Founding Artistic Director, Dana Tai Soon Burgess
Assistant Artistic Director, Felipe O. Moltedo Managing Director, Christine Doyle
February 27March 1, 2025
For more than 30 years, I have explored the universal vicissitudes of the Asian American experience through modern dance. As a fourth generation Korean American I take inspiration from my own ancestors, my immediate family, my own experiences, and the Company around me to explore the themes of identity, belonging, and home.
Tonight, we focus on three emotionally complex dances - Leaving Pusan, Becoming American and Hyphen. Through these dances, I encourage the audience to contemplate the often overlooked historic challenges that Asian Americans have encountered in their journey to be included in the American canon. Leaving Pusan, Becoming American and Hyphen exemplify the diversity of our experiences while acknowledging our fundamental longing for acceptance.
Leaving Pusan is based on my great grandmother’s emotional and physical departure from Korea in January, 1903. She voyaged from Pusan to Oahu, Hawaii on the first steamship, the Gaelic, that delivered Koreans to work on the sugar cane and pineapple plantations. My family would work on the Del Monte plantation for three generations. Becoming American is based on the reallife story of Katia Norri, a dancer with DTSBDC who was adopted from Korea by an American couple in New Jersey in the 1980’s. The work delves into her journey to understand her new home. Hyphen represents the ongoing turbulent struggle that Asian Americans feel as they solidify their identity in the American cultural tapestry. This mixed-media piece features the full Company and a video backdrop of some of Nam June Paik’s earliest experimental films.
Most Sincerely,
Dana
Choreography: Dana Tai Soon Burgess
Dancers: Natasha Ames, Joan Ayap, Trevor Frantz, Felipe
Oyarzun Moltedo, Aleny Serna, and Baylee Wong
Understudy: Justin Rustle
Rehearsal Director: Anne Sidney
Assistant Rehearsal Director: Sarah Halzack
Music: “Palmistry” by Jason Kao Hwang
Light Design: Felipe Oyarzun Moltedo
Costume Design: Judy Hansen -- Brief Pause --
Choreography: Dana Tai Soon Burgess
Dancers: Natasha Ames, Joan Ayap, Tomas Fischer, Trevor Frantz, Felipe Oyarzun Moltedo, Justin Rustle, Aleny Serna, and Baylee Wong
Rehearsal Direction: Anne Sidney
Assistant Rehearsal Director: Sarah Halzack
Video Montage: Ricardo Alvarez
Sound Montage: Dana Tai Soon Burgess, Laura McDonald
“Eohwaneo” Kim Young Im Kim Young Im Hwoaesimgog
“Suite for Violin and American Gamelan: VII.” Violin Recital: Koh, Jennifer - Higdon, J. - Harrison, L. - Adams, J.Ruggles, C. (String Poetic)
“Chaconne,” Southwest Chamber Music Composer Portrait Series John Cage, Lou Harrison, and Harry Partch
“String poetic: II. Nocturne” Jennifer Koh & Reiko Uchida Mrs. Kelleheir ESL Language Teaching “Spectacular /s/”
ESL Learning video
Light Design: Felipe Oyarzun Moltedo
Costume Design: Judy Hansen
Set Pieces: Charles and Nina Southall
Props: Kelly Moss Southall -- Brief Pause --
Choreography: Dana Tai Soon Burgess
Dancers: Natasha Ames, Joan Ayap, Tomas Fischer, Trevor Frantz, Felipe Oyarzun Moltedo, William Robinson, Justin Rustle, Aleny Serna, and Baylee Wong
Rehearsal Director: Anne Sidney
Assistant Rehearsal Director: Sarah Halzack
Videos: Nam June Paik, Button Happening (1965), Cinema Metaphysique (1967–1972), Hand and Face (1961)
Video Rights: The Nam June Paik Foundation and Electronic Arts Intermix (www.eai.org)
Visual Media Design and Editing: Laura McDonald
Scenic Design: Sara Brown
Music: Ryuichi Sakamoto - Albion Corporation Music
Courtesy of Hefty Records
“Sound in a Dark Room Remix (Ryuichi Sakamoto Remix)” Written by Charles Wesley Cooper III & Joshua L Eustis Performed by Telefon Tel Aviv
Courtesy of Ghostly International
Music Montage: Laura McDonald
Light Design: Felipe Oyarzun Moltedo
Costume Design: Judy Hansen
Join us for a 20-minute post-performance audience Q & A with Dana Tai Soon Burgess immediately following tonight’s performance
Now in its 32nd season, Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company (DTSBDC) creates and performs contemporary modern dance works that explore the joy, sorrow, and beauty of the human experience. 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 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, the Korean Cultural Center, and the Noguchi Museum among many others.
