Today we’d like to introduce you to Denise Chan.
Hi Denise, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I was born on April 23rd, 2002, in Burnaby, British Columbia, and began dancing shortly after that. Two and a half years later, to be exact. My mom enrolled me in a “Mommy and Me” ballet class on a whim, and my love for dance just took off from there. At first, it was just a fun activity for me to do while my parents worked or ran errands, but it quickly escalated to a daily, year-round commitment to an intense yet beautiful art form. Neither of my parents realized what we were getting into when they agreed to register me and later on, my younger sister Natalie at our home studio, Tri-City Dance Centre. Under their program and my amazing teachers’ guidance, my passion for dance was nourished and flourished, creating a deep and personal connection to art and movement. Training consistently in all genres and competing locally and internationally at competitions and conventions, I spent more time dancing and doing dance-related things than anything else, even school. I was dedicated, persistent, and determined to keep my fire for dance burning bright and powerful. Once in high school, the thought of pursuing dance as a career became more of a goal than a dream, and I planned to audition for post-secondary dance programs in order to reach this goal. In my senior year, I was lucky enough to complete my college audition circuit right before the pandemic took over and shut everything down, and in October of 2020, after graduating from high school online, I headed to NYC, where I was accepted into Peridance’s Certificate Program, continuing my training in both the concert and commercial / street genres. It was definitely a nerve-wracking and scary experience to move so far away from home during the early and uncertain stages of Covid, but one that I knew I would benefit from greatly for what I wanted to do. The two-year program was strict and intense but was probably the most life-changing and impactful 2 years of my life. The maturation and exploration of my artistry and of myself as a person soared, as did my dancing. Graduating the program in June of 2022, I felt proud and excited to see what may come next for me, and although I was nervous, I finally felt ready enough to go full force into a professional career. I am currently based in NYC, am a part of multiple companies, both commercial and street as well as contemporary, and have gotten to perform with the most amazing people in the most amazing places, working with the most amazing choreographers. I feel grateful every day for where I am and what I’ve done at 20 years old, and I’m still hungry to keep going. That fire for dance that I have is burning brighter than it has in a long time, and I’m humbled for the opportunities I’ve gotten already and the ones that I will have in the future.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I have definitely faced my fair share of challenges as a dancer and as a person. A big one that I’ve dealt with from a young age and still deal with to this day is body image issues and being insecure with myself and how I move. There is an archetype amongst dancers, one that is based in older perspectives and outdated ideas of what the ideal dancer’s body should look like. Tall, thinner, long legs, lengthened muscles… it’s the “classic” look, I guess. Along with this standard body type is a standard movement style. It changes between genres and styles, but I always found that I never quite fit either ideals of what dancers should look like and how they should move. I was made aware of my shorter legs, my “bulkier” physique, and my different movement style at a younger age, and even the most one-off, quick comments stuck with me. I had “bad” feet and tight hips, so that meant I wasn’t good at ballet and should avoid lifting my legs if I could. I built muscle quickly, so I could lift others and show my strength, but I wasn’t graceful and couldn’t be fluid. Because I trained in multiple styles, I also struggled with the differences in training and how my personal style wasn’t always “appropriate” for certain genres. I held back from expressing my natural movement because I was trying to dance like how I thought the ideal contemporary dancer, or jazz dancer, or hip-hop dancer would dance like. It wasn’t until I moved away from home and started to see past the labels that I was able to break through the cage I had put myself in. I saw other inspiring dancers move in their own ways, with their own influences, and how their indifference to perfection allowed such freedom in their movement and expression. I followed suit and honed in on what felt natural to me and cultivated an authentic and unique movement personality. As for my body image, I still do suffer from body dysmorphia and struggle with giving my body the love and appreciation it deserves, but I’m able to identify my negative thoughts about my physique and try to redirect them to a more positive outlook. The human body does so much every day, especially for dancers where their instrument and their career is their body, and it deserves to be appreciated. And I do love what, who, and how I am… and I am proud that I can say that now.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Over the years, I shifted from describing myself as a dancer to an artist. I love to move, to create, to explore, and to express. For me, dancing is just the baseline of what I do. I love being able to fill in a set outline of choreo with my own style and qualities and to merge the intentions of the choreographer with my own. When I create pieces, it’s always a collection of different dance genres that cohesively mix in order to tell a story or reveal a message. People know that when I perform, they’ll be met with textures, musicality, technique, and storytelling and that my quality of movement will authentically express the emotions of the song and of the narrative. I’ve always been proud of my voice and independence within dance and how I’ve always been able to push myself beyond what I thought was possible. My determination and work ethic have propelled me to amazing heights and given me opportunities that I’ll forever be grateful for. My versatility and cross-training throughout styles like ballet, contemporary, hip hop, popping, jazz, and more allowed me to research and find what movement truly speaks to me and what makes me unique.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I’m always open to collaborate and interact with artists across the community. The best way to support me or reach me would be through my social media platforms like Instagram or by contacting my email for bookings or anything else!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_denise_chan_/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvx0VkJPPZEvrlvkjGqSEiQ
Image Credits
Kuoheng Huang
Sun Kim Dance Theatre
Zani and ALMA Collective
Jordan Ryder
Peridance Centre
