Chien-Hao Chang
Dancer, from Taiwan, graduated from
the Taipei National University of
the Arts with a BFA in Dance in 2009 and was on full scholarship at the
American Dance Festival in North Carolina. He began his
dance training at age sixteen and was trained in ballet and various
modern dance techniques, including those of Martha Graham, José
Limón,
Merce
Cunningham, and Trisha Brown, and contact improvisations. He also was
trained in Chinese martial arts and dance. This is his first season
with
the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company.
Jung Hm Jo Dancer,
from Dae Gu, Korea, studied modern, ballet, and Korean traditional
dance. He earned a BA in Dance from SeJong University. He then
performed with Tatmaroo Dance Company and with choreographers in Korea,
Japan, and Singapore, including Chung-Ja Choi, Hae-Jeon Hong, Na-Young
Kim and Young-Chan Lee. Since his arrival in New York City in 2006, he
has danced in Chang-Yong Sung's Moment and in a gala performance at the
White Wave Dance Theater and has also appeared at La MaMa. He danced
with the Sharon Wong Dance Company in Louisiana and, in Montreal,
performed in La ou je vis by Daniele Desnoyers. Mr. Jo was assistant
choreographer to Chang-Yong Sung on Requiem, performed by the Alvin
Ailey Second Company at the Joyce Theater. Last year, he danced for
Colman Lemieux & Compagnie. This is Mr. Jo's first season with the
Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company.
Julie Anna Judlova
Dancer
was born in the Czech Republic and began her dance training at the age
of seven at the dance studio of the National Theatre in Prague. She studied ballet, jazz, and modern dance professionally in
conservatory under director Vlasta Schneiderova. As a member of Ballet
Prague Junior, Ms. Judlova worked with Attila Egerhazi, Jo Stromgren,
and Michael Popper and participated in festivals in the United Kingdom
and Italy. In 2005, she moved to New york, where she studied at the
Mark Morris repertory workshop and toured with Ballet for Young
Audiences. Ms. Judlova has been a member of the Company since 2006.
Chu-Ying Ku Dancer
is originally from Taiwan. Ms. Ku holds a BFA and an MFA in dance from
Taipei National University of the Arts. During her studies, she worked
with such renowned choreographers as Lo Men-Fei, Lin Huai Ming, Ross
Parkes, and Zheng Xiou Shong. Ms. Ku has since danced with ACME
Physical Theater and Body Expression Dance Theatre in Taipei and
performed in dance festivals in France, Germany, and Malaysia. She
has also taught traditional Chinese dance and modern dance at
senior high schools and dance studios throughout Taiwan, choreographed many of her own works and coached students for the
Taiwanese National Students Dance Competition. Ms. Ku is honored to be
part of the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company for her third season.
Kerry
Lee Dancer
is an Atlanta native, where she trained with Atlanta Ballet, Rotaru
International Ballet School, and the 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, Ms. Lee
trained with Kristine Elliott, Diane Frank, and Robert Moses and worked
with choreographers such as Amy Seiwert, Janice Garrett, Alex Ketley,
and Maurya Kerr. She was also the recipient of the Louis
Sudler Prize in the Arts and a Stanford Undergraduate Research Programs
Major Grant that enabled her to train intensively at the Martha Graham
School of Contemporary Dance. Since moving to New York, Ms. Lee has
performed with H.T. Chen & Dancers, Dance China NY and Red Silk
Dancers. She has also taught traditional Chinese dance workshops in the
city. For her first season, Ms. Lee is honored to be part of Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company.
Chun-Yu Lin Dancer,
originally from Taiwan, received a BFA in Dance Performance and
Choreography from the California Institute of the Arts in 2007. She is
trained in a wide variety of dance styles, including ballet,
contemporary, and traditional Chinese. Her own choreography has
been performed in various venues in the United States as well as in
London, while she was an exchange student at London Contemporary Dance
School, and at the Festival Internacional de Benicàssim in Spain. Ms.
Lin has performed works by Nacho Duato, Jiri Kylian, Doug Varone, Elisa
Monte, Robert Battle, Colin Conner, and many others. She is delighted
to be performing her second season with the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company.
Nijawwon Matthews
Dancer began his training with Sean Mcleod, Artistic Director of
Kaleidoscope Dance Theater, and continued his training intensively with
Absolute Dance, where, at age sixteen, he received his first
professional job with Absolute Dance Company. Since then Mr. Matthews has worked
with other professional companies such as Cleo Parker Robinson Dance
Company, Deeply Rooted Production Dance Theater, Colorado Contemporary
Dance Theater, and, most recently, Philadanco. He is a recipient of
the Choreography Award from the Star Power Dance Competition.
Wei Yao Dancer
graduated from
Chinese Ethnic Culture College in Beijing with a major in Chinese Folk Dance.
He later danced with Goundong Song and Dance Company and Gounzou Dance
Company. He also taught at Goundong Dance School before he moved to Hong
Kong and danced in musical productions at Disneyland. He
joined Nai-Ni Chen in January 2008.
Yao Zhong Zhang Dancer
came from Shanghai, China, where he graduated from the Shanghai Kuan
Opera School with a major in the male warrior role. Mr. Zhang performed
with the Shanghai Kuan Opera Theater for ten years before moving to New
York, where he also performs with the Tong-Ching Chinese Opera Company.
He has been a member of the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company since 2000.
Min Zhou Dancer
graduated from the dance department at the Hubei Arts Academy.
She later
joined the Hubei Province Song and Dance Troupe and became a renowned
principal performer. Ms. Zhou, an elected member of the Chinese
Dancers' Association, has a wide repertoire that ranges from exquisite
Chinese classical dances to gracious and playful folk dances.
While in China, she joined several performing
arts groups and toured to Switzerland, Japan, Canada, and France.
In New York, she danced with the Chinese Cultural
Center. This is her third year with the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company.