Peiju Chien-Pott

Peiju Chien-Pott, born in Taoyuan and a graduate of the Dance Department at Taipei National University of the Arts, received the Merce Cunningham Scholarship to study dance in the United States. In 2011, she joined the Martha Graham Dance Company as an apprentice, advancing to principal dancer three years later, with New York dance critics hailing her as “one of the greatest living modern dancers”.

In 2017, she became the first Taiwanese dancer to win the Bessie Award, renowned as the “Oscar of the dance world”, a landmark achievement that earned her global acclaim for her unparalleled skill and emotional depth. From her peak performances as a principal dancer at the Martha Graham Dance Company to her current role as an independent artist, Chien-Pott continually pushes the boundaries of dance, blending elements of visual art, fashion, and sculpture into her performances and creations.

Chien-Pott is not only an outstanding dancer but also a trailblazer in cross-disciplinary dance. Whether on stage or collaborating with internationally renowned artists and designers, she brings fresh perspectives and boundless possibilities to dance. Her establishment of PEIJU Performing Arts and her role as director of Contemporary Works at the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company in the United States serve as platforms for dance innovation and nurturing the next generation of dance talent.

In November 2024, she debuted her self-produced work, Black Butterfly, in her homeland Taiwan, infusing her years of international experience into this new piece. Working with young dancers from Taiwan and New York, Jian carries forward the dreams of dance across generations. Black Butterfly combines three works—Ecstasy Revived, Play, and Madame Butterfly—with Chien-Pott leading teams from Italy, Sweden and Taiwan to bring infinite creativity and energy to the performance for the people of Taiwan.