J CHEN PROJECT is a modern dance company based in NYC. The mission of J CHEN PROJECT is to explore identity within the human experience through creation, performance, mentoring and inspiring young artists to share their voice. Specifically now, J CHEN PROJECT is looking at this generation’s fixation on Social Media popularity. Both the positive connectivity of Social Media, as well as the profound threat it has on our society’s perceptions, behaviors, strength of community and ability to feel empathy towards others.
J CHEN PROJECT is creating an evening length show title “The Shadow and The Like,” based on real-life tragedy, which addresses the psychological struggles behind a glossy Social Media image. This show will run at Dixon Place from September 29 to October 1, 2016.

JESSICA CHEN, Artistic Director of J CHEN PROJECT. Ms. Chen received a B.A. in Global Studies from the University of California in Santa Barbara and continued her dance training in NYC at The Ailey School and Earl Mosley’s Institute of the Arts, where she received a full scholarship.

She had the honor of choreographing and directing a Featured Float in the 2015 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. She has taught master classes at institutions such as Semester at Sea, Yale University, Boston University, Mt. Holyoke, DeSales University and Orange County School of the Arts, as well as her alma mater. < Ms. Chen was honored as Keynote Speaker at Cornell University’s 2011 Celebration of Asian American Women for her work empowering female leadership within the community. She presented “If I Can Dance It, Then It’s Possible” at the 2014 TEDx organized by Semester at Sea. In addition, her choreography has been presented throughout NYC including NY Live Arts Studio Series, Brooklyn Museum of Art, HERE Arts Center, Dixon Place, Ailey Citigroup Theater, DUMBO Dance Festival and Ars Nova. International and National credits include 2010 World Expo USA Pavilion in Shanghai, China and the Amnesty International Arts Festival in Washington D.C.

Ms. Chen started a Mentorship Program for aspiring professional dancers and recently completed it’s 5th session. As a curator, Chen produces an annual choreographer’s festival at Dixon Place ‘TRANSLATE (voices of dance)’ and has presented numerous dance makers in NYC.