Dana Tai Soon Burgess & Co

How do we rebuild our DC dance community?

2012-02-01T21:51:00.000-05:00

How do we rebuild our DC dance community? Dance is an ephemeral art form, perhaps the most fragile of the arts and yet perhaps the oldest in terms of a global humanity. Mankind danced before it wrote, before it painted or sculpted. So in many ways it is a precious link to a shared collective unconscious. Dance has the capacity to bridge socio-economic and cultural differences. But dance is fragile, it is here for the moment, slightly varies from presentation to presentation as well as time and financially intensive with very specific rehearsal and theater space needs.

In Washington, DC over the past 5 years we have had a major wave of theater based capital campaigns which started pre-2008. As money from the District Government, Foundations and Corporations poured into buildings and the theater community, dance began to feel a drain of funds that were available for general operating funds and choreographic projects. As the economy began to recess this strain increased. So now we live with a new grouping of theater spaces without dance floors which are too expensive for the dance community to rent, with virtually no presenters for dance in the face of funders strained to upkeep new spaces. Dance in DC is at risk and facing an all new Darwinian terrain. We must look for new models for management and funding quickly to ensure existing and new dance artists will survive and thrive. I believe that we must explore shared management models which are not top heavy. We must continue to explore innovative partnerships such as those with universities, museums, art galleries, schools and more. Such partnerships can build audiences and create non traditional funding proposals and projects in non traditional spaces which can re-enliven our community.

Recently I began reaching out to directors of companies, art institutions and universities to explore new models for dance and have had some wonderful success including recent projects at the National Portrait Gallery and the Corcoran Gallery of Art. The DC Metro Dance organization which has undergone a slow decline also has the potential to restructure at this time and be a clear lobbying voice for dance. If leaders in dance and other art forms can work together to create a clear concerted strategic plan for dance then we can structurally clarify milestones of stability and growth. We also greatly need national support to become available to in DC. Unlike NY we do not have the finance and large industry available to us. We are a government based city with a handful of foundations with art in their portfolios and an individual funding base which is often transient due to its relation to movement on the hill. Individuals often arrive and leave in a 4 year span. So we are in need of larger foundations such as Ford, Rockefeller, MacAurthur and Mellon to assist us at this time. We need to get the word out in a concerted effort. Otherwise even innovative partnerships will quickly hit a glass ceiling of support. As leaders in dance continue to talk I will be sharing info with you! Keep making dances!

2005 Tour to Latvia

2012-01-29T22:57:00.000-05:00

Latvia...

In 2003 after a performance of our work Tracings which is about my family's history as plantation workers in Hawaii in the early 20th century, I was approached by a curator from the Latvian Opera house who was in the audience. In 2005 the company toured to Riga. It was our first time as a complete company tour in the Baltic States region. We were the first contemporary company to perform in a beautiful black box space that was built into the Opera House complex. We warmed up and rehearsed in a ballroom complete with chandeliers and a view of a snow covered square.

Riga is a beautiful city because many of the original art nouveau buildings still exist there and were not destroyed during the WWII. We taught classes throughout the snowy city because modern dance was fairly new to Latvia at this time and people were hungry to see and understand what it is. I have a great memory of teaching class at the Opera Ballet School where Baryshnikov originally trained. We lay on the floor and I slid down to the mirrors as I demonstrated the movement combinations I kept tripping on the sharp incline because the studios were raked with the same angle as many of the older stages of European theaters.

Riga is a city of Latvian culture at odds with new Russian values and aesthetics. It has a rich artistic history and a burgeoning artistic potential. There is a deep melancholia and reserved aspect to its arts aesthetic which one can hear in many Baltic musical compositions today. I look forward to seeing more dance come from Latvia and the Baltic States in the future.

--Dana

Our History with Peru

2012-01-28T11:38:00.000-05:00

Peru....The company has a 10 year history with Peru. I was first asked to go to Peru by the US State Department when the director of the National Ballet of Peru was in search of a contemporary choreographer. The director, Olga Shimasaki is a gifted Japanese Peruvian dance artist. The Japanese Peruvians are similar to the plantation Japanese and Koreans of Hawaii in that they immigrated to Peru to be agricultural workers at the turn of the last century. They have since become very involved in the arts landscape of Peru from dance to the visual and plastic arts. Peru is a great love of mine because I don't think there is any other country in the world where an Asian immigrant family's child could have become President. Fujimori was a fascinating individual that represents the cultural openness and fluidity of the Peruvian psyche.

After my first travels to Peru when I set repertory work on the ballet, I returned to create Accoralada or corralled to a live orchestra. It was my first experience with a full live orchestra, an experience which is almost unheard of anymore in dance in America due to cost limitations of the music union. I learned so much and even collaborated with a Japanese Peruvian visual artist on the set design. I was in a constant deja vu state in Lima because it felt so much like Santa Fe, NM where I grew up, also a colony of Spain, that I returned through two consecutive Fulbrights to make works for the San Marcos Ballet where I also taught modern dance. It is directed by a wonderful ex-pat named Vera Stasny whom after a Fulbright stayed in Lima. My company came down each trip to tour all over Peru. We have wonderful friends from Arequipa to Cuzco. I felt so strongly about the incredible artist there that we assisted in sponsoring the first tour of the National Ballet to the Kennedy Center and have hosted many Peruvian dance artists to DC since. I believe that the best American dance programs are reciprocal. Friendships should be maintained for years to come and so I am very proud of the company's continued relations with the Peruvian community of dance. The fundamental component of arts diplomacy is to create lasting friendship through which we can better understand a global perspective. I can honestly say that I am still inspired by Peru and our repertory work Chino Latino about Asian Latino immigration relationships is still one of my favorite works. It demystifies how Asian and Latin cultures have historically worked together and is set to historic music scores from all over Latin and South America that reference Asian communities living in Latin counties. No wonder my nickname as a child was "Chino"!

