Available on demand through May 31
Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month
This program is being shared free and on demand throughout the Month of May in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month.
Maplewood Township, South Orange Village, SOMA Cross Cultural Works and the AAPI Community unite to recognize and celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. As we stand in solidarity, the focus is on education, healing and creating joy as we honor the richness and diversity of Asian and Pacific Islander cultures with an exciting lineup of family oriented activities and programs.
Click here to discover more AAPI programs on Maplewood’s website.
Click here to discover more AAPI programs on South Orange’s website.
Nai-Ni Chen is the founder, choreographer and Artistic Director of the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company. Born in Taiwan, she became a renowned traditional dancer and has served on several ambassadorial culture missions to nineteen countries around the world. An early member of the Cloud Gate Dance Theater in Taiwan, she graduated from the Chinese Cultural University and came to America to seek her own voice in the world of contemporary dance. Since the inception of her Company in 1988, Ms. Chen has created a wide-ranging repertory, from dances that originated thousands of years ago to highly abstract, modern works. Touring over 25 years around the United State, her company has been presented in major performing art centers and colleges covering the continental United States.
Through “Awakening,” Nai-Ni Chen hopes the dances will speak to and connect with viewers who have perhaps had similar experiences and that they can provide a sense of joy and hope to audiences for the future.
Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company
Celebrating 30 years of dance making, the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company is a rare Asian American female-led touring company that honors and advances the dynamic spirit of Chinese American cultural tradition. A cross-cultural choreographer who aims to bring the audience across cultural boundaries, 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. The Company has toured extensively in the US and international festivals around the world and has the honor of more than 20 awards from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Visit NaiNiChen.org for more information.
This performance has been generously supported by The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation.
