J CHEN PROJECT presents

AAPI HEROES: MYTHS AND LEGENDS

The Museum of Chinese in America

Thursday, March 30, 2023 at 6:30pm ET

Thursday, March 30, 2023 at 8:30pm ET

Friday, March 31, 2023 at 6:30pm ET

Friday, March 31, 2023 at 8:30pm ET

Director and Choreographer: Jessica Chen 

Composer and Sound Designer: PaprTape

Lighting Designer: Jennifer Fok

Costume Designers: Lui Konno, Erica Johnston, Keiko Voltaire 

Costume Assistant: Chikako Murakawa

Dancers: Carl Ponce Cubero, Sumire Ishige, Maya Lam, Chieh Hsiung, 

Fang-Ting Yeh, Tsubasa Nishioka, Cameron Surh, and Fiona Tsang

Guest Artists: Joy Chen, SuperKnova

Production Stage Manager: Beau Banks 

Artistic Assistant: Neysha Merced

Press Rep: David Gibbs/DARR Publicity

NOTE FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Thank you so much for joining us at AAPI HEROES: MYTHS AND LEGENDS! 

This program elevates the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) identities, stories, and experiences at a turning point in American history. It aims to deconstruct old forms to reclaim and demarginalize AAPI voices and talents by reimagining the past, present, and future through an Asian American cultural lens. 

The power of art to transform and offer new perspectives seems ever so vital. Creativity and expression give us a path to better understand ourselves and the world around us and what it means to turn pain into something beautiful.

We are immensely grateful for your support and patronage to the arts, and we hope you enjoy the show!  Thank you for being a Hero to the arts!  

Jessica Chen

Artistic Director, Choreographer 

PROGRAM NOTES

Rising Dragon 

Choreographed by Jessica Chen 

Sound Design by PaprTape

Costume Design by Lui Konno, Assisted by Chikako Okubo

Danced by Carl Ponce Cubero, Maya Lam, Chieh Hsiung, and Cameron Surh

Choreographer’s Note: This work is inspired by the legendary Bruce Lee, commemorating the 50-year legacy since his passing. Lee believed martial arts was a path to self-discovery and personal growth, not just about fighting. He was full of life and energy! *This work was created as part of Revival of the Lost Legacy funded by DCLA and supported through MOCA’s Creative Space Grant Initiative

NüWa (女媧) 

Choreographed by Jessica Chen 

Sound Design by PaprTape

Costume Design by Lui Konno

Danced by Fiona Tsang and Sumire Ishige

Choreographer’s Note:  NüWa (女媧) is based on the mother goddess of Chinese mythology who repaired the Pillars of Heaven and upon feeling an indescribable loneliness, created the first human inspired by her own image reflected in the water.  *This work is made possible through the Dance/NYC Dance Advancement Fund, Amerivision Inc, and an new program Revival of the Lost Legacy funded by DCLA and supported through MOCA’s Creative Space Grant Initiative

Down the Rabbit Hole 

Sound Design by PaprTape

Danced by Chieh Hsiung

Costume Design by Erica Johnston

*Musical Performance*

Splendor Dysphoria 

Performed by SuperKnova

RECLAIM 

Choreographed by Jessica Chen 

Sound Design by PaprTape

Costume Design by Keiko Voltaire

Danced by Maya Lam, Fang-Ting Yeh, and Tsubasa Nishioka

Choreographer’s Note: For three generations, my family sought safety and a place to call home. With this new work, I am exploring what parts of our stories, identities, and culture we lose when moving from land to land to land. I dedicate this work to my maternal grandfather, 周伯達 Po-Ta Chou, whom I called YeYe. He was a warrior, a leader, and an honorable man. * This work was commissioned by the New York Chinese Cultural Center as part of their 2022 HOME Project, and created in residence at the Museum of Chinese in America. 

Be Curious 

Anna May Wong played by Joy Chen 

Choreographed and Written by Jessica Chen 

Danced by Sumire Ishige

Costume Design by Lui Konno, Assisted by Chikako Okubo

Choreographer’s Note: This work is inspired by the unwavering tenacity and trailblazing spirit of the first Chinese American Hollywood star, Anna May Wong, shining a light on her perseverance, determination, and curiosity. * This work was created as part of Revival of the Lost Legacy funded by DCLA and supported through MOCA’s Creative Space Grant Initiative

Down the Rabbit Hole (reprise) 

Choreographed by Jessica Chen 

Sound Design by PaprTape

Danced by Chieh Hsiung

Costume Design by Erica Johnston

I Can Almost See You

Choreographed by Jessica Chen 

Sound Design by PaprTape

Danced by Chieh Hsiung

Costume Design by Erica Johnston

Choreographer’s Note: A solo piece featuring a bamboo hat from the Chinese ethnic minority Dai Zu. The choreography blends Western movements with traditional Chinese folk dance. 

