Nguyễn Nguyên

Founding Artist 2012 -

Nguyễn Nguyên is a Los Angeles–based choreographer, dance filmmaker, and educator. Born in Vietnam, he came to the United States as a refugee, an experience that continues to inform his artistic voice and commitment to storytelling through movement. His work has been presented throughout Los Angeles, as well as internationally at the Guangdong and Beijing International Dance Festivals in China and the International Performance Arts Festival in Thailand.

Nguyên is a founding member of Los Angeles Movement Arts, an interdisciplinary arts collective dedicated to collaborative and cross-disciplinary performance. He holds a B.S. in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics and an MFA in Dance and Choreography from UCLA’s Department of World Arts and Cultures/Dance, reflecting a practice that bridges analytical inquiry with embodied expression.

He previously served on faculty at Santa Monica College and Cal State LA, and has taught as a guest artist at UCLA, LMU, CSULB, Riverside City College, University of Maryland, Montclair State University, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, and University of Iowa. Nguyên has collaborated with a wide range of artists including David Roussève, Cheng-Chieh Yu, Katsura Kan, Simone Forti, Taisha Paggett, Holly Johnston, Michael Sakamoto, Kevin Williamson and Maria Gillespie.

Nguyên currently serves on faculty at Renaissance Arts Academy in Glassell Park and is a founding member of The Rock Collection.