H.T. Chen (Artistic Director, Chen Dance Center) is a leading Asian-American artist; working as a choreographer, performer and arts advocate for three decades. Born in Shanghai, China and raised in Taiwan, Mr. Chen has been a resident of New York City since 1971. Mr. Chen is a graduate of the University of Chinese Culture in Taiwan, The Juilliard School in New York City, and New York University’s Department of Dance Professions, where he received his Masters Degree in Dance Education. In New York, he also studied at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance and was a scholarship student at the American Dance Center.

After choreographing and performing for numerous years at the La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club in New York City, Mr. Chen turned to presenting his own work, forming H.T. Chen & Dancers in 1978. The Company has since appeared in important venues for contemporary dance throughout the United States and has toured in Europe twice and in Asia seven times.

As a professional choreographer, Mr. Chen is a positive voice for his community, speaking with power and honesty from a distinct perspective, describing his experiences and influences through his work. This important artistic statement combines a repertoire of dances rooted in Chinese legend and folktales which, when fused with Mr. Chen’s awareness, enlightens audiences both familiar and
unfamiliar with Asian culture.

To Mr. Chen, providing cultural arts services to the local community is as important as creating new works.  He established the Center’s School (formerly known as Arts Gate Center) in 1980 as a year-round performing arts school in Chinatown, offering classes in ballet, modern dance, wusu, and piano. In 1988, Mr. Chen established the
Center’s Theater (formerly known as Mulberry St Theater), Chinatown’s first performing arts venue that has produced dozens of independent artists through several modern dance series, as well as presented evenings by H.T. Chen & Dancers.

Mr. Chen was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Organization of Chinese Americans in 2003, and serves on the Artistic Advisory Board of Dance Theater Workshop.

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