You Are Safe 

Choreographed by Jessica Chen 

Sound Design by PaprTape

Costume Design by Lui Konno

Danced by Carl Ponce Cubero, Sumire Ishige, Maya Lam, Chieh Hsiung, Fang-Ting Yeh, and Cameron Surh

Choreographer’s Note:  You Are Safe is a response to the 2020-2021 escalation in xenophobia and bigotry targeting Asian Americans. * This work was commissioned by the Museum of Chinese in America in 2021 as part of their “Responses: Asian American Voices Resisting the Tides of Racism” exhibition.

Look Who’s Talking About AAPI HEROES:

WHO’S WHO IN THE COMPANY

Director and Choreographer: Jessica Chen (she/her) is an American dancer, choreographer, founder of J CHEN PROJECT. She uses her art as a vehicle for storytelling and social impact. A survivor of a near-fatal car accident, Chen uses movement to heal and understand the human experience. Her work has been presented at NYFW at MoMA, Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, and the World Expo-USA Pavilion in Shanghai. As a 2021 GALLIM Moving Women Artist-in-Residence, 2021 DLNY Choreographer, and 2021-2022 Artist-in-Residence at MOCA, she continues to inspire and create opportunities for marginalized communities through the arts.

Sound Designer: Tony Yang, 楊伯翊 (Yáng•bó•yì), aka PaprTape, is a multi-genre composer, sound designer, and musician known for combining traditional and modern techniques. He began his career in Asia, winning first place in the International Floral Expo Remix Competition and producing the top-charting girl group, Six.S. He has since composed and produced for top brands and artists worldwide including Philip Glass, Burberry, Guggenheim Museum in New York.

Lighting Designer: Jennifer Fok is a Chinese American NYC-based designer. Her design collaborations center around reimagining classics, exploring new work, and collaborating with interdisciplinary artists in dance, music, and opera. She received her BFA in Theatre Production and Design from Ithaca College. www.jenniferfok.com

Costume Designer: Lui Konno is a costume designer/technician from Yokohama City in Japan. She received her BFA in Oil Painting from Tama Art University in Tokyo and BA in Theater and Film from Hunter College. Currently she is a first hand at Parsons-Meares, Ltd., and makes costumes for Broadway musicals, such as Lion King, Phantom of the Opera, Moulin Rouge, Hamilton, Frozen and & Juliet. luikonno@gmail.com 

Costume Designer: Erica Johnston is a NYC-based costume designer.  Design credits include: Peridance Company, Nimbus Dance, Dance Kaleidoscope, J CHEN PROJECT, the Ailey School, Joffrey Ballet Concert Group, McKoy Dance Project, Xaoc Contemporary Ballet, and Marymount Manhattan College. Build credits: AAADT, BalletX, NYCB, Ballet Hispánico, Limón Company, Ephrat Asherie, Philadanco, Jon Batiste, HBO, Disney Plus.

Costume Designer: Keiko Voltaire is the 1st Japanese American costume designer featured in the New York Times. She has worked with notable companies such as Alvin Ailey, Martha Graham, Limón, and Parsons. She is the resident costume designer for Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School. She also directs the Dance International Program in Japan and runs her own company, KDesign Fitness & KDesign Fashion.

Costume Assistant: Chikako Murakawa is an international student from Japan who is pursuing a BA in Theatre at Hunter. She is grateful to have the opportunity to work with Jessica Chen and other performers under Lui Konno as a costume designer assistant. Chikako was a costume designer "Sweat" at Hunter Theater Department and worked for other productions. She is excited to be involved in this project as an Asian and continuing her new challenge with arts.

Dancers

Carl Ponce Cubero (he/they/siya) is a Filipinx American movement artist/creative based in New York City. They graduated from University of California, Irvine with a BFA in Dance Performance under the direction of the late Donald McKayle.  They have performed with Ailey II and as a guest artist with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. They have also danced works by Aszure Barton, Lar Lubovitch, Andrea Miller, Robert Battle, Jae Man Joo, and David Parsons.

Sumire Ishige studied at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and Ailey/Fordham. Sumire has performed with BARKIN/SELISSEN PROJECT, Boston Dance Theater, WHITE WAVE, Parsons Dance Company, McKoy Dance Project, and J CHEN PROJECT. She is a rehearsal director for Pony Box Dance Theatre.

Maya Lam is an Asian-American dancer, choreographer, and interdisciplinary artist who has performed works by Sidra Bell, Jessica Lang, Jenn Freeman, Yin Yue, Jessica Chen, and Samuel Pott. They are a City Artist Corps Grant recipient and were commissioned by The Kennedy Center Art-Under-A-Minute Series. They have danced with Nimbus Dance Works, Periapsis Music and Dance, and J CHEN PROJECT.

Chieh Hsiung is a choreographer and performer who has won multiple awards and accolades, including the Breaking Glass Project and Golden Bell Awards. She has presented her choreography at Lincoln Center, 92Y Harkness Dance Center, and J CHEN PROJECT AAPI Festival. Her latest work, "Islanders," is a resident artist at Cultural Lab, exploring Taiwanese cultural narrative around identity and longing.