-- Dana

Meeting Artists Abroad

2012-01-27T07:28:00.002-05:00

I decided to write about past international experiences and the impact of meeting artists abroad has had on my work and the way I view dance. This is my first installment. In 1999 I was invited to Pakistan to interact with dance artists and travel to the historic sites of Alexander the Great because I was working on a new dance for the Kennedy Center about Alexander's life. The current salt flats of Pakistan are the farthest reaches of Alexander's campaigns. The great artwork of Gandhara, now in the regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan, are where the first images of the Buddha emerged. Prior to this time he was depicted by symbols, such as footprints or hands but never in full body form. The artisans left behind by Alexander depicted a Greek pantheon of gods at home and thus gave the Buddha physical form in Pakistan. These Buddhas are beautiful, cloaked in Greecian garb with Amerasian features. As a child I was so fascinated by them that when I reached the great Buddhist temple ruins of Pakistan I was overwhelmed.

In 1999 these sites were under attack from militant Muslims. The art was considered a threat. I remember visiting a chained up museum of Buddhist art that had been recently looted by the Taliban. In the dark, using a flashlight to look at the works that had survived with a security team in tow, these ancient works unfolded before me. Pakistan's people are so diverse being at the cross roads of the East and West for centuries. Faces in the Swat Valley are informed by multiple Semetic tribes, the Chinese, Europeans and more.

I visited 6 dance artists in Pakistan. I choose not to name them to protect them. At the time under strict Muslim law, dancing was illegal but not always enforced as so. Dancers survived under the radar. I met with dancers, watched their choreography, exchanged ideas on art and even thoughts on the effects of the Partician on Katak which is a often thought of as a Hindu based form. My final artist exchange occurred near the tribal areas with a talented Katak dancer. In her home was a man recovering from a gun shot wound. He had been shot for dancing. He had almost died. He appeared to be in his early twenties and was very thin and weak. We sat together and I was so moved by the fact that they danced with the full fear of being killed for practicing their art. They believed so wholeheartedly in dance that it was tantamount to their own physical safety. I will never forget these wonderful dancers. It has stayed with me for years. Now when I hear a dancer question their belief in their work, their funding, their lack of accolades, and a plethora of other woes, these are the dancers that come to mind. How lucky we are to be able to dance freely and express ourselves openly. We have the freedom to build dances with a sheer sense of openness and to communicate our thoughts and ideas through dance to others. May we all find a place to dance with freedom and remember what a gift freedom of expression is and strive to help our fellow artists.

--Dana

The Role of the Shaman

2012-01-26T14:01:00.002-05:00

I have often been amazed by the role of the Shaman in all societies, their ability to see into anther world, enter it and return. I often talk to the dancers about this, the idea that if we believe in the world of the dance around us on stage and project it perfectly, then the audience will also be entranced by the journey and come along with us. It is a challenge which I so appreciate all of our dancers taking on. It is the intangible past a leg kick, past a leap which for me is most important. I just love our company and how wholeheartedly thoughtful they are. We have such a unique balance of perspectives from all over the world. It is this diversity that allows us to make up our own globally shared dance vocabulary for each show.

-Dana

A fun 20th Anniversary Event - Please join us!

2012-01-24T22:28:00.001-05:00

Please join us February 6, 2012 5:30-7:30 for a fabulous evening of wine tasting and small bites at Bistrot Lepic in Washington, DC and help us support Dana Tai Soon Burgess & Co's 20th Anniversary Season. Details

A Lesson of Light

2012-01-24T20:56:00.001-05:00

In our 20th Anniversary Season, I want to send a heartfelt thank you out to all our dancers from the past who dedicated their time and dancing to the company as well as the many designers who have inspired me. I was thinking today about the first time I understood stage light. I was sitting with Jennifer Tipton and she said light is an entity with you on stage and if you project consciousness to an area of stage the audience will feel this. This simple statement was so profound for me and guides me to this day when thinking about work as I create and coach it. Her wise words continue to inform me as I collaborate with Laura McDonald from NASA and Sara Brown from MIT on visual projection environments that create worlds for the dancers to reside in.

Our 20th Anniversary in the Year of the Dragon

2012-01-23T09:06:00.000-05:00

As we enter the year of the Dragon, I am reflecting on the last 20 years. As you know DTSB&Co celebrates a major milestone, not just for the company but also for the fields of dance, education and cultural equity. The company emerged out of a youth program in 1990. I was asked by the DC Mayor's Office to create a program that would support Asian American high school youth because the District had no arts programs for this community. It was a wonderful journey of learning, teaching and creating work. Fond memories include working with a Beijing Opera group and escalating from a small run down studio in the middle of the city to having the program enveloped for 3 years at the Kennedy Center. As the interest and need snowballed so did the talented dancers who came through the program as well as the new dancers who were attracted to the idea of an Asian American company. I launched Moving Forward:Contemporary Asian American Dance Co in 1992. This became our non-profit that eventually housed DTSB&Co, a branding name change a few years later. It was a very important moment for DC which had up until this point often looked at diversity as a black and white issue. The Latino community was given more visibility when the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood rioted and partially burned. Moving beyond the Asian American model minority myth has not been simple. The fact that Asian Americans, especially new American still struggle with language, social services representation and much more is often put to the side. I hope our work through dance has brought this issue to light.

The works that stand out for me over the last 2 decades that illuminate personal and historic displacement issues include: Tracings a recount of my own family's new American experiences in the Korean Hawaiian community of Oahu in the early 1900's, Island, the story of Chinese Immigrants trapped on Angel Island in midst of the Chinese Exclusionary Acts of the late 1800's, Hyphen which explores the reality of the hyphenated American identity with visuals by Nam June Paik, Charlie Chan and the Mystery of Love, an autobiographic story about growing up as a Korean American in a Latino community and most recently Becoming American, the story of one of our dancers Katia Chupashko who is a Korean adoptee. My goal has always been to create works that are poetic, allow for empathy and understanding while presenting a strong message about inclusion. I am often asked how have you survived and continued to grow as an artist when the field of dance seems to be moving toward commercialism, pyrotechnics and a failing hierarchical management? I always respond by saying

"nurture your own unique aesthetic, don't follow the norm but follow your heart and never forget that one of the greatest goals of art is to build bridges of universal understanding. This path is not easy or simple but it is rewarding and heartfelt. If your art cannot transcend cultural boundaries then go back to the drawing board until someone in DC or Lima, NYC or Chennai, Beijing or Quito can understand the emotional core of your art."

