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By Yvonne H. Chow View Profile | More From This Author
Published on May 30, 2023
In the dynamic world of hip-hop dance, spaces of belonging and cultural identity are continuously being shaped. One such vital space is the House Of Dance. For Yvonne Huatin Chow, this concept takes on a deeply personal and community-focused meaning with House of Chow, the Asian division of H+ | The Hip-Hop Dance Conservatory. Through her work, Chow is not only carving out space for Asian voices within hip-hop but also challenging perceptions and fostering a movement of cultural pride. Let’s step inside this unique house of dance and explore the journey of #UnapologeticallyAsian in 2023.
Discovering House of Chow: An Asian House of Dance within H+ Conservatory
Image: Four members of House of Chow, Brenda Lin, Shayna Malhotra, Neha Sharma, and Yvonne H. Chow, pose for the 2023 #UnapologeticallyAsian campaign, showcasing Asian representation in dance.
House of Chow stands as a testament to the power of focused community within a larger dance institution. As the Asian division of the renowned H+ | The Hip-Hop Dance Conservatory, it operates as a distinct house of dance, nurturing and amplifying Asian voices within the hip-hop culture. Founded by Yvonne Huatin Chow, House of Chow is more than just a dance group; it’s a platform for education, empowerment, and unity among Asians in the United States through the expressive language of hip-hop dance.
The Genesis of #UnapologeticallyAsian: Finding Voice and Space
Image: A striking visual created by @ak47division in 2020 for the House of Chow’s UnapologeticallyAsian campaign, representing the burgeoning Asian identity in hip-hop.
The story of #UnapologeticallyAsian began in May 2014, during an Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebration at the Brooklyn Museum. Amidst a large gathering of Asian individuals, Yvonne Chow experienced a moment of profound self-awareness. Her initial thought, “I’m so sorry we (all the Asians at Brooklyn Museum) are taking up so much space,” was quickly followed by a powerful realization: “Why am I apologizing for my culture coming together?”
This internal conflict sparked a journey of introspection and became the foundation for #UnapologeticallyAsian. Chow recognized this apologetic instinct as a consequence of societal biases and the underrepresentation of Asians in mainstream culture. #UnapologeticallyAsian emerged as her personal and collective call to action – a movement to embrace presence and ownership of space within diverse communities, particularly in the realm of hip-hop dance. It evolved into House of Chow’s signature annual advocacy campaign, dedicated to shaping a new, empowered image of Asians in hip-hop and beyond.
From Bay Area Roots to New York City Rhythms: A Dancer’s Journey
Image: The San Mateo High School Dance Team in 2005, a formative dance environment for Yvonne H. Chow in the culturally rich Bay Area.
Growing up in the Bay Area, California, Yvonne experienced a dual reality: immersed in a vibrant Chinese American community while simultaneously navigating predominantly White spaces. This environment, while seemingly supportive, fostered a subtle assimilation. Even her high school dance team, largely composed of Asian dancers, normalized a sense of belonging within hip-hop, masking deeper questions of representation.
Her move to New York City for college and a hip-hop dance career brought a stark shift. Suddenly, she was often “the only Asian in the room,” a jarring experience that ignited years of inquiry into her place within this art form. This journey of questioning and self-discovery became crucial in defining her role and contribution to the world of dance.
Image: Yvonne H. Chow pictured at the Graffiti Hall of Fame in Harlem, NY, connecting with the roots of hip-hop culture in its birthplace.
New York City, the birthplace of hip-hop, became Yvonne’s crucible. Drawn to its raw energy and the pulsating dance scene, she sought a path in this art form. After exploring various classes, she found her dance home at H+’s open class. The intense, three-hour sessions offered not just physical exertion but a sense of liberation and belonging. That night, she recognized H+ as the nurturing ground for her growth as both a dancer and an individual.
Her conservatory-level training at H+ realized teenage dreams nurtured under the California sun. The BLADE Dance Technique® (Building Leaders through the Advancement of Dance Education), H+’s unique teaching methodology, became transformative. Years of rigorous training, academic exploration of dance theory and related disciplines, and demanding physical conditioning shaped her profoundly. This holistic approach to dance education, unlike conventional colonized models, centers the individual and fosters leadership, not just technical skill.
Image: Yvonne H. Chow in 2007, during her formative years as a dancer, highlighting her dedication to the art form.
