Oxford Community Center Presents
DANA TAI SOON BURGESS DANCE COMPANY
From Memoir to Movement
October 9 - 2026
Photo by Mary Noble Ours
Founding Artistic Director, Dana Tai Soon Burgess Executive Director, Christine Doyle Associate Artistic Director, Felipe Oyarzun Moltedo
From Dana Tai Soon Burgess It is a pleasure for the Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company to join the Oxford community for an evening of conversation, connection, and dance. Dance is more than movement. It is a way of telling stories, exploring memory, and expressing the experiences that connect us as human beings. In this program, we invite you to experience our work not only through performance, but also through discussion and dialogue about the ideas, histories, and inspirations behind the dances. We will share excerpts from our repertory and speak about the creative process—how movement develops into choreography, how music and visual art can shape a dance, and how personal and cultural histories find their way onto the stage. I hope this opportunity to look behind the choreography will deepen your experience of the performances and perhaps inspire new ways of seeing contemporary dance. I extend our thanks to Liza Ledford and the staff of the Oxford Community Center, and to Patch Canada for creating the opportunity for this special evening. We hope you enjoy the dances, join the conversation, and discover new ways movement can tell a story. With gratitude, Dana Tai Soon Burgess Artistic Director
Photo by Sueraya Shaheen
From Memoir to Movement Burgess will discuss his award-winning memoir, Chino and the Dance of the Butterfly, in an onstage conversation with Margaret Andersen
Hyphen (2008) - Excerpt Choreography: Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dancers: Natasha Ames and Joan Ayap Rehearsal Director: Anne Sidney Rehearsal Assistant: Sarah Halzack and Kelly Southall Music: “Atmo People” by Serat Song was excerpted, edited, and combined for this performance and is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Sources: Free Music Archive freemusicarchive.org/music/serat/flow-sessions Costumes: Judith Hansen
Leaving Pusan (2001) Choreography: Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dancers: Natasha Ames, Joan Ayap, Tomas Fischer, Trevor Frantz, Felipe Oyarzun Moltedo, Aleny Serna, and Baylee Wong Rehearsal Director: Anne Sidney Assistant Rehearsal Director: Sarah Halzack Music: Jason Kao Hwang Costumes: Judith Hansen
Ave Maria (1914) Choreography: Michio Ito Dancers: Aleny Serna Rehearsal Director: Anne Sidney Music: Franz Schubert, Opus 52 #6D.839 Costumes: Judith Hansen
Khaybet (2000) Choreography: Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dancers: Christine Doyle Rehearsal Director: Anne Sidney Music: “Satyagraha: The Kuru Field of Justice” by Philip Glass Costumes: Judith Hansen
Sudden Snow (2025) - Excerpt
Originally commissioned by the University of New Mexico Art Museum
Choreography: Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dancers: Joan Ayap and Felipe Oyarzun MoltedoRehearsal Director: Anne Sidney Assistant Rehearsal Director: Sarah Halzack Music: “Solitude (Rêverie)” by Rita Strohl. Played by Dana Nichole Scott (piano), David Felberg (violin), and Melinda Mack (Cello) Costume Textile Design: Patricia Michaels Costumiere: Sigrid Johannesdöttir
JOIN US IN OUR MISSION TO SHARE THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF DANCE
Photo by Lauren Victor
Scan or tap to donate
Find us at our upcoming performances Confluence: Stories of Memory, Identity, and Belonging October 30-31
Seoul, South Korea
Holding Back the Tears January 23
The Kreeger Museum
About DTSBDC Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company, the nation’s contemporary modern dance company, is world renowned for its rich tradition of authentic cultural storytelling. For 34 seasons, the Company has explored universal themes of the human spirit through artistic excellence, integrity and creativity. The Company’s timeless repertoire alongside bold, new commissions are committed to diverse perspectives, histories, and traditions that flow together to create cultural dialogue and understanding. As global cultural ambassadors for the U.S. State Department, the Company has extensively toured internationally, to 5 continents and over 30 countries on a mission to use its signature storytelling through movement to bridge communities worldwide. At home in the nation’s capital, the Company is deeply invested in serving its community by bringing a myriad of performances and education programs to all in neighborhoods, libraries, museums, and performing arts venues including The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, The Library of Congress, The
Arts Club of Washington, The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, and the White House at the invitation of President and First Lady Michelle Obama. A true pioneer in the national movement to bring performance inside visual art museums, in 2016 the Company was named the Smithsonian Institution’s first-ever dance company in residence. Redefining how audiences perceive and interact with art, the Company has been sought out to perform at such institutions as the Noguchi Museum, The National Gallery of Art, The Chazen Museum of Art, The Cranbrook Art Museum, The Baltimore Museum of Art, The Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art, and UNM Art Museum. The Company is currently enjoying a two year artist-in-residence at The Kreeger Museum. The Company has a long history of artistic collaborations and partnerships with other organizations including NASA, the United Nations, the Asia Society, the Korean Cultural Center, NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, The Sylvia and Danny Kaye Playhouse, La MaMa, DC Mayor’s Office of Asian Pacific Islander Americans, and the DC
Commission on the Arts and Humanities. Whether the Company is performing in the US or beyond, they remain steadfast
in removing economic and physical barriers to the arts. For more information about DTSBDC visit www.dtsbdc.org
Join our newsletter to stay up to date with news, performances, events, and behind the scenes moments.
