The world renowned Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company is actively developing and rehearsing for a dance and music extravaganza to celebrate the coming of the Year of the Horse at NJPAC in Newark, NJ. Aside from the fantastic program on stage, audience members can also join the Company for a very special 12 course Chinese New Year banquet at the nearby Chinatown Restaurant in Harrison. Tickets for the banquet and performance can be obtained by calling the Company at (800)650-0246 or online at: www.nainichen.org/horse.  

Each year, Nai-Ni Chen selects programs and repertory that reflects the way the tradition of the Chinese New Year is celebrated in her homeland. The Year of the Horse is a wonderfully auspicious year because the horse is believed to help people advance great distances to reach their goal and destination.

For the Year of the Horse, Nai-Ni Chen has produced a program full of cultural richness with Music, Dance, a display of visual art and crafts. The audience can expect to see the Lion and Dragon, two of the most must-meet animals that rise as a symbol of prosperity on the occasion of the Lunar New Year. The musical selection, performed by the Chinese Music Ensemble of New York, will include ancient Sheng Music: Rise of the Golden Phoenix and famous Mongolian Melody: On the Grassland. Nai-Ni Chen has also choreographed a special Dai Minority Dance, Peacocks Under the Moonlight, which will be accompanied by live Chinese instrumental music.

The great Arabian horses were introduced to China during the Tang Dynasty. This period in history is reflected in the Peking Opera excerpt, The Exodus of Princess Zhao Jun, which tells the story of a Han Princess, who is being married to the Mongolian Tribes in order to avoid confrontation and war. Her journey goes through the difficult western land leading to the Silk Road. This dance will be performed by Yong-Hong Jia, member of the Beijing Kun Opera Company and Yao Zhong Zhang, who was a member of the Shanghai Kunqu Company. This excerpt is a classic showcase of the classical dance movement in Chinese Opera.

In contrast to the ancient Chinese Opera, Nai-Ni Chen will also present the New Jersey premiere of Whirlwind II, a reflection of a contemporary journey on the Silk Road which she took on in 2010 across northwestern China. “…it’s the dancers who transform this history lesson/travel diary into an immediate and marvelous contemporary dance experience.” says dance writer Philip Gardener of Oberon’s Grove.

Once the performance ends, the Company and its Board of Directors sincerely invite the audience to join us in for a gala banquet at the Chinatown Restaurant in Harrison. As we celebrate the 25th year of the Company’s establishment, this Year of the Horse celebration will be one of the most festive events on the calendar.

Info:
Year of the Horse Celebration
Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company
New Jersey Performing Arts Center
Online: http://www.njpac.org/events/detail/nai-ni-chen-dance-company
Phone: (888)GO-NJPAC
Performance ticket price: $27/$15

Gala Banquet
Chinatown Restaurant, 218 Harrison Ave, Harrison, NJ 07029
12-Course Banquet, Feast of the Great Kahn (costume/dress encouraged)
Ticket (including performance): Adult $125 Senior $93.75 Children $62.50
nainichen.org/horse

Dancers:
Greta Campo
Justin Dominic
Jenna Graves
Eun Kyung Hong
Daniel Johnson
Yoo Sik Kim
Kristen Lau
Shao-Yang Li
Ying Shi
Yao Zhong Zhang
Min Zhou