The Gilded Serpent presents...
Lisa Chen
of Taiwan
Born in Taipei City, Taiwan, Chen first encountered bellydance in New York City, where she studied visual arts administration for her MA degree at Fashion Institute of Technology, SUNY. She didn’t think of learning it and somehow this dance was seeded into her heart secretly since then. Years later, her beloved father’s sudden death reminded her of the fact that life is too short to waste and heath is everything to enjoy life. So Chen signed up for a bellydance class for exercise and relaxing. It gradually became a passion in her life and she wanted to know more about this wonderful dance.
The information and knowledge of bellydance was so limited then and she began to research everything she could find online or in printed matters, with her academic training as librarian and also as a translator of Chinese/English. Chen started to translate or write articles on bellydance for her local community with a pen name “Little Eye Lisa.”
While sharing information and knowledge with the growing community, Chen also continues another passion in her life: travel. Now she travels with a different focus: bellydance. She either takes classes or goes for shows whenever bellydance classes or performance is available in her trip. In order to meet with rapidly-growing interest and demands from local readers, Chen began to invite dancers, instructors or musicians for interviews and share more updated knowledge and information with local dancers and readers.
In 2005, Chen went to San Francisco attending Tribal Fest and she met with Carolena Nericcio, director of FatChanceBellyDance. She learned ATS with her and was so fascinated with the beauty of dancing together with others. In 2007, Chen organized GS Taipei Workshop and invite Carolena and Megha Gavin to teach. Now, as a bellydance student for years, Chen began to teach in order to have more people to dance with.
In 2008, Chen was diagnosed tumors around the womb and went for surgery to remove tumors. She underwent intensive hospitalization for nearly-fetal complications and struggled to recover so she could dance again. While hospitalization and recovery period, dance remains the supporting force to her.
Today, Chen continues her searching journey as a bellydancer. She not only works on developing into a dancer through Suhaila and Jamila Salimpour training, but also involves with Middle Eastern instruments learning. She joins Taibo Flower Drumming and Dancing Ensemble, a Taipei-based performing group consisting mostly of female artists.
In addition to bellydance, currently Chen lives at Taipei City and works as freelancer on project base as magazines contributor, translator, editor and copywriter for her clientele ranging from art trading, realty, to IT industry. Recently she also engages in event planning and organization for local bellydance community with her past working experiences on multi-national projects.
Web site: atsforeverlisa.blogspot.com
Articles on Gilded Serpent by or about Lisa Chen
- 3-22-11 Taiwan Bellydance: 2 Events Are Perfect Ending for 2010, Nefertiti Bellydance Carnival & Bellydance Evolution
I admire those dancers participating in the production for their talents, skills, and artistic qualities, however, I feel the framework of story-telling compromises dancers from better expressing their love for this dance (or through it). They are acting through dance rather than dancing to the music. - 6-29-10 Argentine-Arab Dance and Music Charm Taiwan, Gina Chen promotes Live Music for Local Dancers
I have to say it is quite different from any other American or Egyptian style choreography I learned before; you almost always keep your feet into ballet position and body weight is relatively higher. The physical dynamic is much exaggerated. I guess this is the Argentine style bellydance and I could see why local dancers are fond of it, owing to the quality of fluidness and lightness, very outward gestures and wonderful live music. - 1-6-09 2008 Drum, Dance, & Music Festival Raqs Taiwan with Karim Nagi!
She wishes to find the bridge between dancers and musicians, performers and audiences while still keeping its cultural roots alive. DDM is the platform for dancers and musicians working together and exchanging their professional experiences. - 10-30-08 Aussie ATS Charm in Taipei: Devi Mamak
Since both of us are not based in San Francisco, we share many common factors in terms of learning ATS and developing our own visions for it back in our own home venues. - 3-5-08 Learning Matrix: A Long Journey, The Belly Dance Scene in Taiwan
Sometimes, one might have to admit that learning only choreographies might lead students and dancers away from learning the essential elements of traditional Belly dance. - 5-2-08 Live a Dance Divas’ Life! Interview with Jane Yee Shan Chung of Taiwan
Then I saw the Suhaila technique workshop announced on her website and I just signed up without knowing exactly what her format is. I am the only person who did not learn Suhaila format before at that workshop. I was so naïve, I simply wanted to give it a try.
GS Articles that Lisa has Translated into Chinese for her Blog
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Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8
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Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4
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- Aussie ATS Charm in Taipei: Devi Mamak
- Live a Diva Life : interview with Jane Chung
Part 1, Part 2