Scan ot tap to join
Photo by Matailong Du
About Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dana Tai Soon Burgess is a leading American choreographer and cultural figure known worldwide as the “Diplomat of Dance.” In 1992, he founded the Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company (DTSBDC), Washington, DC’s preeminent modern dance company. DTSBDC’s projects began in DC’s Chinatown. Burgess creates contemporary modern dance works that explore the joy, sorrow and beauty of the human experience. 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 Dance Lecture Award and the Aaron Stein Memorial Award. In 2016, Burgess was
named the Smithsonian Institution’s first-ever Choreographer-inResidence. 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. The son of two visual artists he has always approached the stage as a canvas, and the dancers as brush strokes. 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 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 Outstanding Emerging Artist at the 12th Annual Mayor Arts Award (1994), 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. 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.
Scan ot tap to Listen
About Margaret L. Andersen Margaret L. Andersen is retired as the Rosenberg Professor Emerita at the University of Delaware where she taught for over 40 years. During that time, she also served as a Visiting Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and at Stanford University. She is the author of several books, including her most recent, Moving from the Margins: Life Histories on Transforming the Study of Racism. Many of her other books are used in classrooms around the country although she has also dabbled beyond her training in sociology by publishing a biography of a major art collector titled Living Art: The Life of African American Art Collector Paul Jones. Many of you may have heard her speak here about her photographic book, On Land and On Sea: A Century of Women in the Rosenfeld Collection.
senior leadership positions, including as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Interim Deputy Provost, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs and Diversity, and Executive Director and Founder of the President’s Diversity Initiative. After retirement, she continued her commitment to higher education by coaching new faculty on how to build successful productive careers while maintaining a healthy personal life. As a resident of Oxford, she now serves on the Board of Directors for the Oxford Community Center, along with being active in other local activities. She has been granted an honorary doctorate from the University of Delaware in recognition of her long career of scholarship, teaching, and service.
While at the University of Delaware, she held several
About Oxford Community Center The Oxford Community Center is dedicated to enriching community life by providing educational, cultural, recreational, and social opportunities that bring people together. Through performances, lectures, exhibitions, classes, community
gatherings, and special events, OCC serves as a welcoming gathering place for Oxford and the greater Mid-Shore community.
About DTSBDC Dancers & Artists Christine Doyle (Executive Director - Dancer) is in her eleventh season with the Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company and currently serves as the company’s Executive Director. Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, she received her early training at the Florida Ballet under Laurie Picinich-Byrd and at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts under Phyllis Penney and Rhonda Stampalia. She earned a B.A. in International Affairs from Florida State University before relocating to Washington, DC. Since 2013, Christine has been dedicated to ballet education throughout the region, teaching students of all ages at institutions such as the Kirov Academy of Ballet, Georgetown University, American Dance Institute, Metropolitan Ballet Theatre, and Georgetown Day School. She also spent seven years as Assistant Director at the Maryland School of Dance. Christine is currently on faculty at Mid-Maryland Performing Arts Center, where she continues to inspire the next generation of dancers. Felipe Oyarzun Moltedo (Associate Artistic Director - Dancer) is in his fifteenth 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.
Joan Ayap (Wardrobe Supervisor - Dancer) is in her tenth 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 Halili-Cruz 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. Natasha Ames (Dancer)
is in her third 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. Influenced by mentors such as Ralph Glenmore, Robbin TashaFord, Irina Wunder, LindaDenise Fisher-Harrell, Catherine Horta-Hayden, Vincent Thomas and Caroline Rocher Barnes, Natasha’s choreography reflects her experiences as a woman of color, exploring themes of identity and resilience. 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. Tomas Fischer (Dancer) is in his third 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 where he performed as Benvolio in Alan Hineline’s premiere showing of Romeo And Juliet. Tomas started his professional dance career with First State Ballet Theatre in 2019, where he performed Dracula, and Russian in The Nutcracker. He most recently finished his fourth season with The Florida Ballet as a Company Member performing Dracula, Demitrious in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Flames of Paris Pas de Deux, Le Spectre de la rose Pas de Deux, Prince and Cavalier in The Nutcracker, and other various director choreographed pieces. Trevor Frantz (Dancer) is in his fourth season with Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company. Trevor 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. He now works full-time as an interior designer. William Robinson (Dancer and Production Assistant) is in
his third 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. Aleny Serna (Dancer) is in her fourth season with the 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. Baylee Wong (Dancer) is in her fourth 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.
