Chen Wen has been dancing professionally for 11 years. He has a wealth of experience, performing throughout the world and collaborating with internationally renowned choreographers such as Graeme Murphy, Stephen Petronio, Jacopo Godani, Aszure Barton, Emmanuel Gat and Raphael Bonachela.
At age 11, Chen Wen was chosen from thousands of hopefuls to work and study at the prestigious Peoples Liberation Army Arts Academy Dance School. From age 11 to age 16 he was given the most rigorous daily training in Contemporary Dance, Chinese Traditional Dance and Acrobatics.
In 2000, he became principal dancer with the PLA Red Star Dance Company, touring to seven European countries. Later that year he joined the Ji’nan Frontier Song and Dance Ensemble as a principal dancer, where he remained until 2003. During this time Chen Wen was the recipient of several important awards including a choreographic prize at the 3rd Lotus Awards- National Dance Competition in 2003.
In 2004, he left the PLA and joined the Shanghai Song and Dance Ensemble, as a principal dancer. There he performed in many works and also toured to France.
In 2007 Chen Wen was spotted by renowned Australian choreographer Graeme Murphy and was invited to join Sydney Dance Company. Chen Wen has remained at Sydney Dance Company and has now gained permanent residency in Australia.
With Sydney Dance Company, Chen Wen has performed important roles in Graeme Murphy’s Grand (2007), Ever After Ever (2007), Berlin (2007) and Short Stories (2007); In addition to Stephen Petronio’s Underland (2007). In 2008 Chen Wen gained invaluable experience working with 3 guest choreographers. Rafael Bonachela’s 360°, Aszure Barton’s Sid’s Waltzing Masquerade and Meryl Tankard’s INUK2. In 2009 Rafael Bonachela was appointed Artistic Director at Sydney Dance Company and since then Chen Wen has featured in his works We Unfold (2009-2011); 6 Breaths (2010-2011); LANDforms (2011) and The Land Of Yes & The Land of No (2011).
In addition he has worked with several guest Choreographers such as Kenneth Kvarnstrom’s Mercury (2009); Emanuel Gat’s Satisfying Musical Moments (2010); and Jacopo Godani Raw Models (2011). In November/December 2011, Chen Wen was part of the highly acclaimed tour of Between Breath & Form to New York, Barcelona and London.
Keen to advance his choreography skills Chen Wen has created several works in which he has featured, including a solo work titled MIRAGE for Ji’Nan frontier Song and Dance Ensemble, a duo work SYMBOL for City Of Sydney Chinese New Year and most recently HISTROY REPEATING and NOT MYSLEF TONIGHT for Sydney Dance Company’s Dance Noir.
In 2011 Chen Wen was awarded an Australian Big Ben Award for Outstanding talent.
Chen Wen is in the peak of his career in terms of fitness, experience, motivation and maturity and is keen to explore new frontiers and new collaborations.
