Jessica Chen is the Founder and Artistic Director of J CHEN PROJECT.  She is a global artist with a base in Santa Barbara and New York City.  Chen received a B.A. in Global Studies from the University of California in Santa Barbara and continued her dance training in NYC at The Ailey School and Earl Mosley’s Institute of the Arts, where she received a full scholarship.

At the Earl Mosley’s Institute of the Arts, Chen worked with choreographers such as Sharon Wong, Juan Rodriguez of Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Julian Barnett, Camille A. Brown and Darcy Naganuma.

She has taught master classes, workshops and seminars at institutions such as Columbia University – Barnard College, Semester at Sea, Yale University, Boston University, Do-One (Japan), Jazz DU Funk (China), Mt. Holyoke, and Orange County School of the Arts, as well as her alma mater.

As a commercial dancer, Jessica has danced in music videos such as Ecko Red with Vanessa Hudgens and “her Hair is on Fire” with Semi Precious Weapons. She also toured internationally with hip hop artist and judge of America’s Best Dance Crew, Lil’ Mama.

Chen was honored as Keynote Speaker at Cornell University’s Celebration of Asian American Women for her work empowering female leadership within the community.  She presented “If I Can Dance It, Then It’s Possible” at the 2014 TEDx organized by Semester at Sea. Her work has been featured internationally, at the 2010 World Expo USA Pavilion- Shanghai, China and the Amnesty International Arts Festival- Washington D.C.