Fang-Ting Yeh, a freelance dancer, choreographer based in New York. She had worked with well-known multimedia artist, composer Yuval Avital and dance company J CHEN PROJECT in 2021, 2022. Fang-Ting’s new choreography Yuan 緣 has been collect in New York Public Library for the Performing Arts for user to view and research.

Tsubasa Nishioka, a Japanese ballet and contemporary dancer, received a scholarship to The Ailey School in 2018. He has performed and worked with renowned choreographers such as Fumihito Shimizu, Omar Roman de Jesus, Darshan Bhuller, Jessica Chen, and Marcus Jarrell Wills. He has also won multiple awards, including 1st place in the Chiba Select Young Dancer’s Performance, 3rd place in the Saitama Dance Competition, and 2nd place in the NBA National Ballet Competition.

Cameron Surh (he/they) is a Brooklyn based artist working with movement and computation. As a dancer, he has performed works by Shamel Pitts, Ilya Vidrin, and Chuck Wilt. Cameron is currently on the Digital team at Lincoln Center. They hold a BFA in Dance and an MA in Interactive Media Arts, both from NYU Tisch. It is their first season with J CHEN PROJECT

Fiona Tsang, born and raised in NYC, is an Asian-American dancer, choreographer, educator, and the author of Mama Vo’s Bánh Xèo. She received a B.A. in both dance and childhood education at Hunter College. Her stage credits include the honor of dancing with En Garde Arts, Janice Rosario, Doug Varone, Rich James, We Belong Here: AAPI Festival, and DanceNYC Symposium.

Actor: Joy Chen is an actor, artist, and web developer living in New York City. She is currently studying Meisner technique at the William Esper Studio under Barbara Marchant, Nancy Mayans, and David Kaplan. Outside of acting, you can find her fixing vintage cameras or neglecting her mathematics degree!

Singer / Guitarist: Ellie Kim, aka SuperKnova, is a Korean-American, transgender musician who creates Queer Pop, a unique sound that incorporates electronic drums, moody synths, and dreamy guitar solos. She writes about identity, queerness and the struggle to be your authentic self. Her music has received significant praise and has been featured on Showtime’s Work In Progress, MTV News, GoldFlakePaint and multiple Spotify editorial playlists.

Production Stage Manager: Beaudau (Bo-day) Karel Banks is a Choreographer, Dancer and Production Technician born and raised in Belize, Central America; Beaudau is a black, queer, gender non-conforming immigrant artist, lighting designer  and Theatre Technician based in New York City. Beaudau started formal dance training at the age of thirteen studying ballet and modern dance. They were accepted and graduated with a BFA in Fine Arts from the University of South Florida BFA program in Tampa, Florida. They are now living in New York City freelancing with various dance artists while still following their love of theatre production.

Artistic Assistant: Neysha Merced (she/her) is a DeSales University graduate with a BA in Dance. Her background, being born in Puerto Rico and raised in Allentown, PA, fostered her love of nature and performance. Now living in NYC, she is focused on community building through movement and networking with dancers and artists of all genres to create a sustainable future for the arts. Neysha is a dancer and the Associate Artistic Director of J CHEN PROJECT. She specializes in social media strategy for small businesses and assisted in designing the relaunch for the JCP 2022 Mentee Program. This is her third year as Program Manager of the Bessies. She is a GYROTONIC® & GYROKINESIS® Trainer, a model represented by Stetts Model Management, and a freelance florist.

Press Representative: David Gibbs (he/him) is the founder of DARR Publicity, a boutique entertainment press agency specializing in theater, dance, film, music and unique theatrical experiences. Clients include The Amoralists, Company XIV, FIAF, Ice Factory Festival, J Chen Project, La MaMa, Molière in the Park, New Ohio Theatre, NYC Indie Theatre Film Festival, Pig Iron, PTP/NYC and Red Seed Films. David has publicized shows at many Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway venues throughout NYC. His clients have won Drama Desk, Lucille Lortel, Obie and Off Broadway Alliance Awards. www.DarrPublicity.com

Thank You to our JCP Sponsors:

*AAPI HEROES: MYTHS AND LEGENDS is funded by the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF) through the NYS AAPI Community Fund and sponsored by The Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) through their Creative Space Grant initiative.

*JCP Programs are made possible with funds from NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, New York State Council on the Arts, Amerivision Inc, and Dance/NYC Dance Advancement Fund.

*Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF) is the nation’s only pan-Asian children and families’ advocacy organization bringing together community-based organizations as well as youth and community allies to fight for equity for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs).

*Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) aims to engage audiences in an ongoing and historical dialogue, in which people of all backgrounds are able to see American history through a critical perspective, to reflect on their own experiences, and to make meaningful connections between: the past and the present, the global and the local, themselves and others.

*New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) is the largest municipal funder of culture in the country and is committed to providing access to art and culture for all New Yorkers.

*Dance/NYC's mission is to promote the knowledge, appreciation, practice, and performance of dance in the metropolitan New York City area. It embeds values of justice, equity, and inclusion into all aspects of the organization.

*New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) is dedicated to preserving and expanding the rich and diverse cultural resources that are and will become the heritage of New York's citizens.