Our journey in dance started with Nai-Ni Chen Dance Youth Workshop. Nai-Ni Chen, the founder of Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company, was our first dance teacher, mentor and director. Rehearsing and performing at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) every Chinese New Year alongside the professional company dancers were our most memorable childhood moments. On January 25, 2020, we shared stage with Nai-Ni at the NJPAC Chinese New Year Celebration Performance for the last time before the global outbreak of coronavirus.
As an immigrant Asian American artist and choreographer, Nai-Ni devoted her entire life to creating innovative work that promotes the understanding between east and west cultures, while teaching and training generations of dancers and performers. Nai-Ni's work often integrated the dynamic freedom of American modern dance with the elegance and splendor of Asian art.
On December 12, 2021 Nai-Ni passed away in a swimming accident while vacationing in Hawaii. We hope the following photos and videos give you a glimpse of Nai-Ni's work and her impact to the dance world as well as to the young Asian American dancers.
Nai-Ni Chen Youth Workshop Recital Spring Breeze Dance
Nai-Ni Chen Youth Workshop Dance in the Tang Court
"My company is very diverse having dancers coming from all different culture background"
"We are many communities work together or many countries work together. "
"I think it is a way for the world to see how much she has accomplished, and how much she still brings to the world"
"We share many experiences together as Asian American artist, and as woman artist"
"We keep going keep going. Everyone has a mission and the sense of responsibility. As an artist what can we do?"
"Space is very magical on stage. When you design it well, it can deliver the idea of isolation"
"There is so much more in me that I took from Taiwan to here. when I was twenty-two years old"
"That part of me wouldn't be able to be expressed if I was just doing other people's work"
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.