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, 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. I want to act as an agent of change - not be a victim of it.

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 a 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 BIPOC 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.” - Jessica Chen

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY

Jessica Chen is an American dancer and choreographer based in New York City known for creating "visceral ...emotionally charged movements and choreography." She is the Founder and Artistic Director of J CHEN PROJECT, a 501c3 nonprofit contemporary dance company with a mission to create dance works that emphasize identity, cultural diversity, and belonging.

Jessica choreographed the Off-Broadway production of The Portal at Minetta Lane Theater, and the New York Musical Festival production of INTERSTATE, an Asian-American pop-rock poetry musical. Her work is featured on Google Arts & Culture by the Asian American Arts Alliance. She worked with the nonprofit Rise, bringing her creations to their Survivor's Fashion Show at the MoMA Museum of Modern Art for New York Fashion Week in 2021 and 2022. Her work has also been presented at Lincoln Center's Restart Stages for GALLIM, Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, MACY's Thanksgiving Day Parade, TEDx Semester at Sea, and World Expo-USA Pavilion in Shanghai.

Her work has been funded by the New York State Council on the Arts, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, Jerome Foundation, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, Amerivision Inc, Coalition of Asian American Children and Families, and more. She is a 2021 GALLIM Moving Women Artist-in-Residence, 2021 Dance Lab New York Choreographer, and 2021-2023 Artist-in-Residence at the Museum of Chinese in America through their Creative Space Grant initiative.

Current + Upcoming Projects: She recently premiered an Off-Off Broadway show amplifying the stories and experiences of the Asian American community titled AAPI Heroes: Myths and Legends. Spring 2023, she will choreograph Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella at Geva Theater and Jersey Boys for Weathervane Theater. She is on the director's team for a new commission, The Messenger at Palm Beach Dramaworks, slated to premiere at the end of this year.

Download Resume

Follow Jessica on Instagram