Ep. 8: Jessica Chen
A conversation on creating environments that allow our work to flourish.
Good morning, Friends.
I am absolutely hungover from a long day of podcast editing yesterday. I get into these zones where I work from the second I wake up to the second I go to sleep. I am not saying this is healthy, in fact it is objectively not, but it works for me right now when I have a lot of free days at my disposal. Work hard until I absolutely can’t, and then reset however I need to. I’m a work in progress, okay?
Today that meant sleeping past 9am, which is very unusual for me as an early bird. I also awoke with my lower back crying out in pain and a hint of achilles pain so I decided to skip the gym and sit on the couch with my coffee and lemon water. The elliptical has become my sanctuary - a way to get my heart rate up without having to jump or run, which historically has been hard on my sensitive joints. Getting my heart rate up has proven VITAL for my mental health…but it’s all about balancing our complex needs, which is why today I am on the couch instead.
I had some wild dreams last night, but the one that impacted me the most upon waking was the simplest one. It was a gentle ballet class and I was just really happy to be there, giving attention to my body. I was “on my leg,” which basically means that my body was supporting itself and I was able to balance with ease. It felt different than when I would say that when I was training as a dancer. It wasn’t like “I’m on my leg, look at me, look what I can do” in the not so humble brag kind of way that the phrase “booked and blessed” is thrown around. It was “wow, look at this hard work I put into this class, and let’s FEEL how beautiful the outcome can be.” Feel.
Good work, hard work, in a productively challenging class, brought me to this point where I was extremely content with an underlying feeling of pride. Not for a big job that I booked or some huge feat…just a simple pas de bourree into a passé balance. Look at what I am able to feel. That can be enough.
New podcast episode is out today, and all the information is below. Thank you for being here, always.
Love,
Jess
Today’s guest on The Story Project is Jessica Chen — an American dancer, choreographer, and Founder & Artistic Director of J CHEN PROJECT, a 501c3 nonprofit contemporary dance company.
Her work has been presented at MoMA, Lincoln Center’s Restart Stages, Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, and MACY’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, to name a few. She’s currently on the director's team for The Messenger at Palm Beach Dramaworks and will next be choreographing Cabaret at Center Repertory Company.
In today’s episode, Jessica discusses the ins and outs of establishing her own dance company, what she looks for in cast members and collaborators in her commercial theater projects, and the kind of supportive environment she establishes as a leader (and requires from others).
We dive into what it means to be truly safe in a working environment, how we’ve been taken advantage of in the past, and how fearful yet important it is to use our voices to address issues within the industry.
Jessica C. then flips the mic and asks me some questions about my own healing journey and what comes next.
Jessica is someone I want to work with time and time and time again. She is devoted to her work, committed to the industry’s evolution, and overall just a GOOD human being. The latter is what I value the most.
Thank you for being here, and please enjoy Episode 8* of The Story Project.
*TW; this episode mentions sexual harassment and assault.
Follow along on Jessica’s journey: @jessicachen.arts
This offering is for current college dancers. However… I’ve heard there may be some interest in a group like this for post-grad / professional performers. Is that you? Would you want to join a free virtual support group to process our experiences? Let me know here!
