DTSBDC's "A Tribute to Marian Anderson"

Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company premiered "A Tribute to Marian Anderson" to standing ovations at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery on February 3, 4 and 24th.

As the Smithsonian’s first-ever choreographer in residence, Dana Tai Soon Burgess created the new work in response to the museum’s exhibition “One Life: Marian Anderson”. The 30 minute performance “paid homage to Anderson’s voice and grace while underscoring the racial barriers she overcame.”

Congresswoman and civil rights activist Eleanor Holmes Norton spoke as the guest of honor on opening night.

See photos and links below!

Standing ovations followed all three performances. Photo credit: Jeff Malet

Photo credit: Tony Powell

Photo credit: Jeff Malet

Eleanor Holmes Norton and Dana Tai Soon Burgess. Photo credit: Jeff Malet

For more photos and reviews, see the links below:

Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company Premiers ‘A Tribute to Marian Anderson’ (photos)

Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company’s ‘A Tribute to Marian Anderson’: Harmonic motion (review)

Stalwart in Step or Stance (review)

Dance Tribute to Marian Anderson (social pages)

Dance Informa article: Dana Tai Soon Burgess' mother to make cameo in revival of "Tracings" this Saturday at the National Portrait Gallery

This weekend's performance by Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery is a special one. The work, "Tracings", will be revived and performed at 6:00 p.m. in the Kogod Courtyard of the museum, free and open to the public - but please arrive early. (We have a arranged a private tour prior to the performance.) 

Dana's mother, who appeared in the 2003 premiere of "Tracings" at the Kennedy Center, will return to Washington, DC for a cameo in this Saturday's show. The piece is inspired by Dana's own family's immigration to America, and the experience of Korean-Americans, and immigrants in general, as they left their mother country and settled in a new land.

From Dance Informa:

"Burgess also details some of the inspirations for movement content in, and aesthetics of, the work. He describes scars on his mother’s hands, which he would ask about when he was a child. In an as age-appropriate way as possible, she told Burgess about working on pineapple plantations when she first came to America (Hawaii, more specifically). The hands thus became a focus in the movement. He recounts how remembering these scars, and the stories she told him about how she got them, was an “ah-ha” moment for him in creating Tracings. His mother, visual artist Anna Burgess, will have an actual physical presence in the work, as well; she will appear as a special guest performer."

Read the article in its full glory at Dance Informa here.

Pre-performance private tour at the National Portrait Gallery

The Diplomats of Dance Society will enjoy a private tour, with curator Robyn Asleson, of the “Portraits of the World: Korea” exhibit at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery on Saturday, May 4th at 5:00 p.m., just prior to the 6:00 p.m. performance of Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company's performance of "Tracings" in the museum's Kogod Courtyard.

"Portraits of the World: Korea" is part of a series dedicated to highlighting the global context of American portraiture, and displays the work of pioneering feminist artist Yun Suknam (born 1939), and uses portraiture to gain insights into the lives of women, past and present.

Choreographer Dana Tai Soon Burgess, a Korean-American, premiered "Tracings" at the Kennedy Center in 2003. This very personal dance is the story of his family's immigration to Hawaii from Korea in the early 20th century. His mother, artist Anna Kang Burgess, will be in Washington, DC to make a cameo in this very special revival of the piece.

Tour and performance are free. Space is limited.

RSVP here

Storytelling through Dance: Perspectives Inspired by American Portraits

Watch this new video from the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery!

Don't miss We choose to go to the moon Dec. 12, 15 and 18 at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery!

We choose to go to the moon publicity photo. Credit: Jeff Watts

"We choose to go to the Moon" will close out the National Portrait Gallery’s special 50th anniversary programming tied to the museum’s 50th exhibition, One Year: 1968, An American Odyssey exhibition. The program is also in collaboration with the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum’s kick-off of year-long programming with events honoring the Apollo missions and the country’s future in space.

Inspired by the space race and President Kennedy’s 1962 speech at Rice University entitled “We Choose to Go to the Moon,” Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company developed this performance in collaboration with NASA. The piece explores the connection between humanity and space, touching upon America’s idealism around the space race, the mystery of the cosmos, and the fragility of life.

