I remember watching Swan Lake and everybody looking exactly the same, but being able to relate because they were the only company I had ever seen even on video that had Asian dancers. The Asian community in Hawaii is actually almost as dominant as the Caucasian community. I thought "I can relate to that company because they look like people that I see every day." They weren't all little stick-thin Russian ballerinas.
Joan ChenI grew up in Honolulu. It's not the ballet cultural mecca by any stretch of the imagination. People are much more familiar with hula than they are with ballet.
Joan ChenActing for me is not a bad habit like smoking that I must make an effort to quit. I love acting; I love directing.
Joan ChenI would never offer advice without the person asking for it. I, in general, don't believe in giving advice, actually, as a human being I don't.
Joan Chen