nature, thus helping us to see the light at the end of the tunnel; “Phase II, reflecting our search for a new place in society while still being isolated; and “Tomorrow”, an exuberant portrayal of the rising hopes about NJ opening up.

Social Media/Website

Website: www.nainichen.org

Instagram: @nainichendancecompany

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NaiNiChenDanceCompany