Virtual Program Origins

DANA TAI SOON BURGESS DANCE COMPANY Presents

ORIGINS

DTSBDC’s Emerging Choreographers’ Showcase March 16th, 2025 6:00 pm

Photo by Lauren Victor

From the Director, Welcome to ORIGINS our Young Choreographers’ Showcase. 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, generation after generation. As DTSBDC considers the future of the field, we feel that it is our responsibility to offer a platform that allows the next generation of choreographers to have their work publicly presented. It is truly a joy to celebrate the future of these youthful dance makers.

Sincerely, Dana Tai Soon Burgess

Program 1- Unveil

Choreography: Natasha Ames Dancer: Tomas Fischer Music: On The Nature of Daylight by Max Richter Videographer: Hamza Bakkach "Unveil traces the silent struggle of those searching for their origins, navigating the spaces between identity and secrecy. Through movement and light, the film echoes the weight of sealed records and withheld truths, unraveling the quiet fight for the right to one’s own beginning."

2- Doble Kara (Double-faced)

Choreography: Joan Ayap Dancer: Felipe Oyarzun Moltedo Music: Lawiswis Kawayan by Mabuhay Singers

3- , who watches the watch factory I. washers

Choreography: Justin Rustle Dancer: Natasha Ames, Tomas Fischer, William Robinson, and Baylee Wong Music: Numen by Andrew York “Washers go in between. They are spacers that have no innate mechanical intrigue, they only serve their function as part of a larger assembly. , who watches the watch factory I. washers is the first movement of a larger, four section work that explores the material experience of concert dance. What is choreography made of? Can you touch it?

Is it something that can only be experienced from inside the movement, or is the real artifact what you see from the audience? What happens when one of those perspectives eclipses the other? Does the choreography do anything by itself, or is it just what takes up space so everything moves the way it should?”

4- Plastic Refuge

Choreography: Baylee Wong Dancer: Baylee Wong Music: Black Water by Flo Sabeva, Vox Balaenae: Sea Nocturne (...Fo the End of Time) by George Crumb

5- Sutra

Choreography: Felipe Oyarzun Moltedo Dancer: Joan Ayap, Trevor Frantz, Felipe Oyarzun Moltedo, and Aleny Serna Music: Heart Sutra by Yogetsu Akasaka "Form is emptiness (śūnyatā), emptiness is form."

Heart Sutra Excerpt Translation

Join us for a post-performance audience Q & A with the choreographers immediately following tonight’s performance

About the Choreographers Natasha Ames 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 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.

Felipe Oyarzun Moltedo 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 as well as adjunt faculty at Towson University.

Justin Rustle 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.

Baylee Wong 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.

About the Artists 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.

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.

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.

Find us at our upcoming performances Asian American Journeys May 3rd, 2pm Martin Luther King Jr Library

May 9th, 6:30pm Arts Club of Washington

Photo by Lauren Victor

Photo by Jeff Watts

DTSBDC 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, 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 Carl Gudenius, Lighting Designer Sigrid Johannesdottïr, Costume Designer Millicent Scarlett, Resident Musician Dana Nicole Scott, Resident Musician Lauren Victor, Resident Photographer 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 Shahab Albahar 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 Steven Zatarga Organizational Mentors Patch Canada Michael Kaiser

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 23-24 season.

Major Supporters $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 The Share Fund 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 Katia Norri Jan and Seth Tievsky Heinz and Liselotte Nehring Stiftung Foundation $500 - 4,000 Anonymous (3) John Ashford Bloomberg Philanthropies Ian Burgess Michael Caplin Alan Cariaso Kay Casstevens Cherry Blossom Giving Circle Claudia de Colstoun-Werebe

Laurie Davis and Joseph Sellers Bianca DeLille FBB Capital Partners David Fischer and Joy Kassett Jameson Freeman and Dana Burgess Susan Gigli Sergio Herrera and Kelly Southall Wayne Hickory Celia Hoke Nicole Hollander Erick Hosaka Jill and Bill Hudock Rebecca Klemm Bonnie Kogod Richard Kwatnoski Marcia Lim Barbara and Robert Liotta Elizabeth McCallum Laura McDonald Kelly and Joel Minton 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 Barry 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 Arnold Stolberg Peter and Judith Storandt Aaron Tievsky and Frank Delaney *Educational Partner

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