My goal is to have each audience member feel that images in my work resonate with them personally and move them to be more empathetic to the larger human concepts of journey and the physical and emotional struggle to find a place to belong.
--Dana

DTSB&Co Youth Outreach music video!

2011-12-20T10:03:00.002-05:00

This music video is the culminating project of our fall Asian American Youth Program which occurred over 14 weeks. The participants explored the concept of self-expression and identity. They wrote, sang and appear in the video. We are so proud of the students. We begin our next program in mid-January, stand by for more details and their future projects.

DTSB&Co Youth Outreach Program music video from dtsbcodance on Vimeo.

DTSB&Co 20th Anniversary kickoff party featured in Modern Luxury DC

2011-12-06T21:53:00.001-05:00

Check out the photos!

DTSB&Co receives grant from the Cherry Blossom Giving Circle

2011-11-22T13:45:00.001-05:00

DTSB&Co are proud to have received a grant from the Cherry Blossom Giving Circle awarded to support local API community outreach programs. Dana attended a recent celebration event at Current Sushi to accept the award.

The Cherry Blossom Giving Circle is a volunteer collective of individuals committed to creating positive social change in the Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities of the Washington Metropolitan Area.

November 9, 2011: Give to the Max Day DC

2011-11-08T17:06:00.000-05:00

Give to the Max Day is a one-day fundraising event on November 9, 2011 that will unite local Washington, DC area communities to support nonprofits serving the region.

DTSB&Co is participating!

Make a donation to DTSB&Co on November 9. You can donate from $10 to sky's-the-limit!

We so appreciate your support!

Dana Tai Soon Burgess featured in the Korean Beacon

2011-11-05T11:51:00.001-04:00

Dana is listed as a famous and influential local in Korean Beacon's spotlight on Washington, DC
Check it out!

Dana Tai Soon Burgess recieves 2011 Faculty Choice Award

2011-11-05T10:10:00.000-04:00

Congratulations, Dana! Dana received the George Washington University's 2011 Faculty Choice Award. The award acknowledges his leadership within the Department of Theatre and Dance as well as his dedication to student advising.

DTSB&Co In Concert Series: Hyphen

2011-10-22T10:28:00.000-04:00

"Hyphen" looks at the experience of being a hyphenated
American—Asian-Americans but also other ethnic Americans and multi-racial Americans, The set design includes short black-and-white “Fluxus films” by famed Korean video artist Nam June Paik.

Hyphen premiered in October 2008.

Another performance review

2011-10-19T14:49:00.000-04:00

DTSB&Co's performance this past weekend at Dance Place was reviewed by dance critic George Jackson of danceviewtimes.
Read the review

Washington Post review of "Becoming American"

2011-10-17T09:18:00.001-04:00

"In the hands of a lesser choreographer, this piece could be a maudlin mess, the modern dance equivalent of an after-school special. But Burgess, a professor at George Washington University, is pretty much the best dancemaker around, and what he’s made here is a beautiful allegory about alienation and acceptance." - Rebecca Ritzel, Washington Post
Read the full review

Face time with Dana

2011-10-16T11:22:00.001-04:00

Find out about Dana's new work Becoming American and a few of his favorite things in the Express

Becoming American

2011-10-16T11:11:00.003-04:00

Scene from this weekend's performance of Becoming American at Dance Place

the Express and the Wash Post

2011-10-09T22:06:00.002-04:00

Check out our stories in the Express and the Washington Post this week regarding our Dance Place show Oct 14-16!!! Dana

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dana_Tai_Soon_Burgess

a great sunday

2011-10-09T21:56:00.002-04:00

What a great Sunday. Dropped Miyako at work, ran to the Georgetown flea to hunt down props and then off to rehearsal. I love speaking with our designers: Anne, Laura, the Southalls, Connie, Rick, Judy, Ben and Annie. The conversations are so stimulating. Wow we are so blessed to work with fine artists. It takes a community to build a dance! Thank you everyone!

Hugs, Dana

Oct 14-16 Dance Place show

2011-10-08T14:26:00.002-04:00

http://www.danceplace.org/dance-performances/dana-tai-soon-burgess-company/

Here it is the link to buy tickets for our show on Oct 14-16 at the Dance Place. I am very excited to show Charlie Chan and the Mystery of Love again as well as premiere Becoming American. I learned so much in this process and I believe it represents wonderful growth for the company in the ability to interpret personal stories on the journey to self-actualization. I love the dance and visual images in Becoming American. I believe the ending which conveys a fragile tentative message of new beginnings is quite poetic. See you at the show! Dana

archival videos

2011-10-08T14:20:00.002-04:00

I hope everyone is enjoying our new archival library. As we get ready for our 20th next season it has been great to look back at key works and think about the inspiration for them. Growing up in Santa Fe as a Korean American has influenced so many works. The issue of how we find a place to belong within the complicated layers of American society is an amazing journey. I remember sitting watching my parents who are visual artists work through decisions in their creative processes, meeting visual artists such as Isamu Noguchi, going to bilingual schools and martial arts academies. So many images and communities intersecting. I can look at our archives and understand now that every dance is a reflection of personal experience. Adulthood gives us the lens through which to interpret these experiences and distill messages for the audience.

National Portrait Gallery

2011-10-08T14:17:00.002-04:00

Today the youth program students went on a field trip to Portrait Now: Asian American Portraits of Encounter at the National Portrait Gallery. It is a great exhibit and it brought up a lot of conversation on identity. I hope the Smithsonian continues to represent!

Rehearsing "Becoming American"

2011-10-01T22:36:00.001-04:00

Becoming American rehearsal 1 a photo by dtsbcodance on Flickr.

Don't miss the premiere of "Becoming American" October 14-16! Ticket Information

Rehearsing "Becoming American"

2011-10-01T22:35:00.001-04:00

Becoming American rehearsal 2 a photo by dtsbcodance on Flickr.

"Becoming American" will premiere October 14-16 at Dance Place

The Washington Diplomat features DTSB&Co

2011-10-01T22:04:00.002-04:00

DTSB&Co was featured in two articles in The Washington Diplomat:

DTSB&CO In Concert Series

2011-09-10T23:04:00.003-04:00

Check out the first video in the DTSB&Co In Concert Series - performance of Island with interviews with dancers and collaborators.

