She demonstrates a sensuous flexibility and establishes a welcome atmosphere of calm.”

Robert Johnson, New Jersey Star-Ledger

Biography

Jennifer Chin has been an active member of the dance community in New York City since the early 90’s.

As a freelance dance artist she has performed and taught throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Uruguay and Finland with a variety of inspiring choreographers including Alan Danielson, Arthur Aviles, Kristin jackson, Michael Mao and Yin Mei.

She received her BA from Queens College and her MFA from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts where she performed in works by David Parsons, Amanda Miller and Ann Reinking. Jennifer is an instructor in modern dance, yoga, pilates and embodied anatomy. She has been on faculty at Dance Space Center (now DNA), Peridance Center in New York, Université du Québec á Montréal, and is presently on faculty at The José Limón Institute and Montclair State University.

This skill was certainly admirable in Jennifer Chin’s The Simple Story. Displaying impressive strength and extension…”

Jenai Cutcher, The Dance Insider

Choreography

Jennifer’s choreography has been inspired by literature, visual art and sound, creating work that has varied in style, texture and mood.

Her investigation into movement energizes the mix of dynamic elements such as vague lightness with precision and exactness.

She is interested in how the exploration into physicality transforms ideas and communicates in a way no other art form can. Her use of the stage creates dramatic landscapes for relationships to unfold. With the use of sets, lighting or mere phrasing of movement the audience is welcomed into a conversation.

Her newest piece, Breach, is a moving trio of women investigating the give and take of relationships. Told through a lush movement vocabulary, three dancers interweave through each other, leaning on and catching each other, trying to gain closeness. Intuitive partnering and questionable intentions create suspense. Their momentum builds until they break apart into the space only to attempt to continuously rebuild their connections whether they be tenuous or combative. This piece will be shown as part of the Dancenow/NYC Festival on Friday, September 10, 2010 at 7:30pm at Dance Theater Workshop. Purchase tickets HERE

She presented an evening of work, Echoing Women and other tales, at Joyce Soho (NYC) in December 2001. She has been commissioned to create work by Queens College; set repertory on the International students at Peridance Center in New York; made two new works at The Yard for the Patricia N. Nanon residency where she was a dancer-in-residence for four years; been presented in Joyce Soho Presents and by the American Dance Guild in New York City and Virginia Beach.

Other venues Jennifer’s choreography has been shown are: Danspace Project’s Food-For-Thought at St. Mark’s Church, Goose Route Arts Festival in West Virginia, the dance series SWEAT at Debaun Auditorium, Dancenow Downtown-Joyce Soho, International Dance Festival at the Willamsburg Art & Historical Center, The Limón Studio, The Bronx Academy for Arts and Dance (BAAD), South Street Seaport, Deli Dances, Soundance, and New York University.

In addition to modern dance, Jennifer also choreographs for theater and has a long standing relationship with MultiStages, a multidisciplinary multicultural theatre company, founded by Lorca Peress. Most recently, she choreographed for Jamuna Yvette Sirker’s play “Hell and High Water, or lessons for when the sky falls” based on the author’s experience during Hurricane Katrina.

Teaching

Jennifer has been teaching movement since 1990.

As a dancer, she began teaching children at the local dance studio, and then moved on to the professional dance world.

She has taught at many of New York City’s top dance centers including The Jose Limón Institute, Peridance Center and Dancespace Center (now DNA). She has been on faculty at Université du Québec á Montréal and Montclair State University. She is an instructor in modern dance, pilates, yoga and embodied anatomy. Jennifer’s yoga practice began in 1997, studying with Dharma Mittra, from whom she received her Yoga Teaching Certification. She has been teaching yoga since 1999.

In 2003 she was introduced to the Iyengar Yoga method and began studying embodied anatomy with Genny Kapuler, all of which has greatly influenced her teaching and way of life. Jennifer’s introduction to Pilates was with Kathy Grant, one of the first teachers of the technique, at NYU, and used the method to rehabilitate her numerous dance injuries. She then taught Pilates for 8 years at Groundfloor Exercise, a studio on the Upper West Side. In January of 2007, she created LUMINOUSbody, transformative health and fitness, a group for teachers to workshop ideas and give private lessons in yoga, pilates and fitness training.

Philosophy

Jennifer's teaching aims to empower dancers with the tools to enhance their life as performers. The goal is for students to become more aware of the body and discover efficiency in movement. Class incorporates anatomical knowledge and strengthening skills into class so dancers can have a long, healthy career.

Dance & Movement

Based on organic movement principles, Jennifer's modern dance class utilizes natural body weight and lines of energy in space. Opposition, fall and recovery, rhythm, and sequential movement are tools based on Limón technique, which can enable a dancer to gain more precision and facility. This class transforms a classical technique to a contemporary style where dancers can apply what they learn to all dance styles. Movement phrases are designed to challenge the student to develop an inner rhythm, find personal expression and relate movement to sound and space.

Mind & Body

In addition to dance technique, students learn how to understand all elements of life as a performer. Principles stemming from Yoga, Pilates, and embodied anatomy are used to supplement a dancer's training in order to build strength, correct alignment, prevent injury and manage stress. Emphasis is placed on the student building self-awareness. Individual assessment and nutritional counseling aids a student to develop a conditioning regime that will keep body and mind healthy.

The audience falls madly and hopelessly in love with Ms. Chin"

Perry Garfinkel, The Martha’s Vineyard Times

Dancing

Jennifer Chin has performed with:

Kristin Jackson Dance, 1996-present

Dance by Alan Danielson, 1998-2006

Heather Harrington and Dancers, 2000-2003

Incidents Physical Theatre, 1999-2001

» choreographers Christina Briggs and Edward Winslow «

Arthur Aviles Typical Theatre, 1998-2000

The Yard, Patirica N. Nanon Residency, 1997-2000

Sabrina Peck, 1997-1998

Michael Mao Dance, 1996-1998

Yin Mei Dance Theatre, 1993-1998

Media

This slideshow contains images by photographer Ellen Crane.

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Contact

I am a member artist of Dance Theater Workshop, Inc., a non-profit tax-exempt organization. Contributions in support of my work are greatly appreciated and may be made payable to Dance Theater Workshop, Inc., earmarked for “the Dance Theater Workshop member project of Jennifer Chin Dance.” A description of the work and current project activities for which such contributions will be used are available from me or Dance Theater Workshop, upon request. All contributions are fully deductible to the extent allowed by law.

(Note: A copy of Dance Theater Workshop’s latest annual financial report filed with the New York State Department of State may be obtained by writing to the N.Y.S. Dept. of State, Charities Registration, 162 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY, 12231, or to Dance Theater Workshop, 219 West 19th Street, New York, NY, 10011)