We choose to go to the moon received rave reviews and standing ovations when it premiered at the Kennedy Center in 2015. The sound score features astronaut Bruce McCandless, space scientists, and a New Mexico medicine woman. Do not miss this opportunity to see this brilliant dance free!

Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company at the National Portrait Gallery
Dec. 12, 15, 18, 6:30 p.m.
McEvoy Auditorium (enter at G Street lobby)
Select your date and reserve your seats here! 

A special happy hour ahead of "Silhouettes" - premiering October 27th and 30th at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery!

Dana Tai Soon Burgess and DTSBDC Board President Bonnie Kogod checking out part of the "Black Out: Silhouettes Then and Now" exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery.

Join the Diplomats of Dance Society Monday, October 22nd at The Darlington House for a special happy hour ahead of the premiere of "Silhouettes" at the National Portrait Gallery! Toast to dance and art - RSVP now!

DANA TAI SOON BURGESS DANCE COMPANY PREMIERES “SILHOUETTES,”

A NEW WORK INSPIRED BY A LANDMARK NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY EXHIBITION

WHO: The Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company (DTSBDC) is Washington’s premiere modern dance company led by Founding Artistic Director and internationally acclaimed choreographer Dana Tai Soon Burgess. Burgess is the Smithsonian’s first choreographer-in-residence, based at the National Portrait Gallery, which began in 2016 and was extended through 2022.

WHAT: DTSBDC premieres a new dance entitled “Silhouettes” based on insights of American culture examined in the Portrait Gallery exhibition “Black Out: Silhouettes Then and Now”. In the new dance Burgess examines the light and dark aspects of the self through a suite of seven dances, each inspired by a silhouette from the exhibition. The emotionally poignant thirty-minute modern dance features eight dancers and includes a video environment by designer Kelly Colburn.

WHERE: Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, Nan Tucker McEvoy Auditorium, Eighth and G Streets NW

WHEN: Saturday, October 27, and Tuesday, October 30, 2018, at 6:30-7:00 PM. A post-performance discussion between Burgess and the exhibition curator Asma Naeem will take place each night.

Join us for a happy (2) hour(s) Monday, October 22nd!

Darlington House in Dupont Circle

Come by and mingle with other dance fans and arts-interested Washingtonians and celebrate the special intersection of visual art and modern dance with Dana Tai Soon Burgess and members of his acclaimed, eponymous dance company at the Darlington House, located at 1610 20th St NW, Washington, DC 20009, on Monday, October 22nd, 6:30-8:30pm.

Complimentary themed 'Diplomat' cocktail and hors d'oeuvres will be provided. Cash bar available.

Dr. Erick Hosaka of Hosaka Dental, Board Member of Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company, and The Diplomats of Dance Society are hosting a Happy two-Hour ahead of the premiere of "Silhouettes" at the National Portrait Gallery (Saturday, October 27th and Monday, October 30th). More info below:

About "Silhouettes":

Dana Tai Soon Burgess, the Smithsonian's first ever Choreographer-in-Residence, and his company will respond to the amazing “Black Out” exhibition in a poignant modern dance work with video by designer Kelly Colburn on Saturday, October 27th and Monday, October 30th at the National Portrait Gallery, McEvoy Auditorium, 6:30pm.

“Black Out: Silhouettes Then and Now,” an exhibition that explores the relatively unstudied art form of silhouettes—cut paper profiles—which were a hugely popular and democratic form of portraiture in the 19th century.

RSVP required. Contact us with questions.

All RSVP/giving levels are a tax-deductible donation to Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company, a 501c3 nonprofit arts organization.

RSVP here: https://silhouettes_happy2hour.eventbrite.com

Don't Miss: Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company Presents "Portraits" at Kennedy Center June 15th and 16th, 7:30pm

The first-ever resident dance company at the Smithsonian presents three new dances created at the National Portrait Gallery during Burgess's residency as the Smithsonian Institution's first official choreographer. The dances, I am Vertical, After 1001 Nights, and Confluence exemplify Burgess's sublime choreography which poetically delves into the emotional terrain of our shared humanity. Burgess has been called "not only a Washington prize but a national treasure" by the Washington Post Pulitzer Prize-winning critic Sarah Kaufman.

Click here to purchase tickets now through the Kennedy Center website.

