Here We Root
Here We Root
Here We Root is an original contemporary dance inspired by Asian immigrants' stories, focusing on the Chinese diaspora in Queens, New York. It invite audiences to experience, reflect, and celebrate Asian immigrant identities and experiences. The piece combines movements with text, theatre, and an original score to bring the audience an inspiring and touching performing arts experience. The performance is created by Queens-based choreographer Jiemin Yang in collaboration with the performers and collaborators. It was premiered at the Queens Botanical Garden, NYC in 2022.
Public Performance
Sat, Jan 13th, 2024, AAPI Dance Festival at APAP
When: 3:15–5:15pm
Location: The Ailey Studios
CREATIVE TEAM
Artistic Director & Choreographer & Producer
Jiemin Yang
Jiemin is a Chinese-American dancer, choreographer, film maker, and graphic designer based in Queens. He holds a MA in Contemporary Dance from London Contemporary Dance School and a BS in Dance and Graphic Design from Macaulay Honors College. He has been a recipient of 2020 & 2022 New Works Grant from Queens Council on the Arts. He has performed in multiple cities in Europe, the UK, and the US. He was commissioned to create dance works for the Making Moves Dance Festival 2019 hosted by Jamaica Performing Arts Center (JPAC) and Emerging Choreographer Series ’17 hosted by Mare Nostrum Elements and LaGuardia Performing Arts Center. He also presented his works at Ailey Citigroup Theatre, The Mark O’Donnell Theatre, Auditório do Parque da Devessa in Portugal. He has performed with Kinesis Project at ourdoor space at the Riverside Park and Snug Harbor Cultural Center. His dance film Wo/我 received Best Short Narrative Award ’22 at the DisOrient Asian American Film Festival of Oregon. He has been recognized as Artist of Exceptional Merit ’22 by Asian Arts Alliance. He is currently a resident artist of CUNY Dance Initiative at Queens College/Kupferberg Center for the Arts. He is one of the awardees of the Art Commissioning Program 2021 with Queens Council on the Arts.
Dancer/Performer
Tsubasa Nishioka
He was born in Japan and started ballet. Also he stared modern and contemporary later. In 2017 he accepted to The Ailey School and got scholarship in 2018. He had also performed at “Ailey Sprit Gala” with Alvin Ailey’s “Battlefield” at Lincoln Center. He had also worked with Fumihito Shimizu, NBA Dance Company, Omar Roman de Jesus, Darshan Bhuller and Marcus Jarrell Wills. Now he is member of i KADA contemporary Dance Company, Vashti Dance Theater and Yu.S.Artistry. He also awarded include 1st place in the Chiba Select Young Dancer’s Performance, 3rd place in the Saitama Dance Competition, 3rd place in the Dance Competition in Sendai and 2nd place in the NBA National Ballet Competition.
Dancer/Performer
Mayu
Mayu Yamashita (she/her) is originally from Tokyo, Japan. She was a long-term learning “Kendo” Japanese Martial Arts and began her dance training at the age of 20 after being inspired by several dance musical films. In 2015, she moved to New York City to major in the International Independent Study Program (IISP) at Steps on Broadway. She trained in theater jazz, contemporary, lyrical, ballet, hip hop, and street jazz under the tutelage of Richard Pierlon, Al Blackstone, Max Stone, Derek Mitchell, and more. After graduating, Mayu gained experience as a dancer, singer, choreographer, and Japanese drum performer in New York City, including performances at the Beacon Theater, the JAZZ at Lincoln Center, the United Nations, the Rainbow Room of Rockefeller Center, the Javits Center, and the Theater for both NYC and overseas. Recently, Mayu has been interested in collaborating with artists, not only dancers, through her project DISSODANCE. It is a platform for artists to come together and create new and innovative work. Mayu believes that dance can be a powerful tool for communication and expression.
Dancer/Performer
Maya Lam
Maya Lam is an Asian-American dancer, choreographer, and interdisciplinary artist. She is a graduate of Marymount Manhattan College, where she earned a BFA in Dance with a concentration in Ballet, a BA in Business with a concentration in Media & Arts Management, and a minor in Biology. At Marymount, Maya performed works by Sidra Bell, Jessica Lang, Jenn Freeman, Michael Waldrop, Yin Yue, and Nancy Lushington. Maya has also created and shared works through Marymount's Dancers at Work Performance Series and Marymount's screenPLAY. Maya is interested in investigative processes that challenge societal ideals and power structures. She strives to comment on these concepts with a multifaceted approach.
Dancer/Performer
Angie Lu
Angie Lu is an Asian-American Dancer. She was born in California and raised up in Taiwan. She holds a MFA from NYU/Tisch School of the Arts. Being at NYU, she performed choreography by Bobbi Jene Smith and Crystal Pite. After graduating, she has join Shen Wei Dance Arts contemporary dance company. Besides, Angie is a comprehensive certified Pilates instructor.
