Artist Bios
H.T. Chen
H.T. Chen was born in Shanghai, China and raised in Taiwan. Mr. Chen’s background is in both Chinese and Western dance and theater. A graduate of the University of Chinese Culture in Taiwan, The Juilliard School in NYC, and New York University (MA), H.T. Chen worked for several years at La MaMa E.T.C. as an actor, dancer and choreographer with the Pan Asian Repertory Theatre. He has also been the recipient of NEA Choreography Fellowships, a CAPS grant, and a Jerome Foundation grant, and was choreographer in residence at THE YARD - A Colony for Performing Arts. Mr. Chen has taught at the Navajo Community College and the NYU Dept of Dance Professions. For the last several years, he has also been working with Dance Theater Workshop’s Artists Exchange Program of their International Suitcase Fund. Mr. Chen has been an Arts America Speaker for the U.S.I.A. to Mauritius, and serves on the Board for Dance Theater Workshop. If you would like to know more you can check out a full version of H.T.’s bio here.
Dian Dong
Dian Dong, a graduate of The Juilliard School, studied with Shirley Ubell, Vladimir Doukodovsky, Alfredo Corvino and Doris Rudko. She has worked with Anna Sokolow’s Players’ Project, Kathryn Posin, Janet Soares, Lance Westergard, Kazuko Hirabayashi, Lincoln Center Institute, the ADF 25th Anniversary Repertory Company, Walter Nicks and the national tour of The King & I. She has taught at NYU School of Ed., Montclair State College, the Center for Modern Dance Ed. and Chen Dance Center. Ms. Dong organizes and designs the education programs for CDC’s homebased and residency programs. She has also served on the board for the Martha Hill Dance Fund, LTD. In 2005, she attended the Executive Program for Non-Profit Leaders - Arts at Stanford Graduate Business School.
Renouard Gee
Renouard Gee received a BA from St. Thomas Univ in Houston, TX before coming to NYC. He has toured in the U.S., Europe and Asia with numerous companies, including Laura Dean Dancers & Musicians, Senta Driver/HARRY, Michael Mao, and Catherine Turocy’s New York Baroque Dance Co. Having performed in HT Chen’s “Opening The Gate”, “Transparent Hinges”, “Warriors of Light”, & “Bian Dan”, Renouard is excited to be returning to Chen Dance Center’s 30th Anniversary season. It has been an honor & privilege performing & collaborating with HT & Dian and serving on the Chen Dance Center Board of Directors. Renouard is also a proud member of The La Mama ETC’s Great Jones Repertory Company which is founded & directed by Ellen Stewart.
KIRSTEN HO
Kirsten Ho trained in R.A.D. Ballet in Hong Kong, and graduated from the Hong Kong Arts Academy for the Performing Arts. At the London Studio Centre, Ms. Ho received a B.A. in Theatre Dance and Contemporary Dance. In England, she performed and toured with musical theater and dance productions throughout the U.K. before coming to the United States. In New York City, she graduated from the Independent Study at Ailey, and has performed with Abigail Levine, Jennie Liu and Muna Tseng.
Takao Komaru
Takao Komaru is originally from Japan where he started dancing under the direction of Kenshi Nohmi. After moving to New York City, he went to The Ailey School. He has worked with Earl Mosley’s Diversity of Dance, Saeko Ichinohe Dance Company and many other companies and choreographers.
Jordan Kriston
Jordan Kriston received her BFA in Dance Performance from ASU and was a company member of Dance Arizona Repertory Theater and Movement Source Dance Company. She has studied with David Parsons and has worked with many artists/companies such as Germaul Barnes, Lori Bellilove, Delfos Danza Contemporania, Randy James Dance Works, Yin Mei and Pablo Cornejo. Jordan is honored to be working with H.T. Chen & Dancers as well as Six Degrees Dance Company.
Kayan Lam
Kayan Lam born in Hong Kong and studied at the Arts Gate Center as a child. She was a scholarship student at the New York Theatre/ Ballet School of NY and later graduated from LaGuardia H.S for the Arts. She attended the BFA dance program at Joffrey/ New School University with the generosity of The Jerry Seinfeld and Family Scholarship Foundation. She received her BFA in January 2004. Kayan is currently pursuing her second career as a massage therapist and an Associate in Occupational Studies Degree from the Swedish Institute.
Kerry Lee
Kerry Lee is an Atlanta native, where she trained with Atlanta Ballet and Atlanta Chinese Dance Company. In 2007, she graduated from Stanford University with a BS in Management Science and Engineering and a minor in Dance. At Stanford, Kerry worked with choreographers such as Amy Seiwert, Alex Ketley, Maurya Kerr, and Janice Garrett. She was a recipient of the Louis Sudler Prize in the Arts as well as a research grant that enabled her to train at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance. Since moving to New York, Kerry has performed with Dance China NY and Red Silk Dancers.
LunShan Liao
LunShan Liao was born in Taichung, Taiwan. After graduating with a BA in dance and psychology from Hamilton College, she trained on full scholarship with Dance Theatre of Harlem and began dancing professionally with DTH’s ensemble. She has also performed with the Metropolitan Opera Ballet, Michael Mao Dance, MorganScott Ballet, and in musicals including Liat in South Pacific at the Westchester Broadway Theatre. LunShan is the proud owner of MonQi Fitness in Manhattan.
Kimberly Prosa
Kimberly Prosa is from southern Oregon and began her training at the Pacific School of Dance studying ballet, modern and jazz. She attended ABT’s summer intensive in 2001 placing in the highest level and the Paul Taylor summer Intensive in 2005. She is a 2006 graduate of SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance. She has performed works by Dance Theatre of Oregon, Eugene Ballet Company, H.T. Chen and Dancers and with the Purchase Dance Corps. Kim also has a background in both dramatic and musical theater.
Maki Shinagawa
Maki Shinagawa started her ballet training and received teaching training in classical ballet, body conditioning and music in Japan. Since arriving in NYC in 2004, she has been a member and assistant of Nina Buisson Contemporary Move. She currently works with Vangeline Theatre and H.T. Chen & Dancers.
Ari Someya
Ari Someya began studying at the Michiko Shiona Dance Studio, where she went on to become a company member, and placed in the Japan National Modern Dance Competitions. While dancing with various companies, Ari worked at the Tokyo Disneyland. In New York City, Ari received her certification at the Merce Cunningham Dance School. She is now working with Saeko Ichinohe Dance Company, Mana Kawamura 3rd Dance Company, and H.T. Chen & Dancers.
Nana Tsuda
Nana Tsuda, originally from Japan, studied at the Alvin Ailey School and the Merce Cunningham Dance Studio where she received certification in 2007. She has spent her summer in Spain for Dance Program directed by Kazuko Hirabayashi. She has worked with Asun Noales, Arantxa Sargadoy, Nathan Trice, Eva Bertomeu and others. Nana is working with Kazuko Hirabayashi Dance Theater,TAKE Dance Company and member of Kawamura the 3rd.