Illustration by Maria Manhattan
Ping Chong was born in 1946 to a Chinese opera family in Toronto, Canada and spent his youth in New York’s Chinatown neighborhood, which influenced the themes explored in the choreographer/director’s works. He studied filmmaking and graphic design at the School of Visual Arts and Pratt Institute before embarking on a career as an innovative interdisciplinary artist. Chong’s works explore race, culture, history, art, media, and technology in the modern world. Chong’s distinct point of view and political and social activism influence creative works that offer engaging and compelling live events for an international audience. He is the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, two McKnight Playwriting Fellowships, six National Endowment for the Arts Fellowships, a National Institute for Music Theatre Award, and an Obie Award.