Forging House of Chow: A Mission of Cultural Empowerment
The Inaugural #UnapologeticallyAsian Campaign circa 2016; video courtesy of @ak47division
“You can’t erase race from a dance that was created by a specific culture. You have a responsibility to address the issues that the culture faces… Hip-hop is the language of the oppressed and you cannot engage in our art without engaging with our community’s concerns. You want to be involved with the art, you have to be involved with our struggle. You can’t “just dance.” — Safi A. Thomas, H+ | Founder & Artistic Director
Hip-hop’s foundations are deeply rooted in the social and cultural landscape of the Civil Rights Movement, born from the experiences of Black and Latino communities in the Bronx and Watts. Its essence cannot be divorced from its origins. Systemic racism and urban neglect faced by these communities are woven into the very fabric of hip-hop culture and its artistic expressions, including dance, music, and art.
For Yvonne, a Chinese American dancer in this culturally rich art form, navigating this space requires deep empathy, historical awareness, and resilience. She credits her mentor, Safi A. Thomas, and numerous other influential teachers for guiding her journey. From legendary figures like Ringo of Mastermind Rockers to Ernie Paniccioli, a chronicler of hip-hop history, she has been immersed in a diasporic language of respect and cultural preservation.
The Strutters Room at BRS Dance Celebration 2014; video courtesy of Tart Productions
Mastermind✪Rockers Anniversary 2013; video courtesy of @ak47division
Yvonne embraces her position as a guest within hip-hop dance, a perspective that fuels her commitment to fostering a unique intersection of Asian identity and hip-hop. She emphasizes the critical need for Asians to understand their own history in the US, confront microaggressions, and dismantle internalized racism. Simultaneously, she advocates for unlearning biases against Black and Latino communities and building bridges of understanding and compassion.
This vision culminated in the creation of H+ | House of Chow on April 25, 2015. As a dedicated house of dance within the H+ framework, its mission is to educate, empower, and unify Asians in the US through hip-hop dance.
“I am here to create a new world that honors the past and our ancestors, by acknowledging their feats, while also recognizing the areas needing improvement which must be tended to by the next generation (me).” — Yvonne H. Chow, House of Chow Founder & Artistic Director April 25, 2015: Public Announcement of the Opening of H+ | House of Chow
#UnapologeticallyAsian Evolving: From Campaign to Performance
The 2019 #UnapologeticallyAsian Campaign with Yvonne H. Chow and Candy Tong; photos courtesy of @ak47division
The pandemic period brought intense reflection and a surge of creative energy for Yvonne. Haunted by the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes, she sought solace and answers in music and movement. This period of introspection sparked the evolution of #UnapologeticallyAsian into a full-fledged hip-hop dance repertory piece.
The dance performance, also titled #UnapologeticallyAsian, became a four-act homage to ancestral dreams, parental aspirations, and personal ambitions. Each act portrays the protagonist, Ruby, navigating trauma and drawing strength from her heritage to embrace her cultural identity. The climactic scene depicts Ruby’s self-empowerment, urging her younger self to focus inward, shed past burdens, and live authentically.
Image: Brenda Lin (Young Ruby) and Aliyah Ali (Adult Ruby) in a powerful scene from the #UnapologeticallyAsian performance at the 2023 Estrogenius Festival, embodying intergenerational strength.
H+ | House of Chow’s #UnapologeticallyAsian premiered at the AAPI Dance Festival at APAP and was also showcased at the Estrogenius Festival. Yvonne expresses deep gratitude to the performers, Brenda Lin, Aliyah Ali, Shayna Malhotra, Neha Sharma, and Sun Kim, for their sensitivity and dedication in bringing this powerful piece to life. The collaborative process fostered a strong sense of community, strengthening their bonds and elevating the performance. “Doh Jeh,” a Cantonese expression of deep gratitude, encapsulates her feelings.
Image: The ensemble cast of #UnapologeticallyAsian at the 2023 Estrogenius Festival in NYC, showcasing the collective power of House of Chow’s dance community.
House of Chow: Programs and Community Engagement
Founded in 2015, House of Chow, the Asian Division of The Hip-Hop Dance Conservatory (H+), is committed to educating, empowering, and unifying Asians in the US through hip-hop dance. Yvonne Chow’s extensive training at H+ informs her guidance of fellow Asians in understanding their role and contribution as guests within hip-hop culture. House of Chow realizes its mission through diverse initiatives:
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#UnapologeticallyAsian {Hip-Hop Dance Performance & Dialogue}
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House of Chow Family Dinner {Curated Dialogue}
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GET SERVED! {Hip-Hop Dance Workshop}
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CRANE® {Cultivating Respect for Asian Nationalities Ensemble}