Photo by Jeff Watts

Recap: Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company at the National Portrait Gallery, Portraits of the World

DTSBDC Dancers

DTSBDC dancer Joan Ayap performing "Khaybet"

In March, the Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company held a special dance salon series at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery this past month! Performed by dancers Ian Ceccarelli, Sarh Halzack, Ryan Carlough, Felipe Oyarzun, Joan Ayap, Christine Doyle, Christin Arthur, Sidney Hampton, and associate artistic director Kelly Moss Southall, the group showcased a combination of new and old dances inspired by the portraits in the gallery. 

DTSBDC dancer Sarah Halzack performing Michio Ito's "Ave Maria" and "Khaybet"

The first three dances, "Pizzicatti", "Ave Maria", "Tone Poem I" and "Tone Poem II" were originally choreographed in the early 1900's by Michio Ito, an early pioneer in modern dance and the first Asian American choreographer. He was forcefully incarcerated during World War II under Executive Order 9066 at an internment camp in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

The portrait "Femme en Extasse"

The next piece "For Giulia" was choreographed by Burgess for the exhibition of "Femme en Extasse" by the Swiss painter Ferdinand Hodler, which is on loan in partnership with the Swiss Embassy. "Femme en Extasse" is a portrait of Italian dancer Giulia Leonardi, which is on loan in partnership with the Swiss Embassy in the United States. The dance company was honored to have the Swiss Ambassador Martin Dahinden introduce the first lecture-performance on March 3rd.

The last three dances - "Confluence", inspired by a gelatin silver print of Doris Humphrey by Barbara Morgan in the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery's permanent collection, "Khaybet" inspired by Burgess' touring through the mountain villages between Pakistan and Afghanistan, and "Dariush" inspired by his trip through the Khyber Pass in upper Pakistan - were previously choreographed by Burgess, and powerful additions to the program.

Dana Tai Soon Burgess is the Smithsonian's first choreographer in residence, currently creating new works inspired by dynamic exhibitions at the National Portrait Gallery. A portrait of Burgess by artist CYJO is part of the Gallery's permanent collection.

Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company at NPG: a unique modern dance salon inspired by modern art

DTSBDC performing at the National Portrait Gallery

Join Diplomats of Dance this Saturday, March 17th at 4 pm at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in downtown Washington, DC for a special program with Dana Tai Soon Burgess, his amazing dancers, and modern works of dance and visual art...

Where: National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, 2nd Floor
When: 4:00 pm

The Diplomats of Dance Society will host a talkback with Burgess and dancers following the program in the NPG's Courtyard Cafe.

Please RSVP to dancediplomats@gmail.com. The dance salon is a free program and open to the public.

Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company dancers. Photo by Jeff Watts.

From The Georgetowner:

Celebrating its 25th year, the Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company presents a series of free salons in the new international gallery at the National Portrait Gallery, where Burgess is the Smithsonian’s first choreographer-in-residence. Each salon features a dance performance and discussion.

Swiss Ambassador Martin Dahinden was the honored guest March 3 at the gallery’s inaugural exhibition, “Portraits of the World: Switzerland” (on view through Nov. 12) as the company performed dance excerpts that included “For Giulia,” inspired by Swiss painter Ferdinand Hodler’s portrait of Italian dancer Giulia Leonardi, “Femme en Extase” (Woman in Ecstasy), on loan in partnership with the Embassy of Switzerland.

Dance company members performed excerpts from “Confluence,” one of the company’s new dances inspired by the National Portrait Gallery collection, as well as rarely seen solo dances by choreographer Michio Ito. The series grows out of a long tradition of salons in which dance is performed and discussed in intimate settings.

Portraits of modern dance pioneers, including Martha Graham, Michio Ito, Isadora Duncan, Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn, are also on view in the gallery.

Join us to Watch Dance-Making for "The Face of Battle" with Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Co. at Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery

Publicity photo for "After 1001 Night" by Jeff Watts

RSVP to watch dancers rehearse for the upcoming performance of "After 1001 Nights", inspired by the emotional National Portrait Gallery exhibition "The Face of Battle: Americans at War, 9/11 to Now", currently on display at the museum. Dana Tai Soon Burgess is the Smithsonian’s first choreographer-in-residence. The public rehearsal will take place in “Face of Battle: Americans at War 9/11 to Now”; Louie Palu room. Join the Diplomats of Dance Society at 1:00pm in the lobby on F Street to tour the exhibition, watch the rehearsal, and have some refreshments while speaking one on one with Dana and the dancers afterward in the National Portrait Gallery's Courtyard Cafe.

