Jiashan He: How a Dancer-Turned-Marketer Shapes Communication and Community in the Arts

Written by Tom White

New York’s arts and culture scene spans world-class museums, landmark performance venues, and experimental art spaces woven into the city’s daily life. It includes longstanding institutions such as the American Museum of Natural History, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and The Juilliard School, alongside newer icons like the High Line. Within this vibrant ecosystem, much of the work that shapes culture happens offstage. “Art is not a mirror held up to reality, but a hammer with which to shape it,” wrote Bertolt Brecht. And if art shapes the world, then those who steward it behind the scenes shape the conditions in which that transformation becomes possible. Jiashan He works at that intersection: trained as a dancer, now building her career in arts development in both visual arts and performing arts.

Jiashan He senses the world as deeply as she thinks about it. “My dance background not only taught me how to be sensitive to my body and my own artistic expression, but it also developed in me a deeper understanding of people, society, and how art connects to the world. In administration, that means being intuitive about the needs of artists and audiences alike, noticing details that others might overlook and responding with empathy.” That instinct, she says, has become foundational to how she approaches her work today as an emerging arts administrator and fundraising professional. 

What makes her administrative voice distinctive, however, is her background as a trained dancer. Years in the studio trained her to read a room the way she once read choreography — sensing tension, rhythm, hesitation. That sensitivity now shapes how she leads. Dancers are trained to listen before moving, to respond to rhythm shifts, to adjust in real time while remaining grounded. She brings that same attunement into meetings and negotiations. “For instance, when shaping programming or speaking with donors, I remember what it feels like to stand on stage and try to communicate something intangible. That experience keeps my decisions rooted in the creative heart of the work, not just operational logic. During my time at  NYU and my current position at the New Museum, I really feel like it is natural for me to do this kind of work, not only because I’m equipped with the knowledge, but also because I truly believe in it. As someone trained to sense the world through the body, I understand how vital it is for artists to express what can’t always be put into words. My role is to help ensure those voices are supported, sustained, and heard.”

When working at the China & France Cultural Festival, Jiashan He quickly recognized variations in protocol and communication formality. “I did some research into the French Cultural Center’s previous programs in China to get a sense of how they usually work here. This helped me see some of the differences in style and communication between the teams. For example, I noticed that the way event procedures and schedules were discussed or how formal communications were written could vary. The French side might expect a certain protocol for event production, while the University usually has a more intricate and detailed procedure of event collaboration with partners outside the university system. Left unaddressed, those differences could easily lead to confusion or delays.” She paraphrased ideas to match cultural expectations, clarified unspoken assumptions, and maintained focus on the shared mission of cultural exchange. “Whenever challenges came up, I reminded myself that we were there to learn from each other and share our cultures. By focusing on that shared purpose, I helped make sure that all the stakeholders felt respected and included. I think the key was making sure everyone understood our common goal.” That mindset made it much easier to coordinate between the university, the artistic team, the French Cultural Center, and the CHAO Hotel. It wasn’t always easy, but by keeping communication clear, being respectful of each group’s style, and staying mission-focused, she managed to work together successfully.

Jiashan He’s philosophy is simple but disciplined: alignment begins with clarity of purpose. “If marketing says one thing and programming does another, audiences can feel it. For me, the work only makes sense when every department is telling the same story.”

Photo Credit: Jiashan He