Patricia Chen, choreographer, dancer, performer
Born in Princeton, New Jersey, USA in 1960. Has lived and worked in France since 1993. University studies at Stanford University. Received a national grant for the Professional Training Program at the Merce Cunningham studio and studied under Merce from 1985-1987 inclusive.
Bachelor of Arts with Honors, Founders Award, New York University 1993.
Professional Freelance Contemporary dancer with 12 compagnies in New York, 1980-1993 performing at: Dance Theater Workshop, PS1, Joyce Theater, Prospect Park festival, Lincoln Center, etc…
Moved to Bordeaux where she has been an artist/teacher in the English language at the EBABX Fine arts school in Bordeaux since 1999.
2025
Residency, creation, and cultural mediation project, with a grant from the Drac (Direction regional des Affaires culturelles), Nouvelle-Aquitaine, l’été Culturel: « Generation Cocktail » and “Golden Remix” intergenerational residencies and public presentations at the Museum des Cordeliers à St Jean d’Angély
May: Erasmus teaching exchange to Portugal. Taught a practical workshop on Performance in the Public space at ESMAD, Porto
March: 5-day workshop on choreography using chance operations and public showing at the EBABX, L’école des beaux-arts de Bordeaux
2024
June: Residency and videodance project « Conversation deux femmes » with Linxi Li, Chinese performance artist from Chengdu
20 July: Performance of « Nobody’s Home » at the Royal Abbey of St Jean-d’Angély with the support of l’Eté Culturel of the Drac Nouvelle Aquitaine and the Maison François Méchain
August: international, intergenerational videodance project: « Golden » in collaboration with video artist Nikola Raghoonauth. Co-production Chendance / Oakspace
2023
9-11 June: Creative residency and performance under the auspices of the Agence Créative in the Landes Forest, in Ousse Suzan for La nuit des Forêts, national cultural event
16-18 June: Creative residency with Cie Chendance at l’Avant-Poste, Maison des arts et de la
convivialité, La Réole, Gironde. Shooting of vidéodance « Plurielles » with artist Nikola Raghoonauth.
21-23 July: Residencies, workshops and performances of Fading to White and Startle Reaction with Cie Chendance and participants in the workshop in St Jean d'Angély, Charente-Maritime in partnership with the MFM, with the support of the Drac Nouvelle Aquitaine.
2022
24-29 January, residency at the CDN (National Dramatic arts center) of Normandie-Rouen and creation of a role in the creation: Sola Gratia by author/theatre director Yacine Sif el Islam and set designer Benjamin Yousfi. 1 avril 2022: performance at Espace 29 of « The Bunker » with Ukrainian artist Denys Zhdanov in support for Ukrainian artists in collaboration with Nadia Larina. 9 April 2022: interpréter/performer for the conference/performance Sphincterographie by and with Steven Cohen at the festival à Corps at the TAP theater, Poitiers.
May 4, 2022 at BAG Bakery Art Gallery, Bordeaux, the « Bunker » with Denys Zhdanov for Ukraine Amitié.
19 June : performed Sola Gratia for the Semaine de la Fierté (Gay Pride), Espace St Rémi, Bordeaux.
26 juin 2022: Performed Sola Gratia for the 20th anniversary of the Métive writing residency in La Creuse, France
July 2022: residency, workshop and performances of Fading to White and Startle Reaction with
Chendance and participants of the workshop at the CMAC Arts abd Crafts festival, in the cloister of Chalais
August-September 2022: Résidency MFM (La Maison François Méchain) with Marcelle Gressier:
Creation of the piece Les Gestes qui parlent
17-18 september 2022: performances of Les Gestes qui parlent for the Journées du Patrimoine (historical monument day) at the Roman church St-Pierre d’Aulnay in collaboration with Nicole Vitré Méchain, with the support of the Drac Nouvelle Aquitaine
Octobre 2022 appears in a video by and with Meg Eginton as part of the exhibition « JAM
Changing Spaces » at MOMA NYC, New York
2021
August: presents the solo « Unbound » (developed with the complicity of Steven Cohen), at the festival PERFORM at the Domaine de Nodris, Médoc. Second project Vanlife II in September 2021, including performing « Unbound » at the inauguration of the Maison François Méchain, giving workshops in the Art specialty program of the Lycée Bellevue, Saintes, and at the association Enfant Soleil for children in a situation of handicap in Angoulême. In September 2021, collaboration with the American choreographer, Lauri Stallings on an international project at the MECA art center, Bordeaux, and performing at the ZOU! Festival in Charente.
