"When I found hip-hop, I knew immediately it was the dance genre I'd been searching for," he says.
Today, Chen, who has gained a large fan base after appearing on hit reality shows such as Street Dance of China, sees street dance as carrying responsibilities that extend beyond competitions.
"I want young people to see hope. Street dancers are not troublemakers dancing on street corners. If we do this well, we can give others strength," he says.
He has spent years teaching children, including students in remote mountain communities, traveling for hours by bus to conduct workshops.
"I was a quiet child myself," he says. "Dance made me confident. Seeing that happen for other children is one of the happiest things I've experienced."
China's street dance landscape has changed dramatically during his career.
"People, from 4-year-olds to 60-year-olds, are learning street dance," Chen says. "That wasn't imaginable before."
For the youngest performers, however, Chinese street dance has always been more than imitation.
Wu Mingrui, a 16-year-old popper, first danced in kindergarten after a teacher demonstrated a few simple moves.
"I learned them very quickly," she says. "I was always chosen to lead the performances. My mother realized I had talent."
She began studying popping at age 7. A video of a young South Korean female popper convinced her that the style's explosive power was not limited to men. "I realized girls have strength too," she says.
