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.
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.
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.
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 hails from Tokyo, Japan where she started dancing at the Michiko Shiona Dance Studio. After working with Michiko Shiona Company and various other dance artists in Japan, Ari moved to New York in 2004 to study at The Merce Cunningham Dance School where she received her certificate in 2007. Ari is thrilled to be dancing for H.T. Chen & Dancers, and Saeko Ichinohe Dance Company.
Rei Akazawa
Rei Akazawa began her studies in dance at Yuko Kojima Ballet Academy in Tokyo. She graduated cum laude with a BFA in Dance from Marymount Manhattan College. She has performed works by Robert Battle, Merce Cunningham, Martha Graham, Graham Lustig, and Edgar Zendejas. Rei has also worked with 360 Dance Company, and has participated in Graham Technique master classes as a demonstrator and assistant.
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.
Siras Nitithatsanakul
Siras Nitithatsanakul holds a BFA from Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand. Her career includes performing, choreographing and teaching in Thailand and internationally, participating in commercial productions, and performing for the Queen of Thailand. She is delighted to be working with H.T. Chen & Dancers.
Gregory Youdan, Jr.
Gregory Youdan, Jr. holds a B.A. in Dance from Hofstra University with a Minor in Physical Education and Sports Sciences. While at Hofstra, Greg had the pleasure of dancing in much of the guest artist and faculty repertory. In New York, he has worked with Catherine Gallant/DANCE, Sokolow Theatre/Dance Ensemble, and Kelley Donovan & Dancers.