By Mabel Pais

“Chen’s phrases, part exoskeletal rigidity, part boneless grace, embodied an epic dignity.” – Village Voice

The Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company performs with Les Ballet Afrik and Ayodele Casel at Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage in a co-presentation with ALL ARTS on Friday, July 15, 2022 6-9 pm at Flushing Meadows–Corona Park (Grand Central Parkway/Whitestone Expressway between 111 St. and College Point Blvd., Corona, NY 11368, Queens). SummerStage is New York City’s beloved, FREE outdoor performing arts festival. For more information, visit summerstage.org.

Raindrops

Choreography: Nai-Ni Chen

Dancers: Greta Campo, Rio Kikuchi, Namhui Kim, Candice Jarvis

Music: Henry Wolff, Nancy Henning, Robert Rich, Sainkho Namtchylak

Costumes: Olu-Orondava

‘Raindrops’ draws inspiration from the choreographer’s childhood memory of Keelong, the city where she was born. The city is also known as the “Rain Harbor” in Taiwan.

Whirlwind

Choreography: Nai-Ni Chen

Dancers: Greta Campo, Candace Jarvis, Rio Kikuchi, Sonny Shiu, Evan Matthew Stewart, Jainil Mehta, Namhui Kim

Music: Glen Velez

Musicians on the recording: Glen Velez and the Ta Ka Di Mi Project

Costumes: Anna-Alisa Belous

A whirlwind is a phenomenon in the desert caused by the air coming from the mountains to the desert plain in different directions. ‘Whirlwind’ explores trance, rhythmic breathing, sound, and spiral motion that the choreographer experienced on her journey through the Silk Road. Some of the movement ideas came from her visit to XingJiang and her encounter with Uyghur dance.

 NAI-NI CHEN

Choreographer/Dancer Nai-Ni Chen (1958-2021) was a unique artist whose work crosses many cultural boundaries. Each of her dances reflect her personal vision as an immigrant and an American female artist with deep roots in the Asian culture. From this very personal perspective, she created new works that reflect current issues with global influences. Some of her works were developed in collaboration with renowned artists such as the Ahn Trio, Glen Velez, Joan La Barbara, Jason Kao Hwang, Tao Chen, Tan Dun and the Chinese Music Ensemble of New York.

THE NAI-NI CHEN DANCE COMPANY

Bridging the grace of Asian elegance and American dynamism, the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company is a premier provider of innovative cultural experiences that reflect the inspiring hope and energy of the immigrant’s journey. An Asian American company that celebrates cross-cultural experience, the Company’s productions naturally bring forth issues of identity, authenticity, and equality experienced in New York. The Company has presented at some of the most prestigious concert halls such as the Joyce Theater, Lincoln Center in New York, and the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center in Florida. The Company appears annually at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Queens College, the College of Staten Island and on Ellis Island. Internationally, the Company has presented at international festivals including Open Look Festival in Russia, the Silesian International Contemporary Dance Festival, the Konfrontations International Festival in Poland, the Chang Mu International Dance Festival in Korea, the Meet in Beijing International Arts Festival in China, and the Tamaulipas International Arts Festival in Mexico.

The Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company has received more than 20 awards from the National Endowment for the Arts and numerous Citations of Excellence and grants from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Advancing Dance Education, the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company is currently in residence in New Jersey City University pioneering a program with the University’s A Harry Moore Laboratory School teaching dance to urban children with disabilities. For additional Company information, visit the website, nainichen.org; write to Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company, P.O. Box 1121, Fort Lee, NJ 07024; or call (800) 650- 0246.

City Parks Foundation

City Parks Foundation is dedicated to invigorating and transforming parks into dynamic, vibrant centers of urban life through sports, arts, community building, and education programs for all New Yorkers. The programs — located in hundreds of parks, recreation centers, and public schools across New York City — reach thousands of people each year. The ethos is simple: thriving parks mean thriving communities. To learn more, visit cityparksfoundation.org

SummerStage

Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage is one of New York’s most beloved, broadly accessible, free outdoor performing arts festivals throughout the five boroughs. The performances represent the cultural fabric of New York City ranging from jazz, hip hop, Latin, global, indie, and contemporary dance. Since its inception nearly 40 years ago, more than six million people from New York City and around the world have enjoyed SummerStage. In 2020, Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage Anywhere was launched in response to the global pandemic, presenting free digital performances, spanning all genres, available to viewers around the world. To learn more, visit cityparksfoundation.org/summerstage

(Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Health & Wellness, Cuisine and Spirituality)