Click here to RSVP now! Space is limited!

The premiere of the final performance will be on Saturday, July 8th, 2pm and 4pm in the museum's Kogod Courtyard.

Conversation, Dance and a Book Signing for DTSBDC at the Arts Club

Last night, the Arts Club of Washington hosted a talk-back with DTSBDC Board President Bonnie Kogod and Dana Tai Soon Burgess, featuring excerpts of the recent dances created from exhibitions at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, where Dana is the first-ever choreographer in residence. It was stirring and wonderful by all accounts! The audience was engaged about the history-making artistic residency, and we look forward to seeing them on July 8th in the beautiful Kogod Courtyard of the museum!

Dana Tai Soon Burgess and Bonnie Kogod

DTSBDC dancers performing an exerpt from a recent work by Burgess

Image from Matailong Du's book, DTSBDC@25

Dana and artist Matailong Du had a book signing event with National Portrait Gallery historian Amy Henderson at the Arts Club of Washington​l. The book, DTSBDC@25, comes from photographs by Matailong that document Dana's creating process on the first dance, "Margin", that he created at National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution after being named choreographer in residence. Please contact DTSBDC if you want a copy. Dana's next project "After 1001 Nights" will be premiering on July 8th, 2017, with open rehearsals in June, at the National Portrait Gallery. (Event photos by Wanyu Zhang)

Matailong Du, Dana Tai Soon Burgess and Amy Henderson

Matailong Du with DTSBDC@25

Take a watch: Smithsonian's first-ever choreographer in residence

Watch these two short videos about Dana Tai Soon Burgess and his role as the Smithsonian's first-ever choreographer in residence, creating new works with his dancers and team inspired by intriguing exhibitions at the National Portrait Gallery!

Opening Reception of "Artistry Portrayed: Photographs of DTSBDC's 'Margin'"

Photograph by artist Matailong Du ("Duma") of the production of DTSBDC's "Margin" in October 2016.

Join us for the opening reception of "Artistry Portrayed" and see photographs by Corcoran School School of the Arts and Design student Matailong Du (MA, New Media Photojournalism) that artfully document the production of "Margin", a dance performed by the internationally renowned Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company at the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution in October 2016, where six portraits from the Outwin 2016 exhibition were transformed into dance.

When: Tuesday May 2nd, 5-7pm
Where: Luther W. Brady Art Gallery, 805 21st Street NW, 2nd floor
RSVP here

Dana Tai Soon Burgess named first resident choreographer at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery

Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company dancers performance premiere of "Confluence" in the National Portrait Gallery's Kogod Courtyard.

Read The Washington Post article by Pulitzer Prize-winner Sarah Kaufman

Some of the press and reviews for new dance "We choose to go to the moon" at the Kennedy Center!

Selections of the great press surrounding DTSBDC's world premiere of the dance work "We choose to go to the moon", created in collaboration with NASA, at the Kennedy Center in September, 2015:

Dana Tai Soon Burgess dancers cosmically intertwine art and science
"...left you with the intricate satisfaction of a work of art."
Read more of the wonderful The Washington Post review by Pulitzer Prize winner Sarah Kaufman!

So can Washington dance? Dana Tai Soon Burgess weighs in.
"Should people really dance as if no one was looking?
[Laughs.] I think in the quietude of their own home, yes. "
Read more in The Washington Post interview.

A Dancer and a Scientist Deliver a New Take on the Moon Walk
Read more of the fascinating story behind DTSBDC's new dance work in Smithsonian Magazine. 

‘We Choose to Go to the Moon’: Kennedy dream inspires a dance
Dana sat down with Sarah Kaufman from The Washington Post to talk about the inspiration for his new work created in collaboration with NASA: We choose to go to the moon.
Read it in The Washington Post!

Dana Tai Soon Burgess Premieres Fluency in Four in Tribute to His Late Father
“I want to honor that generation,” he says.
Read the article in Washingtonian Magazine. 

Dana Tai Soon Burgess, dancers, and new space-inspired dance work featured on BBC World News
Watch the video on BBC.com!