17 october, Patricia presents two solos « Feel » and «Mahler vs. Malheur» in situ as part of an itinerant exhibition of female artists « Les Soeurcières » at l’Avant-Poste, a culturel and community center in La Réole. 1-8 August: Guest artists in the « Vanlife » project produced by Sarah Touche and
Cie. Winterstory in the Wild Jungle with the support of the Drac, Nouvelle Aquitaine. The project included performances and cultural initiation activities at the l’Atelier IMIS, Hameau de la Brousse, the town of Cognac, Center socio-culturel FLEP in Soyaux, CSC of Confolens, Centre d’animation du Grand Font, Angoulême
2020
Patricia Chen leads a choreographic workshop at the Mad’art Theatre in Carthage, Tunisia. In September 2020, she is awarded an artist grant from the FRAC (Fond Regional d’Art Contemporain)
To create the solo « Feel » and presents it at Oakspace, as well as the première of « Fading to White » inspired by the Winter Journal by Paul Auster. In March 2020 Patricia’s work with Chendance is featured on an episode of the television shox « Cultiver la Découverte » on TV7. In May, Chendance performed « Fading to White » au BAG gallery in Bordeaux.
2019
Guest artist in residency at the Tautra Mariakloster, Norway and the first performer ever to perform live in the abbey. July: presents her repertory and performs for the cultural event “Liberté” in Bordeaux at the gallery 5UN7 and at the Marché de Lerme.
American Tour of Chendance, performing repertory (10 performances) in Los Angeles and Albuquerque, NM with sponsorship from the Marc Selwyn gallery, Oguri House dance creation studio, Pacific Palisades Arts Academy, Studio Sway, Los Angeles First night festival, Palisades Church, etc
2018
Choreographer and dancer in collaboration with Korean artist Seung Hee Choe at CAPC museum, Bordeaux.
Performance of the solo “Vers toi” for the “Monsters" Festival at the Aux Dog Theater, Albuquerque, USA.
2015
November: creation « Branches », in the context of the « l’Art en coulisse » itinerant festival in
Bordeaux.
Workshop and performance of repertory with Chendance at the Museo Ettore Fico in Turin, Italy.
2014
Guest artist in an artist residency in Turin by invitation from artist Tere Recarens: creation of a videodance “Torino in three movements” in collaboration with Scarlette Dalton.
2013
Performs in Suite No. 1 a creation by the Encyclopédie de la Parole, directed by Joris Lacoste.
2011
Creation and performance of « Nobody’s Home » for the international dance festival, les Grandes Traversées in Bordeaux
2003
Creation: « Tribe » and performances with composer Gyorgi Kurtag at l’Imprimerie Boucherie, artist run space, Bordeaux, and the Festival: Les Jardins d’Alice, Libourne
2000-2004
Choreographer in residence in Paris for projects of videodance in collaboration with Sandrine Vivier and the Association 100 Transitions
2003
Creation: Tant que c’est chaud, public presentation at the Conservatoire de Bordeaux
2002
Patricia Chen founds the company CHENDANCE in Sousmoulins in Charente Maritime and her space for creation, residency and teaching, Oakspace
2001
CHENDANCE in residency at l’Imprimerie Boucherie, Bordeaux
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Patricia Chen was born in Princeton, New Jersey, USA and started ballet and piano lessons at the age of 5. In 1976, her family moved to Los Angeles, where she embarked on a career as a concert pianist with the Young Artist’s Guild. She discovered contemporary dance with the Beverly Hills Modern Dance Theater Group (Master classes with Lar Lubovitch Co. and LA Moving Co.). From 1978 to 1980 she did University studies at Stanford University, working with the dancers in the Masters program under the direction of Inga Weiss, former soloist with Mary Wigman.
At the American Dance Festival in 1980, she studied choreography with Daniel Nagrin and with his encouragement, moved to New York to dance. She studied classical dance with Jocelyn Lorenz and the legendary Maggie Black, and contemporary with Ruth Currier (Jose Limon Co.). In 1985, she received a national scholarship to train at the Merce Cunningham studio (Professional Training Program) and took class with the company for two years. During the 1980s she danced freelance with the companies: Gina Buntz, Meg Eginton (Cunningham), Harry Sheppard, Muna Tseng, Carol Clements, Amy Pivar (Bill T.Jones), Janet Lilly, Joanne Fregalette Jansen, Ruby Shang, Johanna Boyce, Mitch Kirsch, Leava Hall and Diane Martel (Cabaret and nightclub performances) at: Dance Theater Workshop, Joyce Theater, Lincoln Center, Prospect Park, St. Mark’s Church, DIA Dance Foundation, PS 1, PS 122, New York Art Academy, l’Embassade des Services Culturels Francaises, Settlement House, Harkness House, White Dog Studio, The Saint club, Midtown Y, l’Espace Go, Montreal, and was in residence in Chester, PA, and Corning, NY.
