Help Christine Stay in the United States

Christine Cheng is organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

About:
My name is Christine Cheng, originally from Taiwan. I have been classically trained in Ballet, various Modern Technique, Jazz, Theater Dance, Asian Folk Dance, Martial Arts for years. I came to New York and studied in Musical Theatre. I need help to get an O1 Artist Visa. And I only have 8 weeks left. Even though time's ticking, I couldn't start the application without paying the legal fee first.

I graduated right before the pandemic. International students are only allowed to work legally in US for one year. Unfortunately my OPT started right on the date New York locked down, none of us could expect. During all of these I survived and became the dance faculty in American Musical and Dramatic Academy where I graduated. I don't have live theatre credits during the pandemic. I was supposed to use that one year to gain as much experience as I can because the O1 is essentially a visa where to prove that I'm on the top of my respective field. But the standard is tough. The documents are extremely complicated. It won't consider pandemic as a factor. Most I have are the things I did in school, which makes the whole process even harder...

Dramatic Plot Twist:

I've made it this far, I would never give up. Unfortunately, after countless amount of paperwork, applications, research, emails, doubts... Few days ago on my birthday, I received a bad news. The email popped up while I was giving an exciting class introduction to encourage my new students. Due to some reasons I can't continue my first case and know the answer whether I will get approved. I've put all my own savings into this 1st application which is beyond a huge number. I couldn't afford food and subway, so I walked to school almost everyday even it's snowing sometimes. It's very far from home when you finished teaching at night. You can imagine how desperate it is under this kind of situation. Now I feel a bit helpless when other experts reviewed my first application and informed me the only option is to redo the case and cost another ten thousand dollars. My student visa also expired on my birthday and I'm not allowed to do anything legally to support myself anymore. Everything I have already reached beyond the limit. Even though I have jobs currently, I have to pause and leave the position. I lost everything. There's even no time for me to make a "right" decision. It's like a leap of faith. If I am approved for this visa, I will be able to continue my career of performing and teaching. At the same time there's no guarantee for the approval. I might lost everything again. But if I don't try then I won't know.

I want to have the equal chance to be an actor. Your every help will increase my chance to stay in the states. If you're willing to provide any opportunity for me to change the situation, please don't hesitate to reach out to me. I would be very happy and appreciate!

Your donations will be going towards all the visa's legal and filing fees. Any amount helps.

[If you'd like to know more about me, here you can continue reading...]

How I feel about all of these chaos and not able to see the sky:

First Time:
In 2017 I followed my school touring around US. We performed at 14 cities in a month. Every 2 days we had to get on the airplane. Sometimes we met the government officials and visiting local people. My job was helped promote friendly diplomatic relations, strengthen links with the oversea communities, and enhance the international image of Taiwan. I would say it was my first date with the United States, and I fell in love with this country immediately. I knew it is where I want to pursue my career. Even though I probably didn't know how to speak proper English yet.

張學友 Jacky Cheung:
Part of the reason I want to become a musical actor is because my idol Jacky Cheung. He is a Hong Kong singer, songwriter and actor. With more than 25 million records sold. Also he is known as "God of Singer" in Asia, everyone knows him. I admire his work ethic. You probably heard his voice before if you saw my Cafe Series performance at Ansonia. I use his song "定風波" for my choreography "I Remember". I was very happy that even though people didn't understand the language and lyrics of the song, they still can feel something through the dance and Jacky's voice. Before I came to New York I always wish I could be on the same stage with him. I know it is a naive and childish wish. But it makes me stronger and not afraid to try again, fail again, fail better on everything! I remember the last time I saw him on his birthday party, I danced in front of him and won the chance to take this picture with him.

"I Remember" ( Music: Jacky Cheung - 定風波)

New York City:
When I was in Taiwan, I had the opportunity to play Louise from "Carousel". It inspired me to come here and study Musical Theatre in AMDA. I learnt to use my own voice to tell the story. It means a lot to me...