DTSB&Co In Concert Series: Island from dtsbcodance on Vimeo.

New DTSB&Co publicity photos

2011-08-13T12:47:00.003-04:00

New DTSB&Co publicity photos by Zain Shah.

Click to view more photos

What is an Asian American?

2011-08-13T11:51:00.004-04:00

Dana is featured in an Washington Post review of a new exhibit Portraiture Now: Asian American Portraits of Encounter at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC.
Collection of Cindy Hwang - WASHINGTON, DC - HANDOUT: "The Kyopo Project - 240 Portraits," by Cindy Hwang. Digital pigment print, 2004-present. Collection of the artist. Copyright CYJO.

DTSB&Co 20th Anniversary is coming!

2011-07-09T17:10:00.003-04:00

Dana Tai Soon Burgess & Co. will celebrate their 20th anniversary in 2012 and preparations for performances and events have already begun. Today videographers Damaris Hay and Kelli Cook filmed Dana and his dancers as they rehearsed Dana's new work and later interviewed Dana at his home. They will be creating a 20th anniversary promotional video for the company. Stay tuned...

Damaris Hay, DTSB&Co dancer Connie Fink, Kelli Cook and Dana
preparing for Dana's interview.

Dana visits the White House for Obama's Asian American Heritage Month Address

2011-06-26T19:34:00.004-04:00

Dana attended President Obama's address for Asian American Heritage
Month at the White House this week:

Obama was spectacular. I had a wonderful time eating dim sum there with Julie Koo, the Director of the Asian Pacific Islander American Office of the Mayor. We hung out with actor John Cho and Senator Akaka from Hawaii, among others. Fabulous and festive event. There is something so magical about the White House; its many rooms spill over with a sense of American history. Makes me feel so proud and blessed to be an artist in America!

Dana with Senator Daniel Akaka of Hawaii

Dana with actor John Cho and Julie Koo, Director of the Washington DC Office of Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs

President Obama

Asian American Youth Program Video Project

2011-05-15T22:25:00.002-04:00

The DTSB&Co Asian American Youth Outreach Program provides young people with experiences that enrich their view of Asian American culture, of dance as a communicative and expressive art form, and of the value and importance of peer communication. This year activities included a video project that has just been released. Take a look!

Finding Self: Asian America's Youth from dtsbcodance on Vimeo.

Reception at the Mongolian Embassy

2011-05-03T22:07:00.003-04:00

DTSB&Co's dancers and Board members attended a lovely reception at the Embassy of Mongolia hosted by Ambassador Khasbazaryn Bekhbat. Dana and the dancers talked with the ambassador and his staff about their wonderful experiences on their tour to Mongolia and the ambassador noted that the tour and reception were part of an expansion of friendship between the US and Mongolia.

Heading home after an amazing trip

2011-04-01T22:28:00.012-04:00

Our final day in Ulaanbaatar was packed with last minute sightseeing and souvenir shopping. We started at the Gundam Monastery which is a working monastery founded in 1835. We saw the magnificent statue of Buddha in the main temple and observed the ceremonies of the resident monks. We bought prayer flags, beads, incense and other souvenirs at a shop nearby. We then headed to the Choijin Lama Temple Museum which was built as a Buddhist temple in 1908 but is now a museum. The museum has an amazing collection of sculpture and paintings, including somewhat frightening depictions of hell as a place of fire and ice. We then had our final meal at our favorite restaurant that serves Korean, Japanese and Chinese food that we had frequented a number of times that week. We were joined by Otgon, Marissa, Namuun and translators Bolormaa and Bujin and we were able to take a final group shot.

Gundam Monastery - DTSB&Co with embassy staff Oggi and Namuun

Gundam Monastery - Connie and Dana with our translator Uyanga, her sister Zaya, and Namuun

Choijin Lama Temple Museum

Our last meal in Mongolia

And one last visit to Happiness Land

At the airport as we waited for our flight to Beijing we glanced at a TV monitor and were surprised and thrilled to see the interview with Dana that had been filmed at the university on Thursday and video footage we had given the interviewers of DTSB&Co dance performances.

DTSB&Co on Ulaanbaatar TV

We had a 12 hour overnight layover in Beijing and we decided to make a quick visit to Tienanmen Square at 2:00 in the morning. Needless to say we pretty much had the place to ourselves. It was us and the guards. We got only three hours of sleep before heading back to the airport for our flight to Tokyo and then to Washington but the impromptu sightseeing trip was definitely worth it.

Tiananmen Square

Tiananmen Square

Chatting with a Chinese army guard

We want to sincerely thank Ambassador Addleton, Marissa Maurer, Otgon, the embassy staff and translators -Nammuun, Uyanga E., Uyanga A. Bujin, Tian, Oggi, Zaya and Bolormaa - and our drivers and the talented Tumen Ekh dancers and directors for making our trip to Mongolia a most wonderful cultural exchange and adventure. We will never forget this amazing trip.

Performance day!

2011-03-25T17:07:00.012-04:00

Friday was performance day for DTSB&Co in Ulaanbaatar. In the morning we headed to the Puppet Theater which is part of the National Academic Drama Theatre in the center of Ulaanbaatar. The floor of the stage turned out to be a bit of a challenge. It was made of wood but the planks were uneven. Eventually a marley floor was delivered and for the performance a layer of felt and the marley floor was used. It worked just fine.

National Academic Drama Theatre

Puppet Theatre entrance

Beautiful seating

Curtain detail

Floor discussion

As the theater was being prepared for the performance the dancers had time wander around the theater and neighborhood shopping and seeing the sights.

A ger (or yurt) that serves as a souvenir shop in the warmer tourist season.

Trying on hats at a souvenir shop that was open

And back at the theater there were several fun places to hang

The Puppet Theatre box office

The evening performance was a great success with an appreciative audience that included US Ambassador Addelton and his wife Fiona along with the wife of the Mongolian prime minister. Six dances were performed including two choreographed by Dana for the Tumen Ekh dancers. After the performance Dana answered questions from the audience and then Dana and the Tumen Ekh dancers expressed their mutual appreciation for the opportunity to participate in this cultural exchange between the US and Mongolia. T. Otgonsuren, the director of Tumen Ekh, and his dancers presented Dana and his dancers with gifts that will keep Mongolia in our hearts and minds. Dialogue continued at a nice reception held in the lobby after the performance.

