Chen Dance Center

From The Peopling of New York City

Chen Dance Center

The Chen Dance Center, formally known as HT Dance Company, has been in Chinatown since 1980. The mission of the Chen Dance Center is to provide moving experiences in Asian American contemporary dance through artistic creation, arts education, and presentation. By serving the downtown dance community, the company offers free rehearsal space for brand-new artists and also commission for artists who are not brand new, but who are more experienced. The Chen Dance Center can be seen as a launching pad for these artists to become well known and having done so, to come back into the community to influence the coming generations. The focus of the company is on modern art. When asked what exactly modern art was, Ms. Dian Dong, the Associate Director, responded, “You can’t really put a finger on what exactly it is. It is all about individual expression.” Modern Dance is simply a term used to express the self and all the infinite possibilities of the human being.

Just like September 11th, 2001 had a huge impact on the world, it inevitably had a great impact on the Chen Dance Center. Due to its location in the heart of Chinatown, the Chen Dance Center could not escape unscathed by this tragic event. The company was at the highest level in the 2000-2001 season. Ms. Dong said, “We were touring like mad.” After 9/11, the government closed down the area. However, the hope of surpassing tough times was still alive. Ms. Dong believed in the art of the people in the company. She said that the success of the company depended on good art well marketed. As opposed to perhaps, similar, ‘towns’, Chinatown was really an ethnic enclave. It wasn’t only the place where a certain group of people had solely their restaurants, but the Chinese actually lived in Chinatown and created their own unique community.

Perhaps, this small dance company seemingly doesn’t seem to play a huge role in Chinatown to the naked eye, but it definitely has more to offer than what is on the surface. Superficially, one observes art lovers going there to enjoy an experience that is both bizarre and intriguing, especially if you are not involved with modern dance. Going below the surface of the presentations, one realizes that we all need these types of organizations not only for the self-fulfillment of the artists, but for the advancement of public art. In order to keep this authentic neighborhood alive, we must rely on the future generations and like Ms. Dong said, “We need smart, young people to change certain things and come back to the community.” It is in our hands to keep this neighborhood alive. The past members of this company have set the example for all the future generations to follow. Ms. Dong said that some of her students from the ‘80s have come back to Chinatown and teaching the newer generations. By donating to formal institutions, like the Chen Dance Center, we help to give hope for the survival of Chinatown. It is our choice to preserve the things of the past. What choice will we make?

Interview of Ms.Dian Dong, Associate Director of the Chen Dance Center

Chinatown Slideshow (Images by Ericka Jaramillo and Newsletter by Chen Dance Center)

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