I really "hope I can get it," I mean get this visa...

"Lost & Found" Graduation Drama Showcase, directed by Jay Russell :
I played the difficult and ambitious Kendra in Branden Jacob Jenkins’ “Gloria.” This challenged me, because the character Kendra is a terrifying, aggressive ambition junkie. People are watching polite and gentle me wrestle with the role. I also played Linbo in Christopher Chen’s “Caught.” A contemporary artist now in the U.S., who boosts her fame by sharing her story of being imprisoned in by government because of her art. I had to have audience believing and rooting for Linbo’s courage and bravery for her art. But as the character was further and further exposed as a liar, the audience grew uncomfortable. They didn’t want to even consider that Linbo was a fake. At the end of the scene, I shattered them with Linbo’s truth – dropping the accent and announcing, in a distinctly American drawl, “I’m from Los Angeles.” The audience gasped.

In 2020, all the theaters shut down, auditions were canceled. During the quarantine I have a new hobby:

As you can see this wooden bird is not pretty. My hands are very weak due to the problem of my spine, no matter how I practice I can only whittle “a little scratch” at the wood. But I enjoy it. And I heard a wisdom before…There’s this mountain of pure diamond, and every hundred years a little bird comes and sharpens its beak on the diamond mountain. And when the entire mountain is chiseled away, the first second of eternity will have passed. You may think that’s a hell of a long time. Personally, I think that’s a hell of a bird. I want to be it.

When I was very small, there was a 9 minutes dance. All I had to do was waiting in the backstage and did a pose in the end of the song. I was a human moving background. But thanks for that I earned the ability of always memorizing everybody's position and all their steps. Even though I wasn't lucky enough to be on the stage or nobody was watching at me. I never stop practicing. I wasn't born to be a dancer and lack of all the conditions to become one, everybody said that. I have to prove they're wrong, so I must work harder than anyone in this world.

Some Happy Thoughts:
I like to make things. For me, everyone’s life is like a film, and he/she is the leading role in that. Sometimes they thought they were the main character in someone else’s film too, but actually they’re just a supporting role. Perhaps only appear in one scene, or their part had already been deleted and they still don’t know. I save a lot of "clips" here because sometimes they might cut/edit it wrong. When people need it, I’ll return their "memories" to them.

SUPERHERO - Mr. Ray Virta:
Ray is my acting teacher aka favorite superhero! I learnt how to say good morning and be a good teacher from him. Not only I know Ray will always be honest with me, he also granted me tools that he longer needs before I graduated. So I can create and share my creations with others!

Where My Energy Comes From:
Every object is alive in my eyes, of course including my bento box! When I eat, I am a demon devouring my sacrificed victims. "Take Me To the World" by Mr. Sondheim is my favorite interpretation of the world currently.

A Bit Reckless and Over Passionate Sometimes:

There's this Hip-Hop battle in other school. I went but I had no idea how to street dance and you only had 30 seconds to react to your enemy. Courage is knowing it might hurt, and doing it anyway. Stupidity is the same. I guess life is like this, feel the rhythm & improv. Scared is my superpower anyway.

Reward:
I got wonderful feedbacks for my first time teaching in school. I don't regret my choice insisting stay in US. If something has to happen. I know this is not the end of my journey with you. I was loved. Sometimes, I won’t remember what you did, but I will remember how you make me feel.

Thanks:
It sounds like every way is a dead end. All the worst situation happened at the same time. The Covid-19, visa, financial... Quarantine messed up the sense of time, which makes me wander between the feeling of still a kid or being a grown up. I feel stupid of myself. I wonder do I still qualify to become a superhero? BUT I eager to turn the table. I want to dance, sing and act...and have that power to protect the people i love. I must thank you for helping me conquer this impossible mission. I will always smile regardless of what's happening because the ones who smile are the strongest! One day when I'm strong enough, if you need me. Not to worry. Whistle, I'll be there!