DTSBDC 25/26 Press Kit

DTSBDC DA NA TA I SO O N B U RG E S S DAN CE CO MPAN Y

“ N OT O N LY A WAS H IN G TO N PRI Z E , BUT A N AT IO N A L DAN C E T R E A SURE ” THE WASHI N GTON POST - Sarah Kauf m an

DTSBDC .OR G

PRESS KIT

PRESS KIT 2025/26

DTSB

Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company (DTSBDC) creates and performs modern dance works that explore intersectional identities – the flowing together of diverse perspectives, histories, and traditions that result in shared audience understanding.

Now in its 33rd season, DTSBDC is a culturally diverse company that performs modern dances that uplift, inspire, and bring new insights to seasoned dance lovers and new audiences alike.

The premier modern dance company in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, 2

DTSBDC also tours throughout the United States and around the world. The Washington Post described the Company as “not only a Washington prize, but a national dance treasure,” and the Washington City Paper’s 2023, 2024, and 2025 Reader Poll named DTSBDC as the “Best Dance Company of DC”.

DTSBDC is the national leader in the movement to collaborate with and perform at visual arts institutions. The Company is uniquely able to nurture and serve both dance and visual arts audiences.

It creates new works inspired by cutting-

edge exhibitions, hosts open rehearsals, offers educational programming, and through its touring provides opportunities for audiences to experience dance as well as understand – and witness – its creative process.

Washington City Paper’s 2023, 2024, and 2025 Reader Poll named DTSBDC as the “Best Dance Company of DC”

BDC In 2016, DTSBDC was named the Smithsonian Institution’s firstever resident dance company where the Company worked for seven years with the National Portrait Gallery curators and historians to create and perform dances inspired by the exhibitions. Other visual arts museums and partnerships include the Arts Club of Washington, the National Gallery of Art, the Kreeger Museum, the Noguchi Museum, and the University of New Mexico Art Museum among others.

In 2024, the Company began its participation in the year-long John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Social

Impact Community Partnership Program.

DTSBDC has also collaborated with other organizations in Washington, DC and beyond including the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, the DC Mayor’s Office of Asian Pacific Islander Americans, DC Public Library System, DC Public Schools, NASA, the U.S. State Department, and more.

DTSBDC has been presented extensively, including at the Asia Society, Arena Stage, the Baltimore Museum of Art, La MaMa, Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors, the Korean Cultural Center, NYU Skirball Center for

the Performing Arts, the Sylvia and Danny Kaye Playhouse, Towson University, the United Nations, the University of New Mexico, Washington University, as well as at the White House at the invitation of President and First Lady Michelle Obama.

As a U.S. State Department cultural representative, DTSBDC has toured internationally to five continents and over 30 countries including Cambodia, China, Ecuador, Egypt, Germany, India, Israel, Jordan, Latvia, Mexico, Mongolia, Panama, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela, to name a few.

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2025-26 DTSBDC ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Dana Tai Soon Burgess

MANAGING DIRECTOR

ABOUT THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

DANA TAI SOON B

Christine Doyle

ASSISTANT ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Felipe O. Moltedo

PHOTOGRAPHY John B Photo, Matailong Du, Jeff Malet, Mary Noble Ours, Sueraya Shaheen, Lauren Victor, Jeff Watts, xmbphotography

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Felipe O. Moltedo

ART COVER Photo: Matailong Du featuring dancer Joan Ayap

ADDRESS 2745 Arizona Ave, NW Washignton, DC, 20016

WEB www.dtsbdc.org www.slantpodcast.com

SOCIAL MEDIA @dtsbdc

PRESS KIT THIS PRESS KIT IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT INTENDED FOR COMMERCIAL USE . ALL IMAGES AND CONTENT ARE THE PROPERTY OF DANA TAI SOON BURGESS DANCE COMPANY. FOR ANY CORRECTIONS OR INQUIRIES , PLEASE CONTACT PRESS@DTSBDC .COM. 4

Dana Tai Soon Burgess is a lea din g Am erican ch oreograph er an d cultural f igure kn own worldwide as th e “Diplomat of Dan ce.” In 1992 , h e foun ded th e Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dan ce Company (DTSBDC), Washin gton, DC ’s preemin ent m odern dan ce company. DTSBDC ’s projec ts began in DC ’s Chinatown.

