Nai-Ni Chen (October 31, 1959 – December 12, 2021) was a Taiwanese-American dancer and choreographer. Trained in traditional Chinese and Taiwanese dance before immigrating to the United States in the early 1980s, she was the founder of the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company, a dance company which blended traditional and contemporary dance.[1][2]
Founder and artistic director, Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company
Years active
1988–2021
Spouse
Andrew N. Chiang
Children
1
Biographyedit
Chen was born in Keelung, Taiwan on October 31, 1959, and started dancing when she was four. She studied modern dance, jazz, and Chinese martial arts at a secondary school for the performing arts; as a student, she joined the Cloud Gate Dance Theater of Taiwan and danced with the company for three years.[3]
In 1982 she moved to New York to attend New York University, where she studied choreography and education. In a 2017 interview she said: “I was so excited about the dancing in New York that I decided to stay rather than teach in Taiwan.”[4]
Chen drowned while on vacation in Hawaii on December 12, 2021.[3][5] She and her husband Andrew N. Chiang had one daughter, Sylvia.[1]
Nai-Ni Chen Dance Companyedit
Chen and her husband, Andrew N. Chiang, founded Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company in 1988 in Fort Lee, New Jersey, where she lived with her family.[6][4][3] In addition to Chen's original works, which incorporated her broad influences, the company performed traditional fan dances and ribbon dances. Productions frequently include a hybrid fusion with traditional Chinese dance.[7][8] They began to tour in the early 1990s, originally on the East Coast, and later internationally. The dance company was multi-racial and multi-national. Her dances were inspired by nature, which she described as the "Chinese way and philosophy," stating that her choreography emphasized the relationship and harmony between people and nature.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abcGenzlinger, Neil (2021-12-13). "Nai-Ni Chen, Whose Dances Merged East and West, Dies at 62". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-12-14. Republished as: "World-renowned dancer Nai-Ni Chen dies after she is found unconscious at Kailua Beach". Star Advertiser. 14 December 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
^Staff, H. N. N. "Internationally renowned dancer dies in apparent drowning off Oahu". Retrieved 2021-12-14.
^ abc"Nai-Ni Chen Passed Away On December 12th in Honolulu". 2021-12-13. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
^ abLa Gorce, Tammy (2010-01-30). "Opening Doors With New and Old". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
^"Dance on the Lawn mourns death of dance artist Nai-Ni Chen". Montclair Local. 14 December 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
^"Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company Announces 2021-2022 Season". 2021-08-30. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
^Nash, Margo (2001-10-14). "JERSEY FOOTLIGHTS; Celebrating the Moon". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
April 12, 2024
chen, october, 1959, december, 2021, taiwanese, american, dancer, choreographer, trained, traditional, chinese, taiwanese, dance, before, immigrating, united, states, early, 1980s, founder, dance, company, dance, company, which, blended, traditional, contempor. Nai Ni Chen October 31 1959 December 12 2021 was a Taiwanese American dancer and choreographer Trained in traditional Chinese and Taiwanese dance before immigrating to the United States in the early 1980s she was the founder of the Nai Ni Chen Dance Company a dance company which blended traditional and contemporary dance 1 2 Nai Ni ChenBorn 1959 10 31 October 31 1959Keelung TaiwanDiedDecember 12 2021 2021 12 12 aged 62 Kailua Beach Hawaii U S Alma materNew York University Chinese Culture UniversityOccupation s Founder and artistic director Nai Ni Chen Dance CompanyYears active1988 2021SpouseAndrew N ChiangChildren1Biography editChen was born in Keelung Taiwan on October 31 1959 and started dancing when she was four She studied modern dance jazz and Chinese martial arts at a secondary school for the performing arts as a student she joined the Cloud Gate Dance Theater of Taiwan and danced with the company for three years 3 In 1982 she moved to New York to attend New York University where she studied choreography and education In a 2017 interview she said I was so excited about the dancing in New York that I decided to stay rather than teach in Taiwan 4 Chen drowned while on vacation in Hawaii on December 12 2021 3 5 She and her husband Andrew N Chiang had one daughter Sylvia 1 Nai Ni Chen Dance Company editChen and her husband Andrew N Chiang founded Nai Ni Chen Dance Company in 1988 in Fort Lee New Jersey where she lived with her family 6 4 3 In addition to Chen s original works which incorporated her broad influences the company performed traditional fan dances and ribbon dances Productions frequently include a hybrid fusion with traditional Chinese dance 7 8 They began to tour in the early 1990s originally on the East Coast and later internationally The dance company was multi racial and multi national Her dances were inspired by nature which she described as the Chinese way and philosophy stating that her choreography emphasized the relationship and harmony between people and nature 1 References edit a b c Genzlinger Neil 2021 12 13 Nai Ni Chen Whose Dances Merged East and West Dies at 62 The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 2021 12 14 Republished as World renowned dancer Nai Ni Chen dies after she is found unconscious at Kailua Beach Star Advertiser 14 December 2021 Retrieved 15 December 2021 Staff H N N Internationally renowned dancer dies in apparent drowning off Oahu Retrieved 2021 12 14 a b c Nai Ni Chen Passed Away On December 12th in Honolulu 2021 12 13 Retrieved 2021 12 13 a b La Gorce Tammy 2010 01 30 Opening Doors With New and Old The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 2021 12 13 Dance on the Lawn mourns death of dance artist Nai Ni Chen Montclair Local 14 December 2021 Retrieved 15 December 2021 Nai Ni Chen Dance Company Announces 2021 2022 Season 2021 08 30 Retrieved 2021 12 13 Cutler Jacqueline 2021 09 09 N J dance troupe morphs pandemic fears into joyful performance Retrieved 2021 12 13 Nash Margo 2001 10 14 JERSEY FOOTLIGHTS Celebrating the Moon The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 2021 12 13 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nai Ni Chen amp oldid 1155350673, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