As a U.S. State Department cultural envoy, 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
Dana Tai Soon Burgess (Founding Artistic Director) is a leading American choreographer and cultural figure known worldwide as the “Diplomat of Dance.” He is a 4th generation Korean American whose ancestors arrived on the plantations of Hawaii in 1903. In 1992, he founded the Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company (DTSBDC), Washington, DC’s preeminent modern dance company.
Burgess’s work often focuses on Asian Americans Identities by exploring —the flowing together of diverse perspectives, histories, and traditions. He has served as a Cultural Ambassador for the U.S. State Department for over two decades, an appointment he uses to promote international cultural dialogue through “the global language of dance.” Burgess has been awarded three Fulbright Senior scholarships for dance and recently received two prestigious awards – the Selma Jeanne Cohen Fulbright Dance Lecture Award and the Aaron Stein Memorial Award.
In 2016, Burgess was named the Smithsonian Institution’s first-ever Choreographer-in-Residence. From 2016-2023 he created new works inspired by museum exhibitions, participated in public discussions about dance and art and designed educational programming. The exploration of dance and art is deeply rooted for Burgess. In 2003, Burgess was one of only three artists featured in the Smithsonian Institution’s “A Korean American Century” – an exhibition highlighting the history and achievements of Korean Americans in the US. He was also highlighted in “Dancing the Dream,” the Smithsonian’s first exhibition on American dance. Three portraits of Burgess are part of the permanent collection of the Smithsonian and his family archive resides in the American History Museum. He has created works for The National Gallery of Art, The Noguchi Museum, The National Museum of Asian Art, The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, The National Building Museum, The Kreeger Museum, The Baltimore Museum of Art, and The UNM Art Museum to name a few.
Burgess and DTSBDC have received numerous awards and acclamations including the Mayor’s Arts Award for Excellence (2005), seven Metro D.C. Dance Awards, and the Pola Nirenska Award which celebrates trailblazers and leaders of
the dance community. Burgess received the Paul Ré Peace Prize for bridging communities around the globe through choreography.
He has served as a Mayoral appointed commissioner for the DC Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander Americans and the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. Burgess is the author of Chino and the Dance of the Butterfly: A Memoir by University of New Mexico Press and the editor of and contributor to Milestones in Dance History by Routledge/ Francis&Taylor. He is the host of Slantpodcast.com which focuses on the Asian American arts experience.
Natasha Ames (Dancer) is in her first season with the Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company. Trained in classical ballet and modern dance at The Washington Ballet and the Kirov Academy of Ballet, she holds a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from Towson University. Beyond performance, she is dedicated to expanding dance education and inclusivity. As part of the JUNTOS Collective in 2023, she helped bring cultural dance programs to children in Guatemala, fostering artistic exchange and enhancing education in underserved communities. Natasha advocates for dance accessibility and works to address inequalities and promote diversity within the art form.
Joan Ayap (Dancer) is in her eighth season with Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company. She was born in Washington, D.C. and raised in Manila Philippines. Ms. Ayap began her dance training at the Hilil-Cruz School of Ballet and the Philippine Ballet Theatre and Conservatoire. She received her B.S. in interior design from Assumption College, San Lorenzo, while pursuing a dance career. Her professional experience began with the Philippine Ballet Theatre, where she worked with acclaimed teachers and choreographers. In Washington, D.C. she has performed with Bowen McCauley Dance and DC Contemporary Dance Theatre. She is also a former American Rhythm Pro Multi-Divisions competitor. Ms. Ayap is on the dance faculty at Georgetown Day School and City Dance.
