Ashley Chen

Performing solos from the work of Merce Cunningham

Solo Forest
4:45–5:45 pm
Parkway Trees, outside

Ashley Chen trained at the Paris Conservatoire in Paris and moved to New York in 2000 to join the Merce Cunningham Dance Company. After four years he returned to France to join the Lyon Opera Ballet, performing works by Trisha Brown, William Forsythe, Christian Rizzo, Mathilde Monnier, and Philippe Decouflé. As a freelance dancer, he collaborates throughout Europe with choreographers such as John Scott, Liz Roche, Michael Clark, Jean-Luc Ducourt, Michele Ann de Mey, Philippe Decouflé, Boris Charmatz, and Mié Coquempot. Chen has created his own work since 2013.

Chen will perform excerpts from Merce Cunningham’s Second Hand (1970), Suite for Five (1956), RainForest (1968), Change Steps (1973), and BIPED (1999). Merce Cunningham (1919-2009) was a leader of the American avant-garde. With a 70-year career distinguished by constant innovation, Cunningham expanded the frontiers not only of dance, but also of contemporary visual and performing arts.

Choreography by Merce Cunningham © The Merce Cunningham Trust. Merce Cunningham’s choreography is performed by Ashley Chen with the permission and support of the Merce Cunningham Trust. All rights reserved. Presented as part of the Cunningham Centennial Celebration.