ARTIST STATEMENT

My work is driven by the stories that define our collective human experiences. I am drawn to engage with the narratives and labels given to us by society, along with the parts of our identities that emerge from our perspectives, ideas, and beliefs.

The work I create is intrinsically multicultural. As a Chinese American, I see myself as a bridge between two countries with rich and complicated histories. My work is rooted in my own ancestral history, our shared stories, and what connects us as a society.

As a cultural leader and Artistic Director of J CHEN PROJECT, I am committed to fighting injustice and promoting solidarity within society. I am motivated to stand up for our shared humanity and act as an agent of change.

Utilizing the body as a political vessel, I grapple with current realities that reflect histories of marginalized and underrepresented communities. How can a dance performance move beyond the stage to ignite change in society, spark conversation within a community, and generate action that disrupts and dismantles hierarchy? How can I use body and sound to connect society and challenge audiences to denounce oppressive systems and current injustices?

I stand against systemic racism and recognize the urgency for drastic change. I support ALAANA individuals across the gender spectrum through diverse, equitable, and inclusive opportunities and consciously practice anti-racism within my organization, J CHEN PROJECT.

Dance is a powerful medium to embrace numerous communities. I seek to engage with not only communities that I belong to but those outside of my current landscape. My deepest inspirations are the connections that bring humanity together and the ways we amplify voices from all sectors of society.

Through my work, I aim to inspire action and foster a deeper understanding of our shared human experience.

- Jessica Chen

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY

Jessica Chen is a Chinese American dancer, choreographer, and director based in New York City. A 2023 Bessie Nominee for Outstanding Choreographer/Creator, she is known for creating "visceral ...emotionally charged movements and choreography" (Sarah Draugelis, HuffPost).

Her theater credits include choreographing Les Misérables, Cabaret (Bay Area's Top 3 Best Dance Productions, 2024, Broadway World), Jersey Boys, Come From Away, Spring Awakening, Beautiful: A Carole King Musical, Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, and The Wizard of Oz. She has worked at regional theaters including Syracuse Stage, GEVA Theatre, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Palm Beach Dramaworks, CenterREP, and Weathervane. She served as AD and SDCF Director Fellow on SUMO at The Public Theater, which received the 2025 Drama Desk Award for Fight Choreography.

She is the Founder and Artistic Director of J CHEN PROJECT, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit contemporary dance company built to create work centered on identity, cultural diversity, belonging, and the Asian American experience. JCP's productions have been presented at MoMA for New York Fashion Week, Lincoln Center's Restart Stages, Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the World Expo USA Pavilion in Shanghai, and TEDx Semester at Sea, and featured by Google Arts & Culture in partnership with the Asian American Arts Alliance. She conceived and ran the JCP Mentorship Program for six years, drawing aspiring professional dancers who traveled from Germany, Denmark, China, and across the United States to take part.

Her piece NüWa (女媧) is archived at the New York Public Library's Jerome Robbins Dance Division. JCP's signature work AAPI Heroes, running since 2023, completed a national tour in 2026.

Chen is a 2021 GALLIM Moving Women Artist-in-Residence, a 2021 Dance Lab New York Choreographer, and a 2021-2023 Artist-in-Residence at the Museum of Chinese in America. She received the 2025 SDCF Lynnette Barkley Award. She is an adjunct professor of theater and dance at Montclair State University and a proud member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.

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