Shen Pei, a native of Nanjing, China, emigrated to Minnesota in 1994, at the invitation of the newly formed Chinese American Association of Minnesota Chinese Dance Theater (CAAM CDT) to assume the role of its first artistic director. She brought with her fifty years of experience and an international reputation as a dancer, choreographer, theater artist, theorist and educator. Her award-wining choreographed works, such as Plum Blossom Triolet, have been performed throughout the U.S., Europe and Asia. Another work, the acclaimed Picking Tea, was widely credited as the dance that founded the South Yangtze School of Dance. During her ensuing 11-year sojourn here in Minnesota, Shen has transformed the dance landscape in Minnesota, introducing a Chinese art form to a cross cultural audience, and inspired a new generation of Chinese dance artists.

As a mentor, Shen has imparted to her students a deep sense of Chinese culture. In addition to explaining the movements inherent in a particular dance, she frequently discusses the ethnic background and other historical or geographical aspects pertinent to the dance. Dance is the vehicle through which she communicates her love and knowledge of Chinese culture and history. Her genuine empathy for and generosity to her students, in both their artistic growth and their personal lives, have led to enduring friendships with them and their families. This is evident among Chinese families as well as Chinese adoptees and their Caucasian families. To all of them, Shen has been a beacon of their Chinese identities and a role model of excellence and dedication.

To her audiences, Shen has brought a sensitivity to her choreography that bridges the gap and complements the diversity between Chinese and western-style dances. Early training in both styles has cultivated in her a deep desire to communicate with different cultures through dance. By fusing the traditional with the contemporary, she has made Chinese dance accessible to a wide audience. An example is her special creation for the outreach educational program at CAAM CDT, Lucky Lions and Red Ribbons. It has been performed before thousands of school children throughout the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota.

In addition to her heavy load of teaching and choreography at CAAM CDT, now the largest Chinese dance school in the U. S., Shen has been active in collaborating with area arts organizations in producing new and exciting works. Among them are the widely recognized Legend of the White Snake Lady at Theater Mu and Monkey King at the Children's Theater. She has also conducted numerous workshops throughout the Midwest, creating many performance and educational opportunities for Chinese dance in the process. Her convictions in the ability of dance to communicate across cultural divides, revealing our common underlying humanity, fuel all her activities.

Within the Chinese community in the Twin Cities, Shen has been instrumental in bringing the community together in events that speak to the hearts of many. Notable among them were the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II in 1995, and the Dragon 2000 Festival in 2000.

Shen is most proud of and enthusiastic about her friendships and collaborations with young performance artists, among them Marcus Young, and other young dancers who are now becoming teachers themselves. This has continued in her retirement. In her own words, "By sharing knowledge and expertise with youth in our community, as well as with performing artists throughout the world, I hope to increase the number of Asian American choreographers and establish collaborations with other arts organizations in the Twin Cities and beyond."

The Chinese Heritage Foundation honors Shen Pei, our first Chinese Minnesotan of Note, for her great impact on the dance world in Minnesota and beyond, her dedication to Chinese culture, and her profound influence on young artists in our community.

Select List of Honors:

• National Choreographer of the First Rank, China
• Anthology of Chinese Artists, China
• Who's Who in famous Women, Ancient and Modern, China
• Lu Shin Arts & Literature Award, Minnesota
• St. Paul Companies' Leadership Initiative in the Neighborhoods, Minnesota
• Distinguished community leadership and service, Minnesota Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans
• McKnight Foundation Choreographers' Fellowship, Minnesota

Select List of Books, Choreographed/Produced Works:

• Plum Blossom Triolet, China
• Picking Tea, China
• Green Harmony, China
• Lucky Lions and Red Ribbons, CAAM Chinese Dance Theater
• Flying Aspara, Need more works from CAAM
• Descendants of the Dragon, CAAM Chinese Dance Theater
• Yellow River Cantata, CAAM Chinese Dance Theater
• Legend of the White Snake Lady, Theater Mu
• Cut Sleeve, Intermedia Arts
• Sun and Moon, Southern Theater
• Monkey King, Children's Theater
• Chaotic Order, a book on dance

沈蓓，明州杰出华人

(由传龙基金顾问委员会提名)