Burgess creates contemporar y m odern dan ce works that explore th e joy, sorrow an d beauty of th e human experien ce. He has ser ved as a Cultural Ambassa dor for th e U. S . State Depar tm ent for over two deca des, an appointm ent h e uses to prom ote international cultural dialogue through “ th e global lan gua ge of dan ce.” Burgess has been awarded three Fulbright Senior sch olarships for dan ce an d recently received two prestigious awards – th e Selma Jeann e Coh en Dan ce Lec ture Award an d th e Aaron Stein Mem orial Award.

Th e exploration of dan ce an d ar t is deeply rooted for Burgess. Th e son of two visual ar tists h e has always approa ch ed th e sta ge as a canvas, an d th e dan cers as brush strokes. In 2003, Burgess was on e of only three ar tists featured in th e Smithsonian Institution’s “A Korean Am erican Centur y ” – an exhibition highlightin g th e histor y an d a chievem ents of Korean Am ericans in th e US .

He was also highlighted in “Dan cin g th e Dream,” th e Smithsonian’s f irst exhibition on Am erican dan ce. Three por traits of Burgess are par t of th e perman e nt collec tion of th e Smithsonian an d his family archive resides in th e Am erican Histor y Museum. He has created works for Th e National Galler y of Ar t , Th e Noguchi Museum, Th e National Museum of Asian Ar t , Th e National Buildin g Museum, Th e Kreeger Museum, Th e Baltim ore Museum of Ar t , an d Th e UNM Ar t Museum to nam e a few.

Burgess an d DTSBDC have received num erous awards an d a cclamations in cludin g th e

DANA TAI SOON BURGESS DANCE COMPANY

BURGESS

“HIS GIFT IS TO SPOTLIGHT ASPECTS OF THE ART A VISITOR MIGHT OVERLOOK” THE WASHINGTON POST

Outstan din g Em ergin g Ar tist at th e 12th Annual Mayor Ar ts Award ( 1994), th e Mayor ’s Ar ts Award for Excellen ce (2005), seven Metro D.C . Dan ce Awards, an d th e Pola Nirenska Award which celebrates trailblazers an d lea ders of th e dan ce community. Burgess received th e Paul Ré Pea ce Prize for bridgin g communities aroun d th e globe through ch oreography. He has ser ved as a Mayoral appointed commission er for th e DC Commission on Asian

an d Pa cif ic Islan der Am ericans an d th e DC Commission on th e Ar ts an d Humanities.Burgess is th e auth or of Chin o an d th e Dan ce of th e Butterfly : A Mem oir by University of New Mexico Press an d th e editor of an d contributor to Mileston es in Dan ce Histor y by Routledge/Fran cis&Taylor.

He is th e h ost of Slantpodcast .com which focuses on th e Asian Am erican ar ts experien ce.

PRESS KIT 2025/26

RESIDENCIES, PARTNER AND COLLABORATIONS DANA TAI SOON BURGESS DANCE COMPANY CONTINUES TO BE A LEADER IN THE MOVEMENT TO COLLABORATE WITH AND PERFORM AT VISUAL ART INSTITUTIONS AND STAGES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. W h en two a r ts organ iz at ion s s h a re l i ke -mi n ded missions to crea te b o l d a r tistic works which g e n era te d i a l ogue an d explore d ive rs e na rra tives th at build e m pa thy a n d un derstan din g a cros s cu ltu res an d a ges – a co ll a b ora ti o n seems f ittin g.

I n O c tob er 2025, DTSBDC i n n a g u ra tes a two year Ar t istin - R es ide n cy prog ram at t h e la n dma rk Kreeg er Museum. “I a lways f i n d i nspirat ion in Th e Kre eg er Mu s e um’s perman ent co ll e c ti on. T h ere’s always a n ew p e rs p e c ti ve , color, brush stroke, n u a n ce o r s ha de th at reveals it self a n d d raws m e in closer to t h e wo rk a n d th e ar t ist ,” says Burgess.

I n May 2026 , Woolly Mamm ot h T h eate r Co mpany will welcom e D a n a Ta i S o on Burgess Dan ce Co m pa ny to i ts sta ge feat urin g a wo rld p remi ere of a dan ce piece ce le b ra ti n g this n ew par t n ership a n d b e l oved classic s f rom th e Co m pa ny ’s reper toire f rom th eir 32- sea s o n hi s tor y.