Dana answers questions from the audience

A Tumen Ekh dancer relates his experience working with DTSB&Co

Gifts!

Dancers with the ambassador, his wife Fiona, the Tumen Ekh choreographer and her husband.

A parting group shot!

Mongolia TV stars

2011-03-23T17:42:00.010-04:00

Ulaanbaatar is an interesting mixture of the old and new. We see many people on the street wearing traditional Mongolian clothing but questions about Lady Gaga are common in our question and answer sessions. Old stark Soviet style buildings sit among more Asian influenced architecture and very modern glass high rises. Free internet access is available in many places. Mongolians have lots of quirky little customs including shaking hands with the person that you have just accidentally kicked under the table or brushed up against on the street. Kelly experienced this first hand on the street one day when someone accidentally kicked his foot.

Thursday morning the DTSB&Co dancers performed for approximately 100 dance students and teachers at the University of Art and Culture and then held a question and answer session. The performance was well received and there were many questions about Dana's choreography method and inspiration. It was nice to see some of the students from the School for the Hearing Impaired there.

The University of Arts and Culture

Miyako with embassy intern Namuun in the lobby of the main university building

Connie's solo Khaybet

Question and answer session

In the afternoon Dana taught a choreography class and Connie taught a warmup/technique class in the afternoon. Before the choreography class a Mongolian television crew interviewed Dana and then took some footage of Connie's class. When we were leaving Ulaanbaatar we actually saw the interview, class video footage and performance video we had given them on TV at the airport.

Meanwhile Laura and Sarah gave a talk about American modern dance at the American Corner, a small American style library operated jointly by the U.S. Embassy and the Ulaanbaatar Public Library that helps students, researchers, teachers and the general public learns more about the US. Laura and Sarah played a video of DTSB&Co performances and talked about his dance style and inspiration. The audience of 30, most of whom were not involved in dance, were very interested in what Laura and Sarah thought of Mongolian dance styles, what it was like to train to be a dancer and of course what they thought of Lady Gaga.

Sarah at the American Corner

Another busy day in Mongolia

2011-03-21T10:49:00.011-04:00

Wednesday morning Connie and Miyako both taught classes to college students at separate institutions. The students were very enthusiastic and eager to learn this modern dance form that they had never been exposed to before.

Connie demonstrates

The students picked up the movement quickly

Group photo

Dancers' dirty feet, comes with the territory

In the afternoon Connie, Miyako and Laura joined up with the American cultural attache in Mongolia, Marissa Maurer and translator Uyanga (who is sight impaired) and had a wonderful visit the School of the Hearing Impaired, a kindergarten through 12th grade government-funded school. They met with the school's principal who told them all about the curriculum and vocational training and gave them a tour of the classrooms and training centers. She told them that dance is a very important part of curriculum. They then received a warm welcome from the students in the auditorium and were treated to a marvelous performance by students of all ages. The dances ranged from traditional Mongolian dance to cha cha cha to Bollywood. It was well done and great fun.

Marrisa, Miyako, the school principal, Connie and Uyanga (with Gladys)

Speech therapy class

Our warm welcome

Students waiting to perform

A dance that told a story about a family

Mongolian folk dance

A young, graceful contortionist

The talented students

After the performance Miyako and Connie and Marissa held a question and answer session with the students. The students asked for advice and criticism. Connie and Miyako gave some notes, emphasizing how amazing they were as dancers and how successful their teachers were and stressing that a sense of community formed by learning and sharing is so important to dancers. There was some discussion on what opportunities there might be for dance performance and education in America.

Question and answer session

On the other side of town Dana, Sarah, Kelly taught a modern technique class for the Moon Stone Dance Company of Ulaanbaatar. Moon Stone is a folkloric dance company with dancers who cross-train in ballet and have had some modern dance. They were very excited to participate in class and eager to talk about their lives as dancers and to find out how American dancers make a living.Sarah and Kelly then taught six of their dancers a duet from DTSB&Co repertoire.

Later in the afternoon Kelly and Sarah spoke to 80 teenagers interested in American dance culture as part of the Access program (the English Access Microscholarship Program of the U.S. State Department), which is a special after-school English teaching program for economically challenged students, most of whom live in the ger district which houses in-country migrant workers.

Ger district

In the evening the company and Marrisa met up with Otgon US ambassador to Mongolia Jonathon Addleton and his wife to talk about the trip so far and eat Mongolian food. On the way over to the restaurant Kelly, Sarah and Dana stopped to snap pictures in the expansive Sukhbaatar Square.

Dana in Sukhbaatar Square, which features a large statue of Chinggis Khan

Kelly, Sarah, Dana and Jonathon Addleton, US ambassador to Mongolia

Tumen Ekh performance

2011-03-17T21:26:00.009-04:00

Monday night we attended a performance of Tumen Ekh, which includes singers and musicians as well as the dancers that Dana is working with. It was amazing! Every artist was so talented and seeing and hearing the traditional instruments, dancing and singing (including throat singing and a contortionist) was so enjoyable. We will never forget this amazing performance. This was the first time all the DTSBCo and Tumen Ekh dancers were all together so we introduced ourselves, had a great discussion and took a group photo. Friday night the Tumen Ekh dancers will perform a work Dana is creating for them in a joint performance at the National Drama Theater.

DTSBCo in Mongolia - Hitting the Ground Running

2011-03-15T20:58:00.013-04:00

The 30 hour plus trip to UlaanBaatar, Mongolia was tiring but everything went smoothly. We had a 4 hour layover in Seoul, Korea so we took advantage of Korean Air's traveler's services. We enjoyed refreshments in their comfortable lounge and were able to take showers. And we could not pass up a nice foot massage.

We arrived in UlaanBaatar 10:30pm local time and were welcomed by Otgon Yondon, the Cultural Specialist and embassy intern Namuun from the American Embassy in Mongolia. She took us to the hotel where we checked in and had a short planning meeting in the lounge.

