2026 Origins Program

DANA TAI SOON BURGESS DANCE COMPANY Presents

ORIGINS

Photo by Matailong Du featuring Baylee Wong

EMERGING CHOREOGRAPHERS’ SHOWCASE

June 4, 2026

Photo by Matailong Du featuring Trevor Frantz

FROM

DANA TAI SOON BURGESS Welcome to DTSBDC’s second annual Young Choreographers’ Showcase titled ORIGINS.

Photos by Lauren Victor and Sueraya Shaheen

Dance is a field of mentorship; one can’t learn to dance from a video, TikTok, or Facebook. Rather dance is an artform that is handed down from teacher to student.

As DTSBDC considers the future of the field, we believe that it is our responsibility to provide a platform for the next generation of choreographers. It is truly a joy to celebrate these dance makers.

Sincerely, Dana Tai Soon Burgess

Program Amor de Hombre (A Man’s Love) Choreography: Armani Colón and Felipe Moltedo Dancers: Armani Colón and Felipe Moltedo Music: Amor de Hombre by Mocedades Costume Design: Armani Colón and Felipe Moltedo

Structured Improv [In Red] Choreography: William Robinson Dancers: William Robinson Music: That’s All Right by Mrs. Laura Rivers & Talking ‘Bout A Good Time by Moving Star Hall Singers feat. Benjamin Bligen Costume Design: William Robinson

Amor de Lousia Choreography: Armani Colón Dancers: Armani Colón Music: Luis Enrique, Gilberto Santa Rosa, and Manuel Barrueco.

Phone Call voice: Carmen Louisa Navarro - Armani’s grandmother Spoken word translation: “Grandma, I love you with all of my life and all of my heart” “I am just a little bit sad today. I have a ton of things that I need to do and I just miss you and grandpa so much” “When everything is bad, you are my person. When I need money, or a good recipe, you answer that Facetime call. Thank you for being my little girl friend. I dance for you. I love you Grandma” Costume Design: Armani Colón

Unreturned Presence Choreography: Felipe Moltedo Dancers: Joan Ayap and Felipe Moltedo Music: Fauré: 3 Mélodies, Op. 23: No.1, Les berceaux & Requiem, Op. 48: Pie Jesu by Gabriel Fauré Costume Design: Felipe Moltedo

Life is But a Dream (Excerpt) Choreography: Baylee Wong Dancers: Baylee Wong Music: Sonar by Michael Wall Costume Design: Baylee Wong

Reflexiones at the Crossroads Choreography: Felipe Moltedo - Max Goldman (Collaborator) Dancers: Max Goldman and Felipe Moltedo Music: I Thought That I Could Get Away with It & Broken Hearted Kota by Joseph Shabason Costume Design: Felipe Moltedo

Photo by Matailong Du featuring Tomas Fischer

Join us for a 20-minute post-performance audience Q & A with the choreographers and Dana Tai Soon Burgess immediately following tonight’s performance

Photo by Matailong Du featuring Baylee Wong

About The Artists Felipe Oyarzun Moltedo (DTSBDC Associate Artistic Director - Choreographer Dancer) is in his fourteenth season with the Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company.

Originally from Santiago, Chile, he began dancing at the age of twelve and has since received numerous awards and distinctions, including Chile’s Best Dancer Inter-American Circle of Dance Professionals Award. In Santiago, he founded and directed his own contemporary dance company, which toured both nationally and internationally.

Felipe holds a B.F.A. in Dance and an M.A. in Dance Education with honors from the University of Chile, as well as an M.F.A. in Dance from The George Washington University.

Felipe’s choreography has been shown at different national venues such as The Kennedy Center, Dance Place, The Arts Club of Washington, The Corcoran Museum, and the National Dance Institute to name just a few.

In addition to his roles as Associate Artistic Director and dancer, Felipe is the company’s multimedia designer and creator, producing engaging visual content that connects audiences to the company’s artistic mission. He also serves as webmaster and consulting

UX/UI designer for a diverse portfolio of clients including DTSBDC’s digital platforms, ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group and The Department of Transportation for the DC Government.

Armani Colón (Choreographer - Dancer) is in his first season with the Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company.

He is a Puerto Rican dancer, choreographer, model, and cultural organizer whose work explores identity, memory, and the intersections of classical form with diasporic expression.

Armani began his dance training at 14 when accepted into the Dance program at The Chicago High School for the Arts. He earned his BFA in Dance from the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, where he trained under Danah Bella and developed a foundation in ballet, modern, and contemporary techniques.

