Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company Celebrates Lunar New Year at NJPAC

Performances feature world premieres honoring Chinese and Portuguese cultures

Jan. 30, 2026 at 12:07pm

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The renowned Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company is set to celebrate the Lunar New Year with a special program at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) on February 14-15, 2026. The performances will feature world premieres that blend Chinese and Portuguese folk dance traditions, including a new collaborative work with the Rancho Camponeses do Minho, Newark's traditional Portuguese folklore ensemble.

Why it matters

The Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company has been a staple of the Lunar New Year celebrations at NJPAC for 30 years, bringing the vibrant cultures of China and the local Newark community to life through dance. This year's program continues that tradition while also forging new artistic connections with Newark's Portuguese community, highlighting the city's rich immigrant history.

The details

The Year of the Horse program will debut three world premieres, including a Dai Duet showcasing a rarely seen Chinese folk style from Yunnan Province, Mongolian Harvest celebrating the horse culture of Inner Mongolia, and "Vira of the Red Horse," a collaborative work with the Rancho Camponeses do Minho. The performances will also feature a work-in-progress piece, Mythical Echs, inspired by the Dunhuang caves. The program will be accompanied by acclaimed Chinese musicians Liang Xing Tang on pipa and Yi Yang on guzheng.

  • The performances will take place on Saturday, February 14 and Sunday, February 15, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.
  • A special Dragon Parade will kick off the festivities at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 14, starting at NJPAC and processing to the Newark Museum.

The players

Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company

A renowned international touring dance company founded by Chinese American choreographer Nai-Ni Chen, now led by Artistic Director Greta Campo and Executive Director Andy Chiang.

Andy Chiang

The Executive Director of the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company, who has helped guide the company's growth and artistic vision.

Rancho Camponeses do Minho

Newark's traditional Portuguese folklore ensemble operating under the Sport Club Português, collaborating with the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company for the first time.

Liang Xing Tang

A National Heritage Fellow and acclaimed pipa master performing with the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company.

Yi Yang

A guzheng master and 2026 Heritage Fellowship recipient from the NJ State Council on the Arts, performing with the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company.

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What they’re saying

“Nai-Ni first came to the US at age 18 as a dance ambassador in a group called Youth Goodwill Mission of China (Taiwan). She had a very, very rewarding cultural exchange experience and believes that these encounters will be her direction in life.”

— Andy Chiang, Executive Director, Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company

“Giving each other respect and value is therefore fundamental to the immigrant experience and is thus inherent in the Company's vision.”

— Andy Chiang, Executive Director, Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company

What’s next

The Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company will continue its annual Lunar New Year celebration at NJPAC, building on the success of this year's program and exploring new artistic collaborations that honor the diverse cultures of Newark and the surrounding region.

The takeaway

The Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company's Lunar New Year performances at NJPAC exemplify the power of dance to bridge cultural divides, celebrate immigrant communities, and create joyful, shared experiences that enrich the local Newark community.