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“ Wo ol l y Ma mm ot h Th eat re an d D a n a Ta i S o on Burgess Dan ce Co m pa ny a re n atural par t n ers w it h s ha re d values,” Foun der

an d A r t i s t i c Di rec to r, Dana Tai So o n B u rges s . “ Now i s a per fec t t i m e to bri n g di vers e au di en ces to get h er. Co l l abo rat i o ns between ar t s i ns t i t u t i o ns i s t h e way o f t h e f u t u re fo r DC an d we are pro u d to be par t o f Wo o l l y Mam m o t h T h eat re’s 2026 s eas o n.”

Over two weeks , t h e Co m pany w i l l o f fer au di en ces wo rks t hat ex pl o re t h e i nn er em o t i o nal terrai n o f hu m ani ty. T h ei r s i gnat u re pi eces del ve i nto t h e hu man psych e t hro u gh s to ri es o f u nrequ i ted l ove, co m i n g o f a ge, o f l o s s , an d t ri u m ph.

Du ri n g t h e 202 5 / 26 s eas o n DTSB DC w i l l al s o be i n par t n ers hi p w i t h U ni ve rsi ty of M a di son, Hon ol u l u A r t M u se u m, an d M ar y l an d You t h B al l e t to nam e a few .

O t h er par t n ers hi ps have i n cl u ded: • T h e No gu chi Mu s eu m • B alt i m o re Mu s eu m o f A r t • Lo n gHo u s e Res er ve • C ranbro o k Aca demy o f A r t • T h e A r t s C l u b o f Was hi n gto n • Kenn edy Center So ci al I mpa c t

DANA TAI SOON BURGESS DANCE COMPANY

RSHIPS AS NOTED BY THE WASHINGTON POST, “DANCEMAKER DANA TAI SOON BURGESS S AND VISUAL ARTS GO HAND IN GRACEFUL HAND.”

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PRESS KIT 2025/26

2025-26 RE K h a y bet-T h e S h adow ( 19 9 9 ) It was t h e p eop le like s h a d ows dar tin g f rom d o o r way to d o or way t h at in trigued Burgess wh e n h e v i s i te d th e tribal b ord erlan ds b e twe e n A fg h an is tan an d Pakis tan on a c ul t u ra l U S S tate De par t m e n t to ur. Now a sig n a t ure wo rk of th e Company with m usic

by Ph i l i p G l a s s , t h is s olo focu s e s on a wom an a p p roa ch i n g d eat h ; s h e rev is it s im a g es f rom h e r li fe a n d ul t imate ly com e s to term s with h e r m o r t a l i ty.

S u d d en Sn ow (202 5 ) This full- company work is inspired by t h e b o ld elegan ce of abstra c t expressionist Helen Frankenthaler an d h er conn ec ti o n to Japan ese Zen Buddhist calligraphy. Sud d en S n ow features orig inal costum e textile s by a cclaim ed Ta os Pueblo design er Patri c i a Micha els an d is perform ed with a live p i an o t rio.

M e dita tions ( 20 0 8 ) O rig i n a l l y ch o re ograp h e d by Burgess for Ba lle t Me m p h is , Me d ita t ion s is a f ull- company wo rk t h a t ce le b rate s t h e As ian Am erican com m u n i ty t h rou gh s u b lim e p hrasin g an d b reat h t a ki n g e le gan ce of m ovem ent set to m us i c by Lo u Harris on .

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DANA TAI SOON BURGESS DANCE COMPANY

EPERTOIRE Ca verns (2012 ) A pe n s i ve p i ece for a trio of d an cers, Cave rn s i s s e t to Fü r Alin a by Ar vo Par t . It follows t h e cyclic e m otion s of a prota gonist c a ug h t w i t h i n a we b of re m e mbran ce an d h e r i n a b i l i ty to e s cap e th e h au ntin g of an un re q ui ted l ove .

C h a rl i e Ch a n a n d t h e Mys ter y o f Love ( 201 0 ) This f ull- company dan ce was inspired by B urg ess’s own com in g of a ge stor y a s a yo un g gay Korean Am eric an in Santa Fe, NM i n t h e early 1980’s. T h e work explores th em e s o f belon g in g, love an d identity in m odern d ay, mul ti-fa ceted Am erica.