Her first choreographic pieces (solos) were presented at the Judy Trupin Space and the RAPP Arts Center, NY in 1990. Patricia went back to study the Humanities at New York University and received the Bachelor of Arts with honors in 1993. She followed the father of her daughter to Bordeaux, France, where she now teaches at the Ecole des beaux-arts, the Regional Conservatory, Estba (Ecole Supérieur de Théâtre Bordeaux/Aquitaine), and does research and translation for LA COMA/Michel Schweizer, the FRAC de Bourgogne and many magazines, books and museums of contemporary art, including translation of American poetry at the Fondation Royaumont.
Patricia has twice been choreographer in residency in Paris on two difference video dance projects with Sandrine Vivier and 100 Transitionsand has worked in Bordeaux with the video artists Etienne Hacquin and Judit Kurtag, whose collaborative works have been seen in film festivals all over the world. Her company, CHENdance, evolved from three years of residency at the Imprimerie Boucherie in Bordeaux. She choreographed Tant que c’est chaud (2003), and Tribe (2006) which was performed in Bordeaux and Nérigean, several times with the composer, Gyorgi Kurtag, improvising live music.
Patricia was guest choreographer at the Ecole du Cirque (circus school) to choreograph projects for the professional program which were presented at the Jeunes Cirques d’Aquitaines competition in 2008 and 2009. She has worked with the Grandes Traversées festival since 2005: performing with Jared Gradinger and the Pictoplasmas in 2010, giving workshops, acting as interpreter for radio and press conferences. For the 2011 festival she choreographed and danced in Nobody’s Home, a collaboration with video artist Aurore Aulong, which was performed at the Casino de Bordeaux.
Patricia participated in the Matanicola workshop in Bordeaux in 2009 and in Berlin in 2010, where she met members of Fattoria Vittadini (Francesca, Pier, Riccardo, Cesare), who were in residency at her space, Oakspace, with Amit Zamir and other members of the company, and also gave two workshops (Riccardo/Cesare and Pier/Olympe) there.
Oakspace is a multi-disciplinary cultural space in Charente Maritime for developing projects and encouraging exchange between dancers and other artists from all over the world, which Patricia has created and manages.
Other performances include: a performance at TNT with scenographer Nadia Lauro, in the festival Imaginez Maintenant; with the Woudipingtao quartet; with saxophonist Alfonso Losano, and dancing in a video for the American/German rock group, The Durgas. Performing in Suite No. 1, with the Encyclopédie de la Parole (Joris Lacoste) at the TNBA (Theatre National Bordeaux Aquitaine) in the Chahuts festival in 2013; playing the role of the pianist in a full-length film, HOTDOG, by Julie Chaffort, a project of the Centre International d’Art et du Paysage à Vassivières.
Choreography and directing credits include: a fashion show for ESMOD, the short film: “La Découverte” with Hollywood director, Michael Allowitz. Short films with the co. Le Dernier Strapontin, and Louis Zebo.
Teaching: workshops of videodance with Aurore Aulong, and in many other contexts.
In July, 2014 the Spanish artist/performer, Tere Recarens invited Patricia to participate in an artists’ residency in Torino, with the support of Riccardo Ronchi, where she made a video dance with Scarlett Dalton and dancers from Torino in and around the city.
Since January, 2014 Patricia has been working with a new configuration of her company, CHENdance and has made videos and a new choreographic piece, “Branches”, which will be performed in Bordeaux as part of the Synop6 art tour and at the Ettore Fico Museum in Torino in November, 2015, along with a new quartet version of Nobody’s Home.
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Patricia Chen, née à Princeton, New Jersey, USA en 1960, suit des formations de danse et de piano classique dès son plus jeune âge. À Los Angeles, en 1976, elle commence une carrière de pianiste concertiste avec le Young Artist’s Guild. Elle découvre la danse contemporaine avec le Beverly Hills Modern Dance Theater Group.
