The Kreeger Museum Presents
DANA TAI SOON BURGESS DANCE COMPANY
Vectors
Photo by William Robinson featuring Natasha Ames and Joan Ayap
Founding Artistic Director, Dana Tai Soon Burgess Executive Director, Christine Doyle Associate Artistic Director, Felipe Oyarzun Moltedo
September 26 - 2026
From Dana Tai Soon Burgess “Vectors” takes inspiration from the Kreeger Museum’s notable kinetic stainless steel outdoor sculpture by American artist George Rickey (June 6, 1907 – July 17, 2002). The sculpture, Two Lines Oblique Down III (1970) - with a 15-foot post with 8-foot arms and 15-foot blades - is part of the institution’s permanent outdoor sculpture collection and garden. Known for his “Lines” series, Rickey designed the piece with needle-like metal blades that react to minimal air currents, creating mesmerizing movement. Felipe Moltedo, DTSBDC’s Associate Director and I designed “Vectors” for the main gallery of The Kreeger Museum. This dance transforms the experience of viewing George Rickey’s kinetic sculpture into a living dialogue between steel, wind, architecture, and the human body. Rickey’s precisely balanced forms— activated by the slightest breeze—become both inspiration and point of departure, their rotations echoed in the dancers’ full body extensions, suspended balances, and sweeping pathways. Celebrated for their graceful, wind-driven motion, Rickey’s sculptures blur the line between engineering and choreography. We are grateful to the Kreeger Museum’s director, Helen Chason and her skilled staff, Patience Thompson and Katie Capristo and DTSBDC’s executive director, Christine Doyle and rehearsal director, Anne Sidney for supporting this work and inviting all of us to explore how we interact with art. Sincerely, Dana Tai Soon Burgess Artistic Director
Photo by Sueraya Shaheen
Vectors Choreography: Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dancers: Natasha Ames, Joan Ayap, Christine Doyle, Tomas Fischer, Trevor Frantz, Max Goldman, Felipe Oyarzun Moltedo, William Robinson, and Baylee Wong Rehearsal Director: Anne Sidney Rehearsal Assistant: Sarah Halzack and Kelly Southall Music: “Elk” by Meydän, “The Shadow Weeps” and “Vengeance Is Mined” by Soularflair, “Out of Bounds,” “Much Less Sense,” and “Atmo People” by Serat All works were excerpted, edited, and combined for this performance and are 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/Meydan/ Ambient_1860/Elk freemusicarchive.org/music/Soularflair/cc-byfree-to-use-for-anything-1 freemusicarchive.org/music/serat/flow-sessions Music Montage: Felipe Oyarzun Moltedo Costume Design: Dana Tai Soon Burgess and Felipe Oyarzun Moltedo
Join us for a 20-minute post-performance audience Q & A with Dana Tai Soon Burgess and Helen Chason immediately following today’s performance
Photo by William Robinson
About DTSBDC Now in its 34th 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. 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
Photo by Matailong Du
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
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 34th 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 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. 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. Max Goldman (Trainee) is in his second season with Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company. Max 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 trainee with Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company and continues his Modern/Contemporary dance training with a variety of teachers around the nation.
Find us at our upcoming performances From Memoir to Movement with Dana Tai Soon Burgess October 9th
Oxford Community Center
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 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 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 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 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 Ross Goldman and Lauren Roth
Photo by Lauren Victor
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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 09/21/2026
Google 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 Kathy McGuire Alanna McKee Elvi Moore Patricia O’Shea Mark Ohnmacht
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 William Robinson