沈蓓，中国南京人，1993年移民到明州，并应邀担任明州中美联谊会中美舞蹈社艺术总监。作为舞蹈家、编导、表演艺术家、理论家和教育家，她为舞蹈社带来了数十年的宝贵经验和国际声誉。她编导的许多获奖作品，如《梅花三弄》，已在美国、欧洲、亚洲各地上演。她的另一部深受欢迎的作品《采茶》成为江南舞蹈的奠基之作。在逗留于明州的十二年间，沈蓓为明州舞蹈带来了一道新的风景，将深受喜爱的中国舞蹈形式介绍给了不同文化背景的观众，并鼓舞了新一代的舞蹈艺术家。

作为导师，沈蓓向她的学生深入地传播了中国文化。除了解释某一特定舞蹈的动作内涵，她还经常探讨与舞蹈有关的民族、历史、地理背景。舞蹈是她表现对中国文化、历史的热爱和认知的载体。沈蓓真挚、慷慨地在艺术成长和个人生活方面关心着她的学生，从而和学生及其家庭建立了长久的友谊。这些家庭不仅包括华裔家庭，还包括白人家庭和他们所收养的华裔子女。对于他们来说，沈蓓是指引他们的灯塔，是优秀和奉献的典范。

对观众而言，沈蓓在她所编导的作品中增加了感性的元素，从而淡化了中、西方舞蹈间的差异，并使舞蹈艺术更为多样化。早年中、西式舞蹈的学习使她强烈地渴望通过舞蹈与不同文化背景的人沟通。通过传统与当代舞蹈艺术的融合，沈蓓使中国舞蹈被更多的观众所接受。如她为中美舞蹈社学生专场演出而专门创作的《瑞狮与红绸》就是这种融合的一个例子。和每年的中国新年演出一道，这种专场演出深深地吸引了双子城和明州五万余名学生。

中美舞蹈社是目前中西部地区最大的中国舞蹈社团，沈蓓在社团中承担着繁重的教学和编导工作。尽管如此，沈蓓一直积极与地区艺术组织合作创作令人兴奋的新作品，其中包括广为人知的《白蛇传》(Theatre Mu), 《追日》（南方剧院），和《美猴王》(儿童剧院)。她还在中西部地区组织过多次研讨会，其间为中国舞蹈创造了多次表演和教学的机会。沈蓓坚信舞蹈具有在不同文化背景之间沟通的力量，舞蹈揭示了人类最基本的共通的东西，这一信念是她致力于各项活动的动力。

在双子城中国社区中，沈蓓一直在致力于促进社区团结。其中最著名的活动有纪念二战结束50周年(1995)、2000年龙年春节(2000)。

最让沈蓓骄傲和热心的是与楊墨等正在成长为老师的年青表演艺术家和舞蹈家们的友谊与合作。尽管最近退休了，这种友谊和合作还在继续。用她自己的话说：“我希望通过与社区里的年青人以及世界各地的表演艺术家分享知识和技艺，催生出更多的亚裔美籍编导，并与双子城及其他地区的艺术组织建立合作关系。”

传龙基金将第一个明州杰出华人的荣誉授予沈蓓，以表彰她对明州舞蹈界的巨大影响、她对中国文化的贡献以及对社区年青艺术家的深远影响。

沈蓓获得的荣誉有：

• 中国国家一级编导
• 入选《中国艺术家辞典》
• 入选《古今中外女名人辞典》
• 入选《中国当代艺术界名人录》
• 入选《中国舞蹈词典》
• 明州鲁迅艺术文学奖
• St. Paul Company’s Leadership Initiative in the Neighborhoods, Minnesota
• 明州Council of Asian Pacific Minnesotans杰出社区领导和服务奖
• 明州McKnight基金编导奖

沈蓓作品有：

• 《梅花三弄》，中国
• 《采茶》，中国
• 《春江行》，中国
• 《癫狂的秩序》，一本关于舞蹈的著述
• 《瑞狮与红绸》，中美舞蹈社
• 《千古雄风》，中美舞蹈社
• 《凤穿牡丹》，中美舞蹈社
• 《龙的传人》，中美舞蹈社
• 《黄河入海流》，中美舞蹈社
• 《白蛇传》，Theater Mu
• 《断袖》，Intermedia Arts
• 《追日》，南方剧院
• 《美猴王》，儿童剧院