Contemporary Intermediate to Advanced Class
In this class, Qiu Yin hopes to create a space where participants can discover more about their bodies and grow their confidence in their innate creativity and self-expression. Through various exercises, participants will be encouraged to engage all their senses to cultivate a deeper appreciation for their bodies that were lovingly made by God. For dancers, this self-awareness is more important than technical abilities — it forms the foundation for learning all kinds of dance, and even shapes our daily lives beyond the studio. By the end of this class, Qiu Yin hopes that participants will leave excited to apply a new level of confidence to their movement expression, and a deeper appreciation of how dance nourishes all parts of our lives.
For dancers with at least two years of consistent Contemporary or Ballet training. Ideal for dance enthusiasts, pre-professionals, and professionals who have a solid understanding of their bodies and are seeking to challenge themselves while enjoying the rigour of structured dance training.
***Thread Dance Centre reserves the right to assess participants’ skill levels during the open class and reassign them to breakout sessions that best align with their technical abilities.
Trainer for Contemporary Intermediate - Advanced Class
About Chen Qiu Yin
CHEN Qiu-Ying previously served as an associate artistic director and rehearsal director for Cloud Gate 2 and a dancer for Cloud Gate Dance Theatre.
Her outstanding performances on the stage have received wide acclaim and garnered her numerous awards. As a dance student at the National Institute of the Arts (now Taipei National University of the Arts), CHEN was named by the National Theater as a rising star and received the Youth Stars Art Scholarship for four consecutive years. After graduating in 1991, she joined Cloud Gate Dance Theatre.
In 1992, CHEN received a scholarship from the Council for Cultural Affairs to study abroad, for which she chose the United States. She received a dance fellowship from the Asian Cultural Council in 1993 and the J.S. Seidman Award for Dance in 1994. In 2001, she became a Cloud Gate dance classroom committee member.
CHEN performed in the Germany and Hong Kong tours of TAN Dun’s opera “Marco Polo.” She also participated in the performances of dance companies headed by Elisa MONTE, Mary ANTHONY, and Loren MACDOUGALL, serving as the rehearsal assistant for a performance choreographed by Elisa MONTE for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. After earning a master’s degree in dance from New York University, CHEN returned to Taiwan, where she taught at the National Institute of the Arts (now Taipei National University of the Arts) School of Dance as a guest lecturer.
CHEN’s important roles in Cloud Gate Dance Theatre productions include the green snake in “The Tale of the White Serpent” and a witch in “Nine Songs.” She also took part in the productions “Songs of the Wanderers,” “Moon Water,” “My Nostalgia, My Songs,” “Portrait of the Families,” and Helen LAI’s “The Story of Nu Wa.” Her ample and diverse performance experiences have allowed her to serve as a bridge between young dancers and choreographers.
CHEN also collaborated with other artists during her time at Cloud Gate. She traveled to Hong Kong in 2005 to work with local dancers on “Individual Dreams… Shared Bed.” In 2007 and 2008, she collaborated with composer Gordon CHIN, at his personal invitation, in his productions “The Drowning Dancer” and “Liebe und Tod”. In 2009, she directed the performances “Happy Forest” and “The Secret of Christmas Gifts” of National Concert Hall’s “Happy Baby Musical Activities” series, with both receiving excellent reviews.
Between 2018 and 2020, CHEN served as the artistic director of Chiayi New Style Choreography. In 2020, she worked as the co-creator and rehearsal director in KU Ming-shen and Lee Hsiao-ping’s production of “Doppler Effect.” In 2021, Chen served as executive director for Weiwuying's self-produced light opera "The Forgotten Maria.
CHEN is currently a Christian research think tank in Taiwan and one of the prophetic dance co-workers of Tamkang Church.