During this landmark season, the Company has appeared in New York at the Henry Street Playhouse and their own Mulberry Street Theatre; also on tour in the East and Texas. Following the La MaMa season, they will set off on tour again for residencies and performances in nine cities throughout the U.S. The Chinatown-based Company has also been honored this season with the 2002 NEW YORK STATE GOVERNOR'S ARTS AWARD "for outstanding arts achievement and contribution to communities throughout the State." Shanghai-born H.T. Chen was the proud recipient of this honor at a star-studded event held last November at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

For this special season, H.T. will present the World Premiere of a new work to a specially commissioned score by Ushio Torakai, to be performed live. This work has received support from the Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust - Live Music for Dance Program.

Jennifer Dunning observed: "H.T. Chen has managed over the years to blend traditional Chinese dance and Western modern dance in ways that allow the traditional to retain its identity." (The New York Times, May 2002). H.T. will revive one of his most notable fusion works for this season - the 1993 "Opening the Gate," charged with intricate group formations, martial arts references, and percussive rhythms, set to an original score by Bradley Kaus.

Completing the performance will be a short documentary film by Don Quinn Kelley on the 25-year history of CHEN & DANCERS.

MetLife Foundation is the proud sponsor of H.T. Chen Dance Company's 25th Anniversary Season.

Chen & Dancers has received support from the Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust - Live Music for Dance Program New York State Council on the Arts New York City Department of Cultural Affairs J.P. Morgan Chase Carnegie Corporation New York Community Trust Alan J. Gerson Verizon Corporation.