Audience Reviews

AUDIENCE REVIEW: H.T. Chen & Dancers

Company:
H,T. Chen & Dancers

Performance Date:
February 2, 2025

Freeform Review:

What a pleasure to see H.T. Chen & Dancers in the Downstairs Theater at LaMaMa, the venue where they started their performing career years ago.  I have learned that recent years have offered serious challenges to the Company, including a fire that destroyed their Chinatown studios and theater, and the passing of H.T. Chen.  The Company returns as polished and revelant as I remember them from past years,

Their concert showed two of their works inspired by Chinese history and experiences.  "Big Brother," choreographed by 2007 by H.T. and Dian Dong, now the excellent director of the Company, and "Hidden Voices," created in 1993 by H.T.  Not only are these fine pieces of choreography, they are learning experiences about Chinese history.   Both show H.T.'s extensive dance vocabulary and his ability to speak through dance.

Completing the program was "Heart of Grace," from 2004, a celebration of the Lunar New Year - the Year of the Horse.  Again, a presentation unique to the Company, performed by a group of dancers, dressed to the nines and all smiles, moving about the audience passing out fortune cookies, and followed by an exciting Lion Dance.

The performance was rich with all the excellence, friendliness, and warmth of past events.  Director Dian Dong is obviously keeping to the high standard and style that makes this Company so important and unique. For me, it was wonderful to see their return.