T h e Co m pa ny will als o pay trib ute to th e ar tist con si d ere d t h e f irs t Ch in e s e Am eric an f ilm st a r i n H o l l ywood , Anna May Won g ( Januar y 3 , 1 90 5 – Feb r uar y 3, 1 9 6 1 ). Th e world p remiere p e r fo rm a n ces s p otligh t h e r groun dbreakin g c a re er t h a t s pan n e d s ile n t f ilm, soun d f ilm , st a g e , w h i l e als o fa cin g s te re otypical poles a n d an t i - m i s ce ge n ation laws .

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PRESS KIT 2025/26

PRESS HIGHLIGHTS “The National Portrait Gallery is embracing live performance to highlight American stories missing from its halls.”

HOW A SMITHSONIAN MUSEUM STOPPED BEING ABOUT THE “ W E A LT H Y, PA L E A N D M A L E ” THE NEW YORK TIMES

“A dance performance, meanwhile, activates the museum space in a wildly different - and exciting way.“ NEW CREATIVES POSSIBILITIES BETWEEN MUSEUMS AND DANCE ARTISTS DANCE MAGAZINE

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DANA TAI SOON BURGESS DANCE COMPANY

“The pieces showcased the physical, emotional, and spiritual changes that Asian American identity undergoes in a clear and poetic style that allowed the audience to understand and empathize even if they couldn’t relate.“ REVIEW: DANA TAI SOON BURGESS DANCE COMPANY AT W O O L LY M A M M O T H T H E AT R E C O M PA N Y THE WASHINGTON POST

“While most of us saunter through museum exhibitions, perhaps pausing at works of particular interest, Dana Tai Soon Burgess dances among art — DANA TAI SOON BURGESS DANCERS GIVE LIFE TO FACE OF M E T R O W E E K LY

“300 visitors fill the adjoining courtyard, where the gallery’s resident choreographer, Dana Tai Soon Burgess, is presenting his new dance.”

FOR DANCERS PERFORMING IN MUSEUM, FIRST RULE IS: DON’T BUMP INTO ART THE WASHINGTON POST

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PRESS KIT 2025/26

C H I N O A N D T H E D A N C E O F T H E B U T T E R F LY - A M E M O In his memoir Chino and the D ance of the But ter f ly, Dana Tai Soon Burges s shares his deeply p ers onal hyphenated world and explores how his multif aceted background shapes his prolif ic ar t-making.

T h e b o o k h as re ce ive d w id e s prea d a ccla im : • “A d e ft weavin g of th e au th or ’s ex p e rie n ce w ith s e lf- d is cover y

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a s h e rea lizes a life a s a da n ce r a n d a r tist .” — El Pa la cio “D a na Ta i Soon Burgess ha s written a m em oir a s inti ma te , delica te, a n d, ultim a tely, bea utif ul a s th e da n ces h e crea tes. A nyon e intereste d i n h ow a n a r tist develops sh oul d rea d this book .” — M icha e l M .

Ka iser, President Em erit us of th e John F. Kenn edy Cen te r for th e Performin g A r ts

“Chino and the Dance of the Butterfly: A Memoir paints path but also reveals truths common to the path of all d as poetic is his atmospheric choreography – lyrical, esoteric. Honest and rich, his stories can deeply enga

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DANA TAI SOON BURGESS DANCE COMPANY

OIR Bu rg es s h a s s h a re d th e m e m oir in boo k t alks n a t io nw id e , w h e re h e intersp e rs e s co nve rs atio n ab o u t hi s l i fe a n d t h e c raft of d an ce wi th d an ce exce rp ts , e n g a g in g au di en ce s o f a ll a ge s in a u n iq u e convers a t io n b e twe e n th e h u man experi en ce a n d m ove m e n t .

s a picture of Burgess’ unique dance artists. His prose is just yet eschewing the needlessly age both the heart and mind.”

DANCE INFORMA

SLANT PODCAST DTSBD C con ti n ue s to use T h e Sl an t Po dcas t , which can be fou n d at sla n tp odcas t .com as wel l a s on al l m aj or po dcast pla tfo rm s , to e n h an ce its edu cati o n pro g ram.