Tomas Fischer (Dancer) is in his first season with Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company. Tomas was born in Lithuania and grew up in Washington, DC. He began his career in ballet in 2008, at the age of 10, with the Maryland Youth Ballet and trained with Olivier Munoz. In 2010, he furthered his
ballet training at the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, DC. In 2017 he completed the 2 year Men’s Scholarship Program at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. Tomas started his professional dance career with First State Ballet Theatre in 2019. He most recently finished his fourth season with The Florida Ballet as a Company Member.
Trevor Frantz (Dancer) is in his second season with Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company. Mr. Frantz was born in Bucks County, PA, where he pursued performing arts and dance throughout his childhood. He continued his dance education at the George Washington University, where he earned a dance minor along with a BFA in Interior Architecture. Mr. Frantz now works full-time as an interior designer.
Felipe Oyarzun Moltedo (Assistant Artistic Director & Dancer) is in his thirteenth season with Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company. Mr. Moltedo is from Santiago, Chile. He began dancing at the age of 12 and has since received several awards and distinctions, among others, Chile’s Best Dancer Inter-American Circle of Dance Professionals Award. In Santiago, Mr. Moltedo ran his own company, which led to multiple national and international tours. He holds a B.F.A in dance, an M.A. in dance education with honors from the University of Chile, and an M.F.A. in dance from The George Washington University Department of Theatre and Dance. Currently, Mr Moltedo is the Assistant Artistic Director, multimedia designer/creator, and webmaster for Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company; and the producer and editor of SLANTpodcast.com.
William Robinson (Dancer) is in his first season with Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company. He was raised in Washington, DC and 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. Mr Robinson 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. Mr. Robinson is currently full-time dance faculty at Georgetown Day School.
Justin Rustle (Dancer) is in his third season with Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company. Originally from Maryland, Mr. Rustle began dancing at the Liz Lerman Movement Exchange, and went on to receive his formative training at Maryland Youth Ballet. Justin holds a BFA in Dance Performance from Butler University, and an MA in Performance Studies from the TISCH School of the Arts at New York University. He has previously danced with companies including Ballet Arkansas and Bowen-McCauley Dance Company. Mr. Rustle has performed work by choreographers including Nacho Duato, Paul Taylor, George Balanchine, Gerald Arpino, Harrison McEldowney, Darelle Grand Moultrie, Kiyon Gaines Ross, and Ilana Goldman. He is also a contributing writer covering dance for Maryland Theatre Guide.
Aleny Serna (Dancer) is in her fifth season with Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company. She was born in New Jersey but lived in Asia for 12 years where she received most of her formal dance training in classical ballet and contemporary. Ms. Serna has a degree in Exercise Science and Dance from George Washington University and is currently full-time dance faculty at Georgetown Day School.
Baylee Wong (Dancer) is in her second season with Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company. Born and raised in Carmel, New York, Ms. Wong began her dance journey at age three. Baylee received training at Pinewood School of Dance, Fred Astaire, Joffrey Summer Intensive, AAB Summer Intensive, and Towson University. She learned various dance styles including ballet, tap, jazz, modern, and ballroom. In 2019, she took 1st at the Tri-State Dancesport Championship in youth rhythm open gold. Baylee received a BFA Dance Performance and Choreography degree at Towson University. Ms. Wong is currently on the dance faculty at Georgetown Day School.