As an independent dancer and choreographer across the DMV area, he has performed and choreographed nationally, including at Lollapalooza with British pop singer “Flowerovlove”, and has collaborated with choreographers such as Gabriel Mata, Bernard Brown, Diedre Dawkins, Tracy Kofford, Kim T. Davis, Kevin Iega, Dolly Sfier, Tiffanie Carson, Jess Beach, and

others.

As Communications Manager and an Ambassador of the Latinx Movement Festival D.C., Armani aims to uplift Latine artists and expand dialogue around performance, culture, and community. His work embodies hybridity, resilience, and joy that bridges tradition with contemporary innovation.

William Robinson (Choreographer - Dancer) is in his second season with Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company. He was raised in Washington, DC where he was first introduced to dance in middle school at Georgetown Day School. While at GDS, William met his mentor Jan Tievsky and where he first met Dana Tai Soon Burgess, performing original works set on the students there. During high school, he expanded his dance practice learning breaking from Emanuel Sanchez and joined the breaking crew Back 2 Basics.

William went on to attend The University of the Arts high school summer program where he truly fell in love with dance. During this summer program William met Wayne Saint David who became a mentor and directed him to study at The Dance Institute of Washington under the direction of the late Fabian Barnes. After graduating

high school William went on to attend The University of the Arts on a full scholarship, earning his B.F.A. in modern dance performance, and receiving both the Outstanding Achievement in Modern Dance Award and the President’s Award. While in school he used his summers to study at the Paul Taylor School.

At UArts he had the honor of performing original works by faculty and mentors, Silvana Cardell, Brian Sanders, Donald Lunsford, Roni Koresh, as well as works set on students by Momix and Rennie Harris. He has also danced professionally in projects and guest artist work for Diavolo, Ishmael Houston Jones, Raven Symone, Tierra Whack, and Boris Charmatz.

William was recently the assistant to the choreographer on the film The Young Wife by Tayarisha Poe, and worked as the project manager for Cardell Dance Theater’s Disposable Bodies. He has been on faculty at The University of the Arts and Georgian Court University.

Baylee Wong (Dancer) is in her third season with Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company.

She is a dancer, choreographer, and teacher based in the DMV area and passion for movement led her to train in various styles, including ballet, tap, jazz, modern, and ballroom.

Baylee graduated from Towson University, where she obtained a B.F.A. in Dance Performance and Choreography. During her time there, she received several accolades, including the Outstanding Award for Choreography, the Jim Snyder Award for Technical Excellence, and was honored to be an Undergraduate Commencement Speaker. At Towson, she had the privilege of working with Linda Denise Fischer-Harrell, Runqiao Du, Catherine Horta-Hayden, Vincent Thomas, Caroline Rocher Barnes, Xiang Xu and Jawole Willa Jo Zollar.

Baylee has taught at Towson University, the Maryland Public High School Dance Festival and at Dance Sanctuaries at the Kennedy Center Reach.

Additionally, her original choreography has been showcased at the Peabody Dance Festival, Origins hosted

by DTSBDC, Motion Mixers hosted by GRIDLOCK, and at S.H.E. /Moves hosted by Maryland Youth Ballet.

As a performer, Baylee is a member of the Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company, Gridlock Dance, and performed with Orange Grove Dance.

Behind the scenes, she serves as the Assistant Director at The Berwyn Ballet School.

Joan Ayap (Dancer) is in her ninth season with Dana Tai

Soon Burgess Dance Company.

Joan was born in Washington, DC, and raised in Manila, Philippines. She started her dance training at the HaliliCruz School of Ballet and the Philippine Ballet Theatre Conservatoire.

While earning a B.S. in Interior Design from Assumption College, San Lorenzo, she also pursued a dance career. Her professional journey began with the Philippine Ballet Theatre, where she worked with renowned teachers and choreographers such as Gener Caringal, Ronilo Jaynario, Anatoli Panasiukov, Enrico Labayen, Tony Fabella, Maiqui Mañosa, and Graham Lustig. In Washington, DC, she has performed with DC Contemporary Dance Theatre and Bowen McCauley Dance.

She has competed in Rising Star and Open Pro divisions in American Rhythm, as well as Amateur International Latin events. Additionally, she worked as a correspondent and field producer for The Filipino Channel. She teaches at CityDance, The VIVA School of Dance, and DTSBDC’s educational programs.

Currently, Joan is pursuing an M.A. in Cultural Heritage Management at Johns Hopkins University.

Max Goldman (Collaborator Dancer) is from Maryland, USA. He began his dance education

in modern dance at the age of 7 and has since performed in a number of venues as an ensemble dancer or a soloist.

