Nazareth College Arts Center to present critically acclaimed, cross-cultural dance of Nai-Ni Chen November 14

Ms. Chen's wide-ranging repertoire includes dances that originated thousands of years ago as well as highly abstract, modern works!

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Nazareth College Arts Center presents the cross-cultural contemporary dance of Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company on November 14, 2015

ROCHESTER, NY (10/22/2015)(readMedia)-- The Nazareth College Arts Center is proud to present Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company on Saturday, November 14, 2015, at 8 p.m. in the Callahan Theater.

Drawing on elements from the flowing lines of Chinese calligraphy to the thundering motion of martial arts, Nai-Ni Chen is one of the few Asian-American choreographers to seamlessly blend the dynamic freedom of American modern dance with the grace and splendor of Asian art. Ms. Chen comes from a rich dance tradition, and her wide-ranging repertoire includes dances that originated thousands of years ago as well as highly abstract, modern works.

Ticket holders may attend a pre-performance lecture with members of the company at 7 p.m. in the Peace Theater (room A14), located in the lower level of the Arts Center.

Visit http://artscenter.naz.edu/newsroom/media-resources for photos. The company is available for advance phone interviews.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

"...like endlessly proliferating forces of cosmic energy..." –The New York Times

"Spiritual Choreographer" –Dance Magazine

Bringing the dynamic freedom of American modern dance together with the elegant splendor of Asian art, the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company is one of the most visible Asian American dance companies in America.

According to the company's website, founder and artistic director Nai-Ni Chen's "unique choreography transports audiences beyond cultural boundaries to the intersection of form, emotion and spirit," and her dances "fuse the dynamic freedom of American spirit with the grace and splendor of the Asian soul." The company's wide-ranging, award-winning repertory takes the audience across cultural boundaries to the intersection of tradition and innovation. The choreography-and the dancers themselves-are both free and disciplined.

Drawing on elements from the flowing lines of Chinese calligraphy to the thundering motion of martial arts, Nai-Ni Chen is one of the few Asian-American choreographers to seamlessly blend the dynamic freedom of American modern dance with the grace and splendor of Asian art. Chen's critically acclaimed, award-winning "visual poetry" (Village Voice) has mesmerized audiences worldwide. Ms. Chen comes from a rich dance tradition-having been a renowned traditional dancer in China before seeking her own voice in the world of contemporary dance-and her wide-ranging repertoire includes dances that originated thousands of years ago as well as highly abstract, modern works.

On more 20 national tours since its inception in 1988, the company has earned a broad base of public support and performed at some of the country's most prestigious performing arts centers, including the Joyce Theater, the Ordway Center, and the Cerritos Center.

The company has mounted nine tours abroad, and its work has been presented at such acclaimed international festivals as the Silesian International Contemporary Dance Festival and the Konfrontations International Dance Festival in Poland, the Chang Mu International Arts Festival in Korea, and the Beijing International Dance Festival. The company was also honored by a distinctive grant award from both the President's Committee on Arts and Humanities and the Department of State to represent the United States in a seven-city tour arranged by the Tamaulipas International Arts Festival in Mexico.

The Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company has the unique honor of having received more than 12 awards from the National Endowment for the Arts and numerous Citations of Excellence and grants from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

In addition to its extensive season of touring and performing, the company has developed Arts in Education residency programs in school districts to bring culture and arts into educational settings.

ABOUT NAI-NI CHEN

Nai-Ni Chen comes from a rich dance tradition. She was a renowned traditional dancer in Taiwan and, at 17, served on ambassadorial culture missions to 19 countries as a bearer of the classical dance tradition for the Republic of China.

An early principal member of the Cloud Gate Dance Theater in Taiwan (and the youngest), Ms. Chen began her modern dance training in 1976, and graduated from the Chinese Cultural University in 1982 while maintaining her professional dance career. She came to America to seek her own voice in the world of dance, arriving in New York to study with Doris Rudko, Bertram Ross, and Mary Anthony. After receiving her Master's degree from New York University, Chen started to work with a small group of diverse dancers.

Since the inception of Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company in 1988, Ms. Chen has created a wide-ranging repertory, combining the dynamic freedom of American modern dance with the elegant splendor of Asian art. Her unique approach has allowed her to create signature works that reflect the struggle of the Chinese people in the past century (Dragons on the Wall-TianJi with Poet Bei Dao); address the Buddhist and Taoist visions of fate, destiny, and human relationships (Unbroken Thread and Not Alone); and pay homage to the beauty of Chinese traditional art and philosophy (Calligraffiti, Calligraphy I & II, Raindrops, and The Way of Five).

Ms. Chen is a Principal Affiliate Artist of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), working on activities that engage in community outreach, new works, and the preservation of the Chinese American tradition. This relationship has helped her to bring her work to every borough of New York City, and bring American audiences closer to Chinese art.

Ms. Chen has received a two-year Choreographer's Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, and a Choreographer's Fellowship from New Jersey State Council on the Arts three times. She was also given Cultural Ambassador award from the Organization of Chinese Americans and Outstanding Artist from the International Institute of New Jersey.

Nai-Ni Chen has taught master classes at colleges and universities throughout the United States and at dance festivals in China, Poland, Russia, and Taiwan. Besides creating dances for her own company, she choreographed Unconquered Warrior for Dancing Wheels of Cleveland, Ohio; Tiger and Water Lily for Ballet Met in Columbus, Ohio; and The Three Riddles of Turandot for the New Jersey Ballet.

TICKETS

Single tickets to Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company are $50-$65. Discounted, subscription series tickets to the Nazareth College Arts Center 2015-2016 Season are still available; subscribers receive a discount off single ticket prices and additional benefits when purchasing tickets to three or more different shows. For single or subscription tickets call – or visit – the Box Office: 585-389-2170 or order online: artscenter.naz.edu.

The Nazareth College Arts Center Box Office is located on campus at 4245 East Avenue, Rochester, New York, 14618. Regular box office hours are Monday-Friday, 11am-5pm and 11am until curtain time on performance days.

SPONSORS

The Arts Center is a non-profit institution. The Nazareth College Arts Center's 2015-2016 subscription series is sponsored by M&T Bank. The Arts Center thanks the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature for their long-standing support. The Arts Center wishes to thank Drs. Dawn and Jacques Lipson for their ongoing support. The performance by Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company is sponsored by Alan Cameros, and Susan and Steven Eisinger.

THE NAZARETH COLLEGE ARTS CENTER

Since 1967, the Nazareth College Arts Center has served as a venue and educational resource for students, educators, artists, and audiences of all ages to create, study, and experience the visual and performing arts. The Arts Center's Subscription Series and K-12 School Performance Series provide area residents of all ages with opportunities to experience world-class dance, multi-cultural entertainment, family programming, music, theatre, and special events.

The Arts Center's Subscription Series complements the College's highly regarded academic programs in the visual and performing arts. The Departments of Art (naz.edu/dept/art/), Music (naz.edu/dept/music/), and Theatre and Dance (naz.edu/dept/theatre-dance/) present exceptional productions, recitals, and exhibitions, which are open to the public, while preparing students for successful careers in arts-related fields.

The Nazareth College Arts Center is the performance home of the Rochester City Ballet and world-renowned Garth Fagan Dance; and is home to the Bach Children's Chorus.

For more information, visit artscenter.naz.edu.

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