De 1978 à 1980 elle poursuit ses études universitaires à Stanford University, étudie la chorégraphie avec Daniel Nagrin à l’American Dance Festival et, avec son encouragement, s’installe en 1980 à New York pour danser. Elle étudie la danse classique avec Jocelyn Lorenz et la légendaire Maggie Black.
En 1985, elle reçoit une bourse nationale pour se former au Merce Cunningham studio (Professional Training Program). Durant les années ‘80 elle danse avec les compagnies de : Gina Buntz, Meg Eginton, Harry Sheppard, Muna Tseng, Carol Clements, Amy Pivar, Janet Lilly, Joanne Fregalette Jansen, Ruby Shang, Johanna Boyce, Mitch Kirsch, Leava Hall, et Diane Martel au : Dance Theater Workshop, Joyce Theater, Lincoln Center, Prospect Park, St. Mark’s Church, DIA Dance Foundation, PS 1, PS 122, New York Art Academy, au siège des Services Culturels de l’Ambassade de France à New York, Settlement House, Harkness House, White Dog Studio, The Saint club, Midtown Y, l’Espace Go, Montreal, et en résidence à Chester Springs Studio, PA, et Corning, NY (American Dance Asylum).
Ses premières pièces chorégraphiques (des solos) sont présentées au Judy Trupin Space et le RAPP Arts Center en 1990. Patricia reprends ses études à New York University et reçoit son Bachelor of Arts avec Mention en 1993. Elle suit le père de sa fille, Lani, à Bordeaux où elle enseigne à l’École des beaux-arts, le Conservatoire, l’Estba, fait des traductions et des recherches pour LA COMA/Michel Schweizer, plusieurs FRACs, diverses galeries, musées, revues et livres d’art contemporains, des scénarios de films, de la traduction collective de poésie américaine à la Fondation Royaumont avec Emmanuel Hocquard, et de la traduction simultanée pour des conférences sur l’art et la danse.
Patricia est deux fois chorégraphe en résidence à Paris sur des projets de videodanse avec Sandrine Vivier et 100 Transitions. Sa compagnie, CHENdance, s’est développée pendant trois années de résidence à l’Imprimerie Boucherie. Tant que c’est chaud (2003), et Tribe (2006) avec compositeur Gyorgi Kurtag sont créées et présentées avec cette compagnie à l’Imprimerie, au Jardin d’Alice (Nérigean) et Vibrac (Charente Maritime).
Toujours à Bordeaux, Patricia est intervenue à l’École du Cirque sur des projets de création en 2008 et 2009 menant aux concours des Jeunes Cirques d’Aquitaine. Avec le festival les Grandes Traversées depuis 2005, elle fait de la traduction simultanée pour la radio, les conférences de presse, et fait des performances avec Jared Gradinger et les Pictoplasmas en 2010. Pour l’édition 2011, elle fait une création et danse dans Nobody’s Home au Casino de Bordeaux. Dans le cadre des GT, elle anime un stage à la BEM en 2013.
Elle fait la chorégraphie pour le défilé de mode d’ESMOD, danse dans un vidéoclip pour le groupe de rock, the Durgas, fait de la performance avec Nadia Lauro au TNT et dans le cadre du festival « Imaginez Maintenant » en 2010. En 2013 Patricia joue au TNBAdans Suite No. 1, une création de l’Encyclopédie de la Parole, mise en scène par Joris Lacoste, et joue le rôle de la pianiste dans le long-métrage, HOTDOG, de Julie Chaffort, un projet du Centre International d’Art et du Paysage à Vassivière.
En juillet 2014, l’artiste/performeuse espagnol Tere Recarens l’invite à participer à une résidence d’artistes à Turin ou elle tourne une vidéodanse «Torino in three movements» avec des danseurs de Turin dans les environs de la ville. Depuis janvier 2014 elle travaille avec une nouvelle configuration de sa compagnie CHENdance avec laquelle, en novembre, 2015 elle présente une nouvelle version de Nobody’s Home au Café Pompier et la création Branches, dans le contexte du parcours « l’Art en coulisse » à Bordeaux ainsi qu’au Museo Ettore Fico à Turin, où elle a aussi projeté des vidéodanses et animé des stages pour enfants et adultes.
Depuis 2009, Patricia développe une programmation culturelle transversale et une pépinière de projets artistiques, des stages, et des résidences internationales dans son espace, «Oakspace», installé dans une grange à foin convertie en Charente-Maritime.