IG:@angieluarts
Dancer/Performer
Kathy Chen
Born in Beijing, China, Kathy is a New York based dancer and choreographer. At NYU and post graduation, she worked with student organizations to choreograph and performed at Jack H. Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, PlayStation Theater, and Irving Plaza. She also has a passion for dance education. Currently, she is a lead teacher and staff at Dance to Unite, a nonprofit organization that utilizes dance as a vehicle to teach cultural diversity and social emotional learning at New York public schools.
Actress/Dancer/Performer
Shan Y. Chuang
Shan Y. Chuang is an accomplished actor, singer, dancer, choreographer and pianist who was born and raised in Taiwan. Shan was trained in classical ballet, traditional Chinese dance and various Musical Theatre genres. She is a proud graduate of Circle in the Square’s Musical Theater program and is currently a member of Katharine Pettit Creative and LINKED Dance Theatre. Her work explores the world of LGBTQIA+, social justice, and self-discovery through dance movements.
IG @shanychuang
Primary Composer
James Acampora
James Acampora is primarily a cellist, multi-instrumentalist, visual artist, and composer for film. His music has been featured in multiple films and web series, including the Huntington film festival where his score for “Breathe” won first prize. James studied with multiple classical teachers and theorists while in school and also studied architecture and design at New York Institute of Technology. James uses his well rounded experience in the arts to understand his audience and move those who listen. James is inspired by music ranging from Bach to Japanese folk music, fusion Jazz, R&B and classic rock. James has performed in venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Voelker Orth Heritage Museum, The Triad NYC, The NYC Subway, Central Park, The Greene Room, The Tilles Center, countless catering halls throughout NYC and Long Island, and is a frequent busker in NYC. James is an active session musician, scoring and performing music for video games, rock bands, singer-songwriters, and much more. In his spare time he enjoys graphic design and coding on his computer, as well as painting and drawing at different beautiful locations in NYC and Long Island.
Composer
Darren Huang
Born in Toronto, raised in Beijing, and now based in Los Angeles, Darren often borrows from his multicultural identity to compose music for film and documentaries, lending a unique voice to each story yet to be told.
A classically trained pianist and a former intern at Hans Zimmer’s production company, Darren has received high praise from acclaimed TV and film composers including Harry Gregson-Williams (Shrek) and Jeff Beal (House of Cards). In Spring 2022, he was selected to attend the prestigious ASCAP/Columbia Film Scoring Workshop, where he composed an original score for the short film Claudia (dir. Erin Ramirez), which later on entered NewFest 2022.
An author by night, Darren published an autobiographical novel titled The Impermanent Light in April 2021, a story in which he incorporates musical concepts and mindfulness ideologies while reflecting on his own experience of living in a foreign country.
Musician - Erhu
Danting Qiao
Danting Qiao, a young and aspiring Erhu virtuoso. She set forth on her musical journey learning Erhu and piano at the age of six and violin at the age of nine. In 2013, she was admitted by Peking University with the highest Erhu exam score and led the orchestra in various competitions. After receiving her bachelor's degree in Beijing, she continued to pursue higher education at CUNY Baruch College and graduated in the Arts Administration Masters program in 2021. Danting has received professional recognition for her performances in world-renowned venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and Hudson Opera House.
Voice Over/Actress
Chun Cho
Chun Cho is a Taiwanese actress based in New York City. Chun’s credits: A and Bea (The Public Theater), June is The First Fall (The New Ohio Theater), The Trojan Women (The Flea Theater/ Drama Desk Nominee), Caligula (The New Ohio Theater), Blind (The Living Theater), Salesman已死 (LPAC), L.EAR (Dixion Place)
Costume Designer
Hao-Yun Emily Hsieh
Hao-Yun Emily Hsieh is a Taiwanese multi-disciplinary artist with BFAs in Art and Design from YUAN-ZE University, and Fashion Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology. Her recent works focus on the theater space exploring queer and Asian narratives. She has designed costumes for Little Cinema’s rendition of The Never Ending Story at House of Yes, and Tiananmen Requiem at The Players Theatre.
Sound
Voice Over Sound Engineer: Niko Vaude
Recording Studio: Vaudeville Music Studios
IG:vaudevillestudios; FB: Vaudeville Studios
Special Thanks
Dramaturge consultant:
Dennis, Yueh-Yeh Li
&
All individual supporters and
interviewees who participated and shared
their stories in the research process
&
Dylan House from Queens Botanical Garden who host our world premiere
Transcript
Click the button below to access the transcript of the show
This project is made possible (in part) by the Queens Council on the Arts with public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and individual supporters
Make a donation
We need your support to make dance! I want to compensate my collaborators fairly and continue to create more projects inspired by the culture and people of Asian American diaspora. All donations will go toward rehearsal space rental, artists fees, and production expenses. Please consider supporting my creation! No gift is too small. You may make donation via the below methods: