Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company has announced its 2024-25 season, which features performances in Ohio, California, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York City. They are a rare Asian American woman led professional touring company with programs for educational settings, community organizations and mainstage venues. Their mission is to be a premier provider of innovative cultural experiences that reflect the inspiring hope and energy of the immigrant's journey.
South Coast Chinese Cultural Association Residency - Irvine, CA; Residency: October 6 - 12, 2024 in Irvine, CA. Performance: Saturday, October 12, 2024 at 7:00pm at Segerstrom Hall in Costa Mesa, CA. Tickets will become available here.
Susquehanna University - Selinsgrove, PA; Tuesday, October 29. 2024 at 7:30pm. Celebrating over 30 years of dance-making, Nai-Ni Chen’s unique choreographic styles reflect the grace and splendor of the Chinese cultural traditions she studied in Taiwan and the dynamic spirit of modern and contemporary dance she acquired in New York. The Company’s contribution to the community has been honored by OCA, the leading national Asian American advocacy organization, New Jersey Chinese American Chamber of Commerce and the International Institute in Jersey City. Click here for ticket information.
Jersey City Theater Center - Jersey City, NJ; Sunday, December 15, 2024 at 3:00pm. This special production honors Chinese immigrant culture and promises to be a vibrant and artistic journey through one of the world's most celebrated holidays: The Lunar New Year. Each year, nearly 500 million people travel to their ancestral homes in China, joined by millions more in the Chinese diaspora worldwide, to commemorate this significant occasion.
"Red Firecrackers," choreographed by the late Nai-Ni Chen, explores the rich traditions surrounding the Lunar New Year. The performance recounts the ancient legend of villagers who unite to fend off the Nian, a mythical beast that terrorizes the earth each year. Through dazzling props, elaborate costumes, enchanting music, acrobatics, and dynamic dance, the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company brings this timeless story of bravery, creativity, and community to life. This captivating production not only offers a sensory feast but also delves into the historical significance of Lunar New Year customs. "Red Firecrackers" highlights the importance of unity in overcoming challenges, reflecting the spirit of the New Year. It also serves as a meaningful prelude for the community to celebrate their own Lunar New Year festivities. Click here for ticket information.
Ailey CitiGroup Theatre AAPI Dance Festival at APAP; Saturday, January 12, 2025 at 1:45pm and Sunday, January 13, 2025 at 4:15om. Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company will showcase four seminal dances from the iconic Asian American choreographer in the Company’s standard touring production - “Way of Fire”, “Raindrops” (Excerpt), “Mirage” (Excerpt), and “Festival”. Click here for more information.
Kupferberg Center for the Arts - Flushing, Queens; Saturday, January 25, 2025 at 3:00pm and Sunday, January 26, 2025 at 3:00pm. Join us for a spellbinding family dance performance as we embrace the spirit of the Year of the Snake through the power and beauty of dance. Immerse yourself in a world of wonder as Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company takes the stage, weaving together graceful movements and vibrant costumes to bring ancient traditions to life. Come experience majestic dragons, dancing lions, elegant peacocks, stunning acrobats, twirling ribbons, and much more. Running time: 65 minutes. Click here for ticket information.
New Jersey Performing Arts Center - Newark, NJ; Saturday, February 1, 2025 at 2:00pm and Sunday, February 2, 2025 at 2:00pm. Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company welcomes the Lunar New Year of the Snake in 2025! Chinese traditions fuse with modern flair for an energetic celebration that’s not to be missed. You’ll be mesmerized by talented dancers and musicians who evoke the spirit of the Snake in all its splendor. Usher in an auspicious Lunar New Year surrounded by the warmth of community, the joy of cultural celebration and the spirit of renewal. Click here for ticket information.
Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company led by Nai-Ni Chen, a visionary in Asian American dance, emphasizes the immigrant experience through multicultural performances. Founded in the early 1990s, the company's diverse repertory bridges Asian and American arts, collaborating with musicians like the Ahn Trio and artists such as Myung Hee Cho. Their global presence includes performances in Mexico, Canada, Russia, and China, supported by esteemed institutions and foundations. Recent works like "A Quest for Freedom," developed with the Ahn Trio, exemplify the Company's commitment to innovative, cross-cultural productions.
All Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company programs are conducted in wheelchair accessible spaces and will provide assistive services such as sign language interpreting, audio description, and open captioning upon request*. An assistive listening system and large print programs are available at all times. Also, upon request, this publication can be made available in alternative formats such as Braille, Large Print, audiotape and/or computer disc. *Please give at least 10 business days notice.
Programs of the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company have been made possible by the National Endowment for the Arts, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/ Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, the New Jersey Cultural Trust, the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, DanceNYC Dance Advancement Fund, the Hyde and Watson Foundation, E.J. Grassman Trust, The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, New Music USA, the Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, American Dance Abroad, the Association of Performing Arts Presenters’ Cultural Exchange Fund, supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, PSEG, Proskauer, WAC Lighting and the Glow Foundation. WQXR is a media partner of the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company.
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