March 16th
The Arts Club of Washington
Leadership
Dana Tai Soon Burgess, Founding Artistic Director
Christine Doyle, Managing Director
Felipe Oyarzun Moltedo, Assistant Artistic Director
Staff
Bianca DeLille, Development Director
Patch Canada, Public Relations Specialist
Jan Tievsky, Educational Principal
Joan Ayap, Educational Program Teacher
William Robinson, Educational Program Teacher and Production Assistant
Aleny Serna, Educational Program Teacher
Baylee Wong, Educational Program Teacher
Isel Perez, Accountant
Artists
Anne Sidney, Rehearsal Director
Sarah Halzack, Assistant Rehearsal Director
Millicent Scarlett, Resident Musician
Dana Nicole Scott, Resident Musician
Lauren Victor, Resident Photographer
Danny Debner, Stage Manager
2024 DTSBDC Dancers
Natasha Ames
Joan Ayap
Tomas Fischer
Trevor Frantz
Felipe Oyarzun Moltedo
Justin Rustle
Aleny Serna
Baylee Wong
William Robinson
Board of Directors
Susan Gigli, President
Jan Tievsky, Vice President
Mary Eccles, Secretary
Erick Hosaka, Treasurer
Jameson Freeman
Nicole Hollander
Bonnie Kogod
Ellen Boyers Kwatnoski
Marcia Lim
Leigh Adams Slaughter
Kelly Southall
Dana Tai Soon Burgess (ExOfficio)
Biance DeLille (Ex-Officio)
Advisory Board
Kay Casstevens
Josue Castilleja
Mario Castillo
Diane Dragaud
Sara Gay Forden
Sarah Halzack
Joshua Kaufman
Mark Ohnmacht
Steve Oshana
Anatol Steck
Lauren Victor
Yang-Ro Yoon
Organizational Mentors
Patch Canada
Michael Kaiser
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US IN OUR
Every contribution makes a significant difference. Together, we can make our 2025 season the most impactful yet. To make a contribution please scan/click the QR code below.
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We gratefully acknowledge the support of the following corporations, foundations, government agencies, and individuals who supported Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company during our 24-25 season.
$51,000 - 150,000
DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities
$20,000 - 50,000
Georgetown Day School*
The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation
Patch Canada
March Forth Foundation
The National Endowment for the Arts
Philip L. Graham Fund
$5,000 - 19,000
Committee for the Future
Dallas Morse Coors Foundation for the Performing Arts
Dwight Stuart Youth Fund
Mary Eccles
Fulbright Scholars
Cary Fuller
Elizabeth Harter
JBG Smith
Ellen Kwatnoski
Maryland Youth Ballet*
Microsoft
Morningstar Foundation
Heinz and Liselotte Nehring
Stiftung Foundation
Katia Norri
The Share Fund
Jan and Seth Tievsky
Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company*
$1000 - 4,000
Anonymous (3)
Bloomberg Philanthropies
Ian Burgess
Alan Cariaso
Kay Casstevens
Cherry Blossom Giving Circle
Laurie Davis and Joseph Sellers
Bianca DeLille
FBB Capital Partners
Jameson Freeman and Dana
Burgess
Susan Gigli
Sergio Herrera and Kelly Southall
Wayne Hickory
Nicole Hollander
Erick Hosaka
Jill and Bill Hudock
Bonnie Kogod
Richard Kwatnoski
Marcia Lim
Laura McDonald
Kelly and Joel Minton
Elvi Moore
Judith Viggers Nordin
Dr. Susan Ohnmacht
Mark Ohnmacht
Eser Ozdeger
Stacey Perelman
Sheri and Robert Rosenfeld
Joan and Barry Rosenthal
Stephanie Rosenthal and Scott
Meisler
Stuart Ross and Patricia Devine
Teresa Saavedra
Eric San Juan and Jack Davis
Marian and Neel Saxena
Scout Properties
Leigh Slaughter
Steve Slaughter
Arnold Stolberg
Peter and Judith Storandt
Aaron Tievsky and Frank Delaney
*Educational or Community Partner
A special thank you to our generous reception donors Leigh Slaughter, Frances and Ginger Park, Chocolate Chocolate, Bonnie Kogod, Marcia Lim, Susan Gigli, and Jameson Freeman.
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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