Currently Max is an intern with

Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company and continues his Modern/Contemporary dance training with a variety of teachers around the nation.

JOIN US AT OUR NEXT PERFORMANCE THE MALLORCA SUITE The Kreeger Museum June 13th / 1:30 & 3:00 PM SOLD OUT

DTSBDC Celebrates PRIDE: Charlie Chan and The Mystery of Love MLK Jr. Memorial Library June 27th / 11:30 AM | FREE

A STUDY IN FORM: ASAWA, NOGUCHI & FRANKENTHALER

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Photos by Matailong Du

National Portrait Gallery August 9th / 4:00 PM | FREE

DANCE WITH US THIS SUMMER Elevate your technique and artistry at DTSBDC’s Modern Summer Intensive —a rare opportunity to train with Dana Tai Soon Burgess and members of D.C.’s premier modern dance company

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About Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dana Tai Soon Burgess is a leading American choreographer and cultural figure known internationally as the “Diplomat of Dance.”

In 1992, he founded Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company, Washington, DC’s preeminent modern dance company, now in its 33rd season. As noted

by Pulitzer Prize–winning critic Sarah L. Kaufman of The Washington Post, Burgess is “not only a Washington prize, but a national dance treasure.”

His contemporary modern dance works explore the joy, sorrow, and beauty of the human experience. Burgess has served as a Cultural Ambassador for the United States Department of State for more than two decades and has received three Fulbright Program Senior Scholar awards.

In 2016, Burgess was named the first Choreographer-inResidence at the Smithsonian Institution, where he created works inspired by museum exhibitions and developed public and educational programming through 2023.

The son of two visual artists, he approaches choreography as a visual canvas, with dancers functioning as living brushstrokes. His work has been presented at the

National Gallery of Art, Noguchi Museum, National Museum of Asian Art, and National Portrait Gallery.

Burgess has served as a mayoral-appointed commissioner for the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities and the DC Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs. He is the author of Chino and the Dance of the Butterfly and editor of Milestones in Dance History, and hosts Slantpodcast. com, which focuses on Asian American arts and culture.

This podcast is an ongoing conversation around the Asian American experience through the lens of artists and luminaries. Hosted by Dana Tai Soon Burgess.

Listen on all streaming platforms.

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About DTSBDC Now in its 33rd season, Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company (DTSBDC) creates and performs contemporary modern dance works to celebrate, through dance, the indomitable American spirit.

DTSBDC performances uplift, inspire and bring insights to seasoned dance lovers and new audiences alike in Washington, DC, around the United States, and the world. The Washington Post says of the company, “not only a Washington prize, but a national dance treasure.”

DTSBDC makes all its programs ADA accessible and at free or reduced pricing.

Photo by Matailong Du

DTSBDC is a leader in the national movement to collaborate with and perform at visual arts museums as well as theaters. In 2016, DTSBDC was named the Smithsonian Institution’s first-ever resident dance company. DTSBDC has a long history of artistic collaborations and partnerships with other organizations including: NASA, the U.S. State Department, National Gallery of Art, the Kreeger Museum, the Mayor’s Office of Asian

Pacific Islander Americans, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, and more.

DTSBDC has been presented at NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, The Sylvia and Danny Kaye Playhouse, Arena Stage, the United Nations, La MaMa, the Asia Society, and the Korean Cultural Center, among others. DTSBDC is the modern dance company in residence at The Kreeger Museum, Maryland Youth Ballet, and The Arts Club of Washington.

As a U.S. State Department cultural envoy for over 25 years, Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company has toured extensively both nationally and internationally to 5 continents and over 30 countries including Egypt, Israel, South Korea, China, India, Mongolia, Venezuela, Germany, Latvia, Ecuador, Panama, Mexico, Peru, Cambodia, the British Virgin Islands, and Suriname to name a few. For more information about DTSBDC visit www.dtsbdc.org

DONOR LISTING We gratefully acknowledge the support of the following corporations, foundations, government agencies, and individuals who supported Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company during our 25-26 season.