B urge s s h o s ts th e pod c a s t , durin g w h i ch h e i n te r v i ews Asia n -A m e ri c an c reati ves to exp l ore th e i m pa c t o f be in g As i an A m e ri c an o n th e ir work . T h e g oal o f t h e podca s t i s to h e l p com ba t

As i a n Am eri c a n ra c i s m by hi g hl i g ht i n g t h e d i versity o f o u r APA co m m u ni t i e s.

S l a nt p o d c a s t ha s b eco m e a n i m p o r t a nt APA c u lt u ra l a rchi ve. G u es t s i n cl u d e D av i d H enr y H wa n g , Ad i S ha nka r, J o nJ o n a n d I sa B ri o n es , Ti m M a , Kev i n Stea , a m o n g o t h ers .

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PRESS KIT 2025/26

DONOR LISTING We gratefully acknowledge the support of the following corporations, foundations, goverment agencies, and individuals who supported Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company during our 24-25 season.

Major Supporters $51,000-150,000

DC Commision on the Arts and Humanities

$20,000-50,000

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 Eric Naison-Phillips Family Foundation Fulbright Scholars Cary Fuller Elizabeth Harter JBG Smith Ellen Kwatnoski Maryland Youth Ballet* Microsoft Morningstar Foundation Katia Norri The Share Fund Jan and Seth Tievsky Heinz and Liselotte Nehring Stiftung Foundation Winged Keel Group

$500-4,000

Anonymous (3) John Ashford Bloomberg Philanthropies Ian Burgess Jason and Melissa Burnett Jane Cafritz Michael Caplin Alan Cariaso Kay Casstevens Cherry Blossom Giving Circle Claudia de Colstoun-Werebe Joseph Sellers and Laurie Davis Bianca DeLille Diane Dragaud FBB Capital Partners 14

David Fischer and Joy Kassett Jameson Freeman and Dana Burgess Mary A. Gifford Susan Gigli Ross Goldman Sergio Herrera and Kelly Southall Wayne Hickory Celia Hoke Nicole Hollander Erick Hosaka Jill and Bill Hudock Janice Kaplan Rozane Kaufmann and Neal Fitzpatrick Rebecca Klemm Bonnie Kogod Richard Kwatnoski Marcia Lim Barbara and Robert Liotta Elizabeth McCallum Laura McDonald Alanna McKee Kelly and Joel Minton Felipe Moltedo Elvi Moore Judith Viggers Nordin Dr. Susan Ohnmacht Mark Ohnmacht Eser Ozdeger Tom Pallas Stacey Perelman Young-Key Kim and Bertrand Renaud Sheri and Robert Rosenfeld Joan and Berry Rosenthal Stephanie Rosenthal and Scott Meisler Stuart Ross and Patricia Devine Teresa Saavedra Eric San Juan and Jack Davis Ben Sanders Marian and Neel Saxena Scout Properties Leigh Slaughter Steve Slaughter Arnie Stolberg Peter and Judith Storandt Aaron Tievsky and Frank Delaney Maida R. Withers Barrie Zucal

JOIN US IN OUR MISSION TO SHARE THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF DANCE Every contribution makes a significant difference.

Together, we can make our 2025 season the most impactful yet. To make a contribution please scan the QR code below.

PRESS KIT 2025/26

“ N OT O N LY A WA S H IN G TO N PRIZE , BUT A NATI ONA L DA N C E T RE A S U R E ” 16

T H E WA S H I NGTO N P OST - Sa rah Kauf man

DANA TAI SOON BURGESS DANCE COMPANY

STAFF AND BOARD 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, Maryland Youth Ballet Teacher William Robinson, Production Assistant Isel Perez, Accountant Electra Hurwood, Intern Charlie Meisler, Intern Max Goldman, Intern

Artists Anne Sidney, Rehearsal Director Sarah Halzack, Assistant Rehearsal Director

Carl Gudenius, Lighting Designer Sigrid Johannesdottïr, Costume Designer

Millicent Scarlett, Resident Musician Dana Nicole Scott, Resident Musician

Lauren Victor, Resident Photographer

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

2025-26 DTSBDC Dancers Natasha Ames Joan Ayap Armani Colon Christine Doyle Tomas Fischer Trevor Frantz Felipe Oyarzun Moltedo William Robinson Baylee Wong

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PRESS KIT 2025/26

DTSBDC DANA TA I SOON BU RG ES S DA N C E CO MPA N Y

2745 Arizona Ave, NW Washington, DC, 20016

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