"Internationally celebrated for her power and grace, PeiJu Chien-Pott creates work that speaks through the body with raw emotion and timeless beauty."

Portrait of a woman with long black hair wearing a patterned long-sleeve top against a dark background, posing with arms raised.
Person in a flowing, purple outfit seated on a bench in an abstract pose against a light background.
Dancer in white outfit sitting in a textured frame on stage

PEIJU CHIEN-POTT

Founder, PEIJU PERFORMING ARTS (Taiwan) | Director of Contemporary Dance, Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company (USA)

PeiJu Chien-Pott is an internationally acclaimed contemporary dance artist and choreographer, celebrated for her expressive power, technical brilliance, and evocative stage presence. Widely recognized for her tenure as a Principal Dancer with the Martha Graham Dance Company, she has performed the most iconic lead roles in the Graham repertoire, including Ekstasis, Chronicle, Cave of the Heart, Clytemnestra, Errand into the Maze, Lamentation, Night Journey, Primitive Mysteries, and Rite of Spring. She has been hailed as “one of the greatest living modern dancers” and “the most dramatically daring and physically chameleon-esque Graham dancer of her generation.”

PeiJu has originated roles in works by legendary choreographers including Mats Ek, Nacho Duato, Luca Veggetti, and Andonis Foniadakis, among others. In 2025, she was appointed Ambassador of the Tai-Shin Charity Foundation of Taiwan, honoring her outstanding contributions to the arts and her commitment to promoting cultural exchange and education.

Early Training & Career

Originally from Taiwan, Chien-Pott began training in classical ballet and Chinese folk dance at age 10. At 15, she was selected among the top five dancers nationwide to enter the prestigious seven-year program at Taipei National University of the Arts, where she earned her BFA. She danced professionally with Taipei Crossover Dance Companyand Taipei Royal Ballet, touring internationally.

In 2008, she relocated to New York City on a merit scholarship to the Merce Cunningham Studio, where she studied with Cunningham himself. She subsequently performed with Buglisi Dance Theatre, Korhan Basaran and Artists, and became a key company member with Nimbus Dance Works, dancing leading roles across a diverse repertory.

Awards & Recognition

2025

• Appointed Ambassador of the Tai-Shin Charity Foundation of Taiwan

2024
• Named Asia’s Most Influential (Taiwan) by Tatler Asia

2023
• Awarded a Choreography Fellowship by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts

2022
• Starred in the short film NALA, directed by Darshan Singh Bhuller — recipient of 10 international film awards

2021
• Solo in Herstory of the Universe by Richard Move, premiered on Governors Island, selected as one of The New York Times' Best Dance Performances of 2021

2019
• Named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons of Taiwan by Junior Chamber International (JCI)

2018 & 2019
• Recognized as an Outstanding Elite in Performing Arts by the Generation T List of Asia Tatler

2018
• Recipient of the Capri International Dance Award

2017
• Recipient of the Bessie Award for Outstanding Performer (Ekstasis, reimagined by Virginie Mécène)
• Honored with the Outstanding Alumni Award from Taipei National University of the Arts
• Named Outstanding Citizen by the Government of Taiwan
• Selected as one of the People of the Year by PAR Performing Arts Redefined, National Theater & Concert Hall, Taiwan
• Named one of Dance Magazine’s Best Performers of the Year (Wendy Perron)

2015
• Honored during Women’s History Month by Hudson County, New Jersey

2014
• Honored with the Positano Premia la Danza “Leonide Massine” Award for Most Outstanding Female Dancer on the Contemporary Scene
• Named one of Dance Magazine’s Best Performers of the Year (Wendy Perron)

Choreographic Work

PeiJu Chien-Pott’s choreography explores cultural ritual, personal memory, and the physicality of transformation. Her original works include:

  • REBIRTH (Taipei 101) – with sculptor Kang Mu-Xiang

  • ISLAND – Iron Rose Festival commission

  • UNITY – Tribute to Nai-Ni Chen at New York Live Arts

  • SPLIT – Periapsis Music and Dance

  • Lion in the City – NJPAC Lunar New Year

  • The Threads Project #1 – Buglisi Dance Theater

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In 2019, she made her musical theater debut as Little Lotus in Dragon Spring Phoenix Rise at The Shed (NYC), directed by Chen Shi-Zheng.

Photography & Film

PeiJu has collaborated with renowned photographers such as Lois Greenfield, Paul B. Goode, Jacob Sutton, and NYC Dance Project. Her image has appeared in The New York Times, VOGUE, ELLE, Dance Magazine, Capezio, Dior, GapFit, and more.

She starred in the short film NALA, directed by Darshan Singh Bhuller, which won nine international film awards.

She was featured on the cover of WE PEOPLE (Taiwan) and TATLER TAIWAN.

Leadership & Teaching

  • Founder: PEIJU PERFORMING ARTS (Taiwan)

  • Artistic Director: Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company (USA)

  • Faculty: The Ailey School, Martha Graham School (New York City)

  • 2023 Choreography Fellow – New Jersey State Council on the Arts

  • Bessies Selection Committee Member

PeiJu is an in-demand educator and master teacher, having taught workshops and residencies across the U.S., Europe, and Asia at institutions such as Duke University, DAP Festival (Italy), Rutgers, Nimbus Dance School, Taipei National University of the Arts, Wuhan Conservatory of Music, and Zhengzhou Institute of Technology (Honorary Professor).

Woman in bright yellow-orange flowing dress performing a dance move against a wooden shed surrounded by greenery, with a city skyline in the background.
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