Tuesday morning Miyako and Connie headed to a local college to teach and Dana, Kelly and Sarah taught a master class for the Mongolian folklore dance group Tumen Ekh. In the afternoon Dana began rehearsal on a dance work that the members of Tumen Ekh will perform in a joint concert with DTSB&Co on Friday. The local dancers are quite talented and very interested in Western forms of contemporary dance. There have only been a handful of contemporary European and American dance companies to make it here in the last decade which makes their eagerness and sheer talent quite impressive. We ended the rehearsal with an impressive 6-1/2 minutes of choreography.

Photos from class:

After class we had a short break so we ventured out into the bitter cold to walk around and have a cup of coffee. We loved the sign on this nearby building.

When we returned to the studio we met the talented choreographer of Tumen Ekh.

Photos from rehearsal:

After rehearsal we met up with the Connie, Miyako, Otgon, Namuun and Marissa Maurer, Public Affairs Officer from the embassy, for a quick bite before attending a performance of the Tumen Ekh dancers and musicians.

DTSB&Co Tour delayed

2011-03-12T10:30:00.002-05:00

Due to the earthquake in Japan the first leg of our journey was canceled Friday morning. We now will be leaving Sunday morning and arriving in Ulaanbaatar Monday evening.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to friends and their families in Japan.

DTSB&Co is heading to Mongolia!

2011-03-04T09:42:00.003-05:00

rehearsal for Dariush a photo by dtsbcodance on Flickr.

The company will be in the capital city UlaanBaatar March 13-19 teaching master classes, choreographing on local dancers, lecturing and performing. And, of course, we hope to get some sightseeing in.

The tour is supported by the U.S. Embassy in Mongolia and the US State Department.

We now have a new Flickr account that allows easy sharing with this blog. We hope to post lots of photos during our trip so stay tuned!

Here a shot of Miyako rehearsing a solo she will perform in UlaanBaatar.

A DTSB&Co Birthday!

2011-03-01T21:40:00.007-05:00

Last Saturday the dancers, board members and friends gathered at the Venetian Room at Hotel Lombardi to celebrate Dana's Birthday. As you can see it was a fun time!

Photos from the Corcoran Gallery of Art Performance

2011-01-02T20:24:00.005-05:00

Check out the December 2010 performance photos of DTSB&Co at the Corcoran Gallery of Art by Denny Henry

Photo Gallery

Review of America's Cloud in danceviewtimes

2010-12-06T17:39:00.002-05:00

DTSB&CO will perform America's Cloud again next Sunday December 12 at 11:30am , 1:00pm and 2:30pm. Free with Gallery Admission

Dance critic George Jackson wrote a thoughtful review of last Sunday's performance.
Read the review

We hope to see you there!

2010-11-27T16:58:00.003-05:00

Be sure to check out the rave review of Charlie Chan and the Mystery of Love by the Washington Post's Pulitzer-prize winning dance critic Sarah Kaufman

photo credit: Astrid Riecken for the Washington Post

DTSB&Co at WAISDEA conference

2010-11-27T16:55:00.001-05:00

Connie, Kelly and Dana had a wonderful experience at the Washington Area Independent School Dance Education Association (WAISDEA).

There were several hundred high school dance students and their teachers who attended this year's conference at Sandy Spring's High School. Connie and Kelly taught dance and yoga classes and Dana spoke about choreography at a large assembly at the end of the day. Kelly and Connie did a wonderful job performing excerpts from dances and Dana spoke about the inspiration for the dances and how they were created. The students had excellent questions which ranged from asking about the rehearsal process to, what a dancer's day is like, to how is research of an historical event turned into choreography. Quite sophisticated questions!

Folklife Festival on-site rehearsal photos

2010-07-01T09:58:00.004-04:00

Wednesday night on-site Folklife Festival rehearsal for Dana's new work Charlie Chan and the Mystery of Love

Connie, Takako and Miyako

Ricardo and Kelly

photo credit: Mary Noble Ours

Smithsonian Folklife Festival Performance

2010-06-30T10:24:00.004-04:00

Come join us for a performance at the 2010 Smithsonian Folklife festival.
See the company's new work-in-progress Charlie Chan and the Mystery of Love
as well as critically acclaimed Island.

July 2 6:00pm
Washington, DC National Mall
Asian Fusions Stage

Folklife festival information
DTSB&Co information

Shanghai Nights

2010-05-12T22:37:00.004-04:00

The Shanghai Nights party was a fabulous success. Thanks to all who came out to support DTSB&Co. Check out these pictures!

Photo credit: Tia Boyadjis

Kelly Talks Inversions!

2010-03-26T09:09:00.001-04:00

Another clip released from the DTSB&Co documentary by Stone Soup Films. This time it's a short interview with dancer Kelly Southall.

Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance: Interview with dancer Kelly Southall from Stone Soup Films on Vimeo.

Lunchtime entertainment

2010-03-17T09:14:00.004-04:00

Today I taught a 2 hour dance class at the Ballet San Marcos in the center of Lima. The students were wonderful and afterwards I had lunch in the Casona where I watched dancers rehearse and perform.

Dana

Peru Study Program

2010-03-16T22:26:00.003-04:00

I am excited to be in Lima making preparations for a George Washington University Peru Study Abroad Program that I will running. Students will study in DC in May and travel to Peru in June.

I visited Gina the director of the National School of Ballet today. She has a wonderful spirit. I watched a rehearsal of a Chinese Peruvian choreographer who was setting a work about Chinese immigrants to Peru in the 1870's. It was wonderful to speak to her about shared ideas of immigration and the Asian diaspora throughout the Americas. I will be back to teach and set a work at the National school in May/June.

More soon! Dana

Dana at home

2010-03-12T12:12:00.004-05:00

A fun scene from footage taken of Dana at home in his kitchen for a documentary by Stone Soup Films

Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance: Dana in his kitchen from Stone Soup Films on Vimeo.

