Jas Lin, ’17
Jas Lin (they/them) is a multidisciplinary artist who graduated magna cum laude from UCLA in 2017 with a B.A. in Communications Studies. Upon graduating, they studied at Jiaotong University in Shanghai and led the Events & Education Department at MoCA Shanghai as a UCLA Confucius Institute China Arts Postgraduate Fellow. As of 2021, Jas is a performance artist and movement director working on film and live performance projects internationally.
While at UCLA, Jas took on a number of leadership roles for UCLA Recreation, the Undergraduate Communication Association, The Daily Bruin, Prime Magazine, and UCLA Radio. They also directed and choreographed for ACA Hip Hop, a competitive dance team that performed at Spring Sing annually while Jasmine was at UCLA. In 2015, Jas received the Global Community Scholarship from the UCLA International Education Office to participate in the UCEAP Paris French Language and Culture Program. The following year, they were selected by the UCLA Center for Korean Studies for the Korea University International Summer Campus Fellowship. Jas completed their senior year abroad in London as a Media & Cultural Studies exchange student at University of Arts London, London College of Communication.
Jas’ artistic practice is a life-long process of un-learning and, in turn, un-teaching oppressive, Othering, and superficial ways of moving, being, sensing, and knowing. They are invested in the possibilities of socially engaged dance and accessible movement intersecting with sustainable activism and community-building. Lin stages exorcisms for purging choreographies of the learned body and shutting down internal and external surveillance cameras that suggest there is a Proper way to move through the world. Their choreographies and films have been shared and featured at distinguished institutions and spaces around the world, including the British Museum, REDCAT Theater, Highways Performance Space, The V&A, Kassel Dokfest, and Power Station of Art Shanghai.
Years after graduating, the Norma J. Ehrlich Scholarship continues to gift Jasmine a consistently inspiring and caring community. Jasmine is immensely grateful for Craig’s generosity and commitment.