About the Asian Wine Association of America (AWAA) The Asian Wine Association of America (AWAA) champions the wines, heritage, and voices of Asian American and Asian vintners and wine professionals in the U.S. through advocacy, community engagement, and professional development. Working with cultural and
community organizations, AWAA brings diverse voices and unique wine experiences into influential cultural spaces, connecting Asian wine heritage with the broader cultural dialogue.
About RD Winery RD Winery holds a historic place in California wine country as the first Vietnamese-owned winery founded in Napa Valley. Established in 2010 by Vietnamese entrepreneur Dong Van Nguyen, the winery operates out of a large facility located at the gateway of wine
country where Highway 29 meets Highway 12. Today, it is recognized as a pioneering Napa Green Certified operation led by CEO Mailynh Phan, making it a unique Vietnamese woman-led winery in California.
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 Commission 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 Jane Fishkin Jameson Freeman and Dana Tai Soon Burgess Fulbright Scholars Cary Fuller Elizabeth Wilson Harter Bonnie Kogod Ellen Kwatnoski
Microsoft Kelly Dinglasan Minton and Joel Minton Morningstar Foundation Ross Goldman and Lauren Roth 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 and Chieko Barry Lisa Barry and Jim Gale Bonita Berman Bloomberg Philanthropies Anna Kang Burgess Ian Tai Kyung Burgess Jason and Melissa Burnett Jane Cafritz Alan Cariaso Kay Casstevens Cherry Blossom Giving Circle Claudia de Colstoun-Werebe Laurie Davis and Joseph Sellers
Kathy McGuire Alanna McKee Elvi Moore Patricia O’Shea Mark Ohnmacht Dr. Susan Ohnmacht Felipe Oyarzun Moltedo 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 Marian and Neel Saxena Anita Seline and Michael Remez Scout Properties Steve Slaughter Arnie Stolberg Peter and Judith Storandt Helen R. Trilling Judith Viggers Nordin Maida R. Withers Yang-Ro Yoon Barrie Zucal We appreciate and acknowledge our donors who give between $25-499 *Denotes in-kind services
List from donations received through 10/08/2026
Bianca DeLille Christine Doyle Diane Dragaud Cynthia Evans Mary Davis Farivari Frank Farrow FBB Capital Partners David Fischer and Joy Kassett Izette and Neil Folger Julie Frantz Mary A. Gifford Susan Gigli Jenny Goldman Google Carl Gudenius Sarah Halzack and Neil Irwin Bonnie Hammerschlag Judith Hansen Sergio Herrera and Kelly Southall Marcia Alexis Hilton Celia Hoke Nicole Hollander Erick Hosaka Jill and Bill Hudock Lester Hyman Janice Kaplan Gregory Kaufmann Roxane Kaufmann and Neal Fitzpatrick Lisa Kaye Leslie Kobylinski Richard Kwatnoski Yoko Lawless Laura Leong-Wong Marcia Lim Barbara and Robert Liotta Kristen Lund Tina Matsuoka Elizabeth McCallum Gale McCallum Laura McDonald
THE MOVING FORWARD FUND Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company gratefully acknowledges the following individuals and foundations for donating to The Moving Forward Fund:
Cary Fuller Yang-Ro Yoon The Share Fund
Photo by Matailong Du
DTSBDC STAFF AND BOARD Leadership Dana Tai Soon Burgess, Founding Artistic Director Christine Doyle, Executive Director Felipe Oyarzun Moltedo, Associate Director
William Robinson, Production Assistant
2025-26 DTSBDC Dancers Natasha Ames Joan Ayap Christine Doyle Tomas Fischer Trevor Frantz Felipe Oyarzun Moltedo William Robinson Aleny Serna Baylee Wong Devany Mar, Apprentice Max Goldman, Trainee
Intern
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
Isel Perez,
Accountant
Stoneya Knox-Mason,
Intern
Nelson Mendoza, Board of Directors Ellen Boyers Kwatnoski, Jan Tievsky, Erick Hosaka,
President
Vice President
Mary Eccles,
Treasurer
Secretary Jack Davis Jameson Freeman Susan Gigli Bonnie Kogod 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 Sarah Halzack Joshua Kaufman Kelly Dinglasan Minton Mark Ohnmacht Steve Oshana Anatol Steck Yang-Ro Yoon Organizational Mentors Patch Canada Michael Kaiser
Photo by Matailong Du