Having trouble viewing video? Try here

Washington Post reviews DTSB&Co newest work

2010-01-30T09:30:00.004-05:00

As part of the their residency at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia DTSB&Co. performed with the National Chamber Players in a concert that featured the compositions by Philip Glass and Arnold Schönberg. The concert was reviewed by the Washington Post. Reviewer Alfred Thigpen writes of Dana's choreography:

This work benefited greatly from choreography by Dana Tai Soon Burgess, who used six dancers in various combinations emphasizing human dialogue. Juxtaposed against the repetitive structures of Glass, this visual element elicited an unexpected emotional quality...

Read the full review

Best of 2009!

2009-12-22T09:50:00.003-05:00

DTSB&Co's October performance of Island was included in Washington Post's Best of 2009 list!

"Island" by Dana Tai Soon Burgess, Oct. 9-11 at Dance Place: D.C.-based Burgess employed a cool, stylized touch to conjure the past with piercing immediacy in this evocation of Chinese immigrants at the Angel Island detention center in San Francisco Bay in the early 1900s.

Washington Post article by Sarah Kaufman

Important People

2009-11-26T10:31:00.003-05:00

Dana recently attended an event for local Washington, DC artists at the Vice-President's residence. He was thrilled to get a private photo with Vice-President Joe Biden and his wife Jill.

Tech fun

2009-11-22T17:59:00.003-05:00

Dana's new work Island features beautiful historical images from Angel Island projected from above. To achieve this effect a heavy-duty projector was installed above the stage. Getting the projector in place and then back down at the end of the three night run took some teamwork.

A Professor You Should Know

2009-11-12T13:03:00.001-05:00

Dana is featured in a new video published on the George Washington University student newspaper's web site

Backstage before the Island Premiere

2009-10-24T18:21:00.006-04:00

The dressing room at the Dance Place was a bit tight but the dancers adapt quickly and even have some fun.

Photos by Kris Ikejiri

Premiere of Island

2009-10-18T19:18:00.003-04:00

Dana Tai Soon Burgess & Co. performed Island to sold out audiences October 9-11, 2009 at the Dance Place in Washington, DC. The Washington Post and danceviewtimes published rave reviews.

STSB&Co wins 2009 Metro DC Dance award

2009-09-19T16:15:00.004-04:00

DTSB&Co is proud to have won the 2009 Metro DC Dance award - Outstanding New Work for "Hyphen".

Congratulations to all winners and nominees.

photo credit: Mary Noble Ours

Strange Hat, Nice Bag

2009-09-14T21:40:00.001-04:00

Spotted at the Charleston, SC airport

Island Musicality

2009-09-14T21:16:00.003-04:00

Today's rehearsal was exhilirating. We worked with musicality details for Island. It has a beautiful montage of music from 1920's Shanghai to classical to electronic. When we get to the point in a rehearsal process where we can work on details, I get very excited. The company is always so supportive when I nit pick each scene and each detail. I believe the details are what audiences are ultimately moved by and it takes quite a while to be able to feel secure enough in the overall structure to then work on nuance. Every focus change or gesture becomes more and more important in a work like this.

Can't wait for you to see the show!

Dana

More Rehearsal Photos

2009-09-06T17:20:00.004-04:00

The dancers are hard at work rehearsing for the October performance at the Dance Place.

Photos by Kris Ikejiri

State Alumni Member of the Month

2009-09-06T17:09:00.004-04:00

Dana was named State Alumni Member of the Month by the US Department of State.

Fulbright Specialist and Cultural Envoy alumnus Dana Tai Soon Burgess uses his expertise as a dancer, choreographer, and teacher to encourage dancers and audiences alike to explore dance, and the arts more generally, as an expression of the global connections among individuals and communities. Read more..

2009 DC Metro Dance Awards nominations

2009-08-26T12:54:00.002-04:00

Dana Tai Soon Burgess & Co. is proud to be nominated for the 2009 DC Metro Dance awards in three catagories:

Outstanding Group Performance
Dana Tai Soon Burgess & Co. in "Hyphen" at Lisner
October 24, 2008

Excellence in Costume Design
Judy Hansen for Dana Tai Soon Burgess Moving Forward in "Hyphen, Meditations, Khaybet, Chino Latino" at Lisner Auditorium
October 24, 2008

Outstanding Overall Production – Large Venue
Dana Tai Soon Burgess in "DTSB&Co" at Lisner Auditorium
October 24, 2008

The Awards Ceremony will be held at The Kennedy Center's Terrace Theater Monday, September 14, 2009 at 7:30. (more information)

Rehearsals in Full Swing

2009-08-10T21:50:00.004-04:00

We are back in the full swing of rehearsals again!

The company looks amazing and I love working with everyone. Our new work Island is going to look so beautiful and it is an interesting new movement style for us as well. So challenging, so sublime.

Can't wait to see all our friends in the audience in October!

Dana

Photos by Kris Ikejiri

Philip L. Graham fund donation

2009-07-26T17:23:00.001-04:00

We are so appreciative to the Philip L. Graham fund for their recent donation to the company which will allow us to purchase a new projector, camcorder and update our website. This support means the world to us and will really help with the finishing touches on my new work Island!

The work is looking fabulous. Please save the dates at Dance Place, Oct. 9-11, 2009.

Warmest, Dana

Philadelphia Retreat

2009-07-12T07:56:00.003-04:00

Hi Everyone,
I have been in Philadelphia on a retreat regarding learning assessments and leadership in education. As the new Chair of the Theatre and Dance Department, GWU was kind enough to sponsor my participation at the AAC&U Conference.

It has been wonderful to catch up on learning rubrics and assessments while getting to know colleagues and hear about how other disciplines problem solve in their fields. I have been enjoying thinking about how to apply best practices in education to dance.

As many of you may recall DTSB&Co actually started out as a youth program for Asian American high school students in the District and teaching is still a major part of our company focus. You may know us from seeing us on stage, but DTSB&Co oversees dozens of master classes, educational residencies, lectures, demonstrations, panel discussions and conducts a summer program each year. We are constantly working with youth around the region as well as while on tour. We tie our programs to the parameters of what the focus of our repertoire is each season and we have such an exciting season coming up this year!!!

