THE BRIDGE:
Nai-Ni Chen Virtual Dance Institute
of boundary-breaking dance experiences from leading dance makers and teachers from diverse communities

This week's guest artists:
Zhongmei Li + Rei Akazawa-Smith

Open to All Dancers at an Intermediate to Advanced Level

~meet the artists after the class~

Monday through Friday at 11:00 AM EST
Free 1-hour Virtual Master Class!

~Upcoming Sessions on The Bridge

~Mon. April 5, 11AM EST
Kinetic Spiral with Yuka Notsuka
Tapping into the creative energy of the universe through Kinetic Spiral. Nai-Ni Chen's signature technique is based on the principle of ever-changing universal forces of Yin and Yang. Dance phrases from Nai-Ni Chen's repertory will be taught by Yuka Notsuka who is a member of the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company.

~Tues. April 6, 11AM EST
Zhongmei Li teaches Chinese Classical Dance
Zhongmei Li will teach one of the most well-known Chinese classical dance techniques, the Duanghuang technique, based on a contemporary interpretation of the movement of the painted figures in the ancient caves of Duanhuang Grotto. The fantastic paintings in the caves were created in the Tang Dynasty by Buddhist monks traveling along the Silk Road. Zhongmei Li began her dance training at the Beijing Dance Academy, China’s foremost dance institution, and continued in the U. S.; she won full scholarships to study at both the Alvin Ailey and Martha Graham schools. In 1994, she created the Zhongmei Dance Company, with which she performed all over the United States. In addition, she has performed in many other countries, including Singapore, France, Israel, and Brazil. Zhongmei’s story is available in a non-fiction book, “A Girl Named Faithful Plum,” by Richard Bernstein.

~Wed. April 7i??, 11AM EST
Kinetic Spiral with Nai-Ni Chen
Tapping into the creative energy of the universe through Kinetic Spiral. Nai-Ni Chen's signature technique is based on the principle of ever-changing universal forces of Yin and Yang. Dance phrases from Nai-Ni Chen's repertory will be taught. Nai-Ni Chen has been hailed as a Spiritual Choreographer by Dance Magazine and is the recipient of multiple choreographic fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Nai-Ni Chen has been creating dances professionally for over thirty years in the United States. Chen has built a diverse repertory of over 80 original works and toured to major venues in the US and international contemporary dance festivals in 12 countries. She will be teaching her signature technique--KINETIC SPIRAL--which is a blend of the dynamic, ever-evolving spirit of contemporary dance and the grace and splendor of the Chinese artistic traditions.

~Thurs. April 8, 11 AM EST
Kinetic Spiral with Greta Campo
Greta Campo is the Associate Artistic Director of the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company. She began her dance training in her native Milan at the Carcano Theater, where she was first introduced to Martha Graham’s work. She performed with the Martha Graham Dance Company in their 2012 New York Season and later on their international tour. Greta is a recipient of the 2016 Rising Star Award from the Fini Dance Festival.

~Fri. April 9, 11AM EST
Rei Akazawa-Smith teaches Modern (Taylor-inspired)
Join Rei Akazawa-Smith for an exciting Modern dance class. Rei has danced with the Paul Taylor Dance Company, as well as working with Mihi Orihara, HT Chen and others. Rei Akazawa-Smith was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan, where she began her ballet training in the technique of the Royal Academy of Dance under the direction of Yuko Kojima. She has more recently danced with H.T. Chen and Dancers, Douglas Dunn and Dancers, and played the role of Eliza in The King and I at Walnut Street Theater in Philadelphia. She participated in The Taylor School Summer Intensive in 2012 and was asked to join Taylor 2 immediately afterward. Since joining the company, she has also appeared with Paul Taylor Dance Company.

~~Experience the power of diverse dance!   :-)