Major Supporters $50,000-150,000 DC Commision on the Arts and Humanities $20,000-49,999 The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation Patch Canada* Mary Eccles March Forth Foundation Maryland Youth Ballet* The National Endowment for the Arts Philip L. Graham Fund $5,000-19,999 AARP Dallas Morse Coors Foundation for the Performing Arts Jack Davis and Eric San Juan The Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation, Inc. Dwight Stuart Youth Fund Eric Naison-Phillips Family Foundation Events DC Community Grant Program Fulbright Scholars Cary Fuller Elizabeth Wilson Harter Bonnie Kogod Ellen Kwatnoski Microsoft Kelly Dinglasan Minton and Joel Minton Morningstar Foundation Katia Norri Eser Ozdeger The Rosenfeld Rumford

Steckler Family Foundation Teresa Saavedra Leigh Slaughter The Share Fund Jan and Seth Tievsky Aaron Tievsky and Frank Delaney Heinz and Liselotte Nehring Stiftung Foundation Winged Keel Group $500-4,999

Eugene and Gina Adams Anonymous (5) John Ashford Lisa Barry and Jim Gale Bloomberg Philanthropies Anna Kang Burgess Ian Tai Kyung Burgess Jason and Melissa Burnett Jane Cafritz Michael Caplin Alan Cariaso Kay Casstevens Cherry Blossom Giving Circle Claudia de Colstoun-Werebe Laurie Davis and Joseph Sellers Bianca DeLille Christine Doyle Diane Dragaud Frank Farrow FBB Capital Partners David Fischer and Joy Kassett Izette and Neil Folger Julie Frantz Jameson Freeman and Dana Tai Soon Burgess Mary A. Gifford Susan Gigli Jenny Goldman Ross Goldman and Lauren Roth

PenFed Credit Union Stacey Perelman Annette Polan Arnold Polinger Heather Pultz Young-Key Kim and Bertrand Renaud Sheri and Robert Rosenfeld Joan and Berry Rosenthal Stephanie Rosenthal and Scott Meisler Stuart Ross and Patricia Devine Ben Sanders Marian and Neel Saxena Anita Seline and Michael Remez Scout Properties Steve Slaughter Arnie Stolberg Peter and Judith Storandt Helen R. Trilling Maida R. Withers Yang-Ro Yoon Barrie Zucal

List from donations received through 06/01/2026

Bonnie Hammerschlag Sergio Herrera and Kelly Southall Marcia Alexis Hilton Celia Hoke Erick Hosaka Jill and Bill Hudock Janice Kaplan Roxane Kaufmann and Neal Fitzpatrick Lisa Kaye Rebecca Klemm Leslie Kobylinski Richard Kwatnoski Yoko Lawless Marcia Lim Barbara and Robert Liotta Kristen Lund Elizabeth McCallum Gale McCallum Laura McDonald Kathy McGuire Alanna McKee Elvi Moore Judith Viggers Nordin Patricia O’Shea Mark Ohnmacht Dr. Susan Ohnmacht Felipe Oyarzun Moltedo Tina Matsuoka

We appreciate and acknowledge our donors who give between $25-499 *Denotes in-kind services

BE PART OF OUR 1-1 MATCHING CAMPAIGN

Photo by Matailong Du

Until June 30th any donation will be match up to $40,000

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DTSBDC STAFF AND BOARD Leadership Dana Tai Soon Burgess, Founding Artistic Director Christine Doyle, Executive Director Felipe Oyarzun Moltedo, Associate Director 2025-26 DTSBDC Dancers Natasha Ames Joan Ayap Armani Colón Christine Doyle Tomas Fischer Trevor Frantz Felipe Oyarzun Moltedo William Robinson Baylee Wong Artists Anne Sidney,

Rehearsal Director Sarah Halzack, Assistant Rehearsal Director Judith Hansen, Costume Design Sigrid Johannesdottïr, Costume Design Millicent Scarlett, Resident Musician Dana Nichole Scott, Resident Musician Staff Bianca DeLille, Development Director Patch Canada, Public Relations Specialist Jan Tievsky, Educational Principal Joan Ayap, Wardrobe Supervisor William Robinson, Production Assistant Isel Perez, Accountant

Max Goldman, Riley Horner,

Intern Intern

Board of Directors Ellen Boyers Kwatnoski, President Jan Tievsky, Vice President Erick Hosaka, Treasurer Mary Eccles, Secretary Jack Davis Jameson Freeman Susan Gigli Bonnie Kogod Marcia Lim Leigh Adams Slaughter Kelly Moss Southall Dana Tai Soon Burgess (ExOfficio) Bianca DeLille (Ex-Officio) Advisory Board Kay Casstevens Josue Castilleja Nicole Colameta Diane Dragaud Sara Gay Forden Sarah Halzack Joshua Kaufman Kelly Dinglasan Minton Mark Ohnmacht Anatol Steck Yang-Ro Yoon Organizational Mentors Patch Canada Michael Kaiser

Photo by Matailong Du featuring William Robinson