By Mabel Pais

“An outburst of pure joy…nothing less than spectacular” wrote NJArts.net about Nai Ni Chen Dance Company.

This year for the ‘Year of the Green Wood Dragon,’ the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company celebrates the Lunar New Year with spectacular performances at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in New Jersey and the Kupferberg Center for the Arts at Queens College, New York City. Performances take place  at NJPAC on Saturday, February 10 @ 2 p.m. and Sunday, February 11 at 2 p.m. At Kupferberg Center performances take place on *January 27 at 3 pm & 7 pm and on *January 28 at *3 pm.

(*The 3 PM performances are each 60-minute-long, while the 7 PM performance is an extended 90-minute program).

AT THE NEW JERSEY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER (NJPAC)

This year, at NJPAC, the dance company embraces the spirit of the dragon — a symbol of power, strength, good luck, prosperity and happiness. The whole family can enjoy this joyful display of Chinese dance, contemporary dance, acrobatics, vibrant costumes and live music. And of course, you’ll experience the dazzling Dragon Dance! After the show, patrons can stop at the lobby to shop for beautiful papercraft by traditional artists.

A Newark tradition for over two decades, the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company returns to NJPAC to welcome the coming of the Spring of 2024, the Year of the Green Wood Dragon. It is a spectacular experience for all ages, combining traditional Chinese celebration with modern flair. NJPAC hosts this fantastic Newark celebration of the Lunar New Year with performances and festivities by the Fort Lee-based company, Nai-Ni Chen Dance. The Company Dancers, acrobats and musicians perform in festive costumes in red, gold, blue and purple colors symbolizing their prayer for a peaceful and harmonious New Year with plenty of prosperity and good fortune for everyone to enjoy and share.

This year’s program premieres a NJPAC-commissioned work: ‘Mongolian Festival’ by Mongolian dancer/choreographer Lawrence Jin. In this traditional Mongolian dance, he focuses on the generous spirit of the Mongolian people, the powerful Mongolian warriors and the respect they have for the great prairie that is essential for their nomadic life. The dance portrays aspects of Mongol herders’ daily activities, including milking cows, cooking, hunting, household labor, celebrations, and traditions. This culturally rich and dynamic performance will be accompanied by traditional Mongolian music, creating a captivating and immersive experience for the audience. 

**TICKETS

Tickets to the performances are available at njpac.org/event/nai-ni-chen-dance-company-year-of-the-green-wood-dragon

 AT KUPFERBERG CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Ring in the Year of the Dragon with Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company with an unforgettable weekend at the Kupferberg Center for the Arts at Queens College, Flushing, NY. These joyous Lunar New Year events will be a cultural extravaganza filled with vibrant performances, traditional festivities, and immersive experiences.

‘The Year of the Dragon’ is considered one of the most auspicious and significant years in the Chinese zodiac, symbolizing strength, courage, and good fortune. To mark this special occasion, Kupferberg Center for the Arts has partnered with the renowned Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company to create a celebration like no other.

Family-friendly performances will take place on Saturday, January 27, and Sunday, January 28 at 3pm, featuring majestic dragons, dancing lions, Mongolian dance, acrobats, and much more. On Saturday, January 27 at 7pm, the company will present a contemporary program combining modern and traditional dances. Be prepared to be enthralled by their mesmerizing choreography, combining contemporary and traditional elements in a breathtaking display of talent and culture.

The program includes:

‘Lion in the City’ is a new collaborative work by Hip-Hop legend Rokafella and Kwikstep with Company’s Director of New and Contemporary Dance Peiju Chien-Pott. This new lion dance integrates Hip-Hop movement and beats with traditional Chinese Lion Dance.

‘Mongolian Festival’ is a new work commissioned by the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in 2024 for the year of the Dragon. The Mongolian people are one of the five major races that make up the Chinese people (Han, Mongolian, Manchurian, Muslim and Tibetan). Mongolian Dance movements originated from the nomadic life of the people.

‘Whirlwind’ is a phenomenon in the desert caused by the air coming from the mountains to the plain in different directions. This dance takes inspiration from the choreographer’s journey on the Silk Road which passes through Central Asia, connecting China to Europe and crossing many deserts and mountains.

‘Way of Fire’ is an exploration of the ancient Chinese theory that the cycles of creation and destruction correspond to the ever-changing phenomena of nature. The “Five” refers to the five elements: wood, water, fire, metal, and earth. The cycles are also used to mark the passage of time. With live music by Wei Sun on guzheng.

Musician Wei Sun (孙薇) is a young guzheng artist from China and principal guzheng player with the Chinese Music Ensemble of New York (CMENY). She was born into a musical family and started her guzheng journey at the age of 6; and is now a certified senior teacher of guzheng, and member of the China National Instrumental Association and the International Guzheng Association.

‘Spear Dance’ is taken from the Chinese Peking Opera, which has over three hundred years of history and is considered the most well-preserved Chinese performing art in China. The dancer in this piece portrays a warrior who is preparing to go into the battlefield. His strength is shown through his acrobatic movements and dramatic poses.

‘Coinstick Dance’ originated with the Hans in Hubei province and is traditionally done by street performers. People drill holes in the sticks, which are made of bamboo, and fill the holes with coins. Dancers hit the sticks against their bodies and the ground to produce interesting rhythms as they move, and they often incorporate acrobatic skills.

**TICKETS

Tickets are available online at kupferbergcenter.org/lunar-new-year

 or by phone at (718)-793-8080.

**Information & ticket-availability to all shows are subject to change.

The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC)

The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), located in downtown Newark, New Jersey, is among the largest performing arts centers in the United States.  It is the artistic, cultural, educational and civic center of New Jersey — where great performances and events enhance and transform lives every day.  Learn more at njpac.org.

The Kupferberg Center for the Arts

The Kupferberg Center for the Arts located in Queens College, Flushing, NY, is one of the largest and most prestigious performing arts centers in the United States.

Learn more at kupferbergcenter.org

Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company

“like endlessly proliferating forces of cosmic energy,” wrote ‘The New York Times.’

Nai-Ni Chen (1959-2021), choreographer/dancer, was a unique artist whose work crosses cultural boundaries. Each of her dances reflect her personal vision as an immigrant and an American female artist with deep roots in Asian culture.

From this perspective, she created new works that reflect current issues with global influences. Many of her works were developed in collaboration with renowned artists such as the Ahn Trio, Glen Velez, Joan La Barbara, Rokafella, The Chinese Music Ensemble and the New Asia Chamber Music Society.

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. Learn more at nainichen.org.

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