Pictured are Douglas Boyce (music), Elizabeth Chacko (geography), Heather Schell (Writing) and myself. Dean Paul Duff from GWU took the photo while we were down on South Street. It is a wonderful time at the GWU University where community partnerships and outreach are a focus.

Returning today with much inspiration!

Dana

Island in the Works

2009-07-06T19:47:00.002-04:00

Hi Everyone,
I decided to start blogging more regularly and keep up with all our friends!

So I am back in town and running at the speed of light working on our new premiere for October 9-11 at the Dance Place. I am so excited about the new work entitled Island. It will be a completely new experience for our audiences and the company looks fabulous!

More soon!
Warmest, Dana

Dana dances for the DC Commission on the Arts!

2009-06-25T17:55:00.002-04:00

Parting Thoughts

2009-06-18T19:47:00.003-04:00

Group photo at Tati's parents home where we were treated to amazing Peruvian desserts

I arrived back to DC yesterday and it was a thought filled flight back. Our experiences in Peru were wonderful and our performances unprecedented. I was struck by so many moments in Peru from the breathtaking performances of the company in Lima to the wonderful moments interacting with my friends in Lima.

Lovely after-performance party at he Gonzales home

I want to especially thank our friends at the US Embassy, Ambassador McKinley, Linda Gonzales, Paul Dugan, Vanessa Wagner and Jose Carlos Requena for their support and thoughtful guidance. I also would like to say a special hello to Johann, Milagros and Mecho, Qui Que and Desiree, Pachi and Bibi, Vera, Olga and Juan. Perhaps one of the greatest gifts of performing abroad comes in the form of the personal friendships which are forged through the arts and which ultimately inform us as creative artists and bond us globally.

Sightseeing in Lima

I look forward to seeing everyone in Lima again next year! A huge thank you to all.

Besos,
Dana

Opening night in Lima

2009-06-12T18:41:00.003-04:00

Poster of the festival in our hotel lobby

What a wonderful opening night!

The sold out performance was incredibly well received and the US Ambassador, His Excellency McKinley was in the front row and took time from his busy schedule to attend. The US Embassy here is so supportive and post show I sat next to Mrs. Gonzales the Cultural Attache for dinner. She is so interesting and has an amazing dedication to art and culture. She is hosting a party for us at her home this evening.

The press has been overwhelming as well!

Dana during his interview with Olin Placido Larrazabal of dance blog lacasaquebaila.com

We are teaching another masterclass tomorrow which is also completely full.

Photos from the first master class

Dancers painting baskets on the night before the opening

There is no other city like Lima for contemporary dance!

More soon!
Dana

A meeting with the US Ambassador to Peru

2009-06-10T11:26:00.004-04:00

Dana, Connie, Sara and Laura had a wonderful meeting with Peter Michael McKinley, US Ambassador to Peru, at the US embassy. Security was tight but once inside the compound we spent about 20 relaxing minutes discussing the arts, culture and cuisine of Peru with the ambassador. Ambassador McKinley is so gracious and loves the arts. He truly understands the importance of culture as a way to build bridges between our cultures. What a joy!

Cusco Performance

2009-06-10T11:15:00.004-04:00

Sights along the way to the theater in Cusco

Our performance in Cuzco was great!

We had a very warm, large audience that was riveted by the dances. We were in the theater all day and night setting up for the show. As the hot high Andean sun drops so does the temperature and by evening we were in a freezing theater! The dancers are such professionals and of course our tech team was a amazing! Sara, Laura, Richard and Susan worked tirelessly to make sure that our music and projections went off flawlessly. Everyone rallies and pushes through to present the very best product possible.

While sitting in the wings of the theater watching the show, I was struck by the beauty of each of our dancers and the amazing professionalism that they bring to the company. After performing some people had to run into the wings for oxygen which was dispensed from spray cans to keep going. The altitude is a challenge here. I kept thinking that the dance is so magical an experience for the audience and unless you are a dancer, one would never know the amount of work that goes into every show.

Cuzco is a magical city and the opportunity to perform and interact with Peruvian artists here has been quite wonderful.

Dana

Magnificent Machu Picchu

2009-06-08T16:28:00.007-04:00

Katie and Sarah at Machu Picchu

From dancer Sarah Halzack:

Yesterday was the day I had been most looking forward to - our trip to Machu Picchu. First of all, it is quite a trek to get there! We left Cusco on a bus which brought us to a train station. From there, we took a four-hour train ride through the Andes. This, in itself was pretty spectacular, with massive peaks surrounding us on either side. At many points during the ride, you can't see a single sign of modern human civilization - no houses, no power lines. It was a reminder of how remote Machu Pcchi really is and how astounding it is that the Incas were able to get there and then build something so functional and beautiful without contemporary tools or machinery.

After the train dropped us off in a small village called Aguas Calientes ("Hot Springs") we took another bus to get to the ruins.

When we finally arrived, the view was breathtaking. We walked to a high peak where we could look down and see the entire sight. We saw all the winding, intricate stone and the golf-course-perfect spreads of grass, all nestled between some seriously huge and truly majestic mountains.

Our tour guide explained to us that Machu Picchu was never a place for ordinary Incan families. It was solely inhabited by elite members of society, including high priests and priestesses. And that seemed to make sense walking around the site, you can really feel something spiritual and other worldly about it.

With the exception of the thatched roofs which have long since deteriorated we learned that nothing at Machu Picchu is restored or refurbished. I thought that was pretty impressive! It really speaks to the ingenuity and craftsmanship of the Inca people. I also thought that channels for running water and the terraced farming plains were interesting to see.

Then it was back to Cusco to rest up for our show! I think all the dancers agree the lack of oxygen at this high altitude will be our biggest challenge. Still, I know we will do our best and put on a great show.

Sara

Florian makes friends with one of the llamas that roam the ruins

Miyako and Shu-Chen strike a ballet pose

Arrival in Cusco

2009-06-06T23:29:00.009-04:00

Hi Everyone!!

We arrived in Cuzco Tuesday, after a 20 hour trip from door to door of our hotel. With slight weather delays and tight security checks, I seemed to always be the last one on all our planes! Luckily we all made it here to Cuzco.

The high altitude here allows for clarity of distance and beautiful Andean views. It is warm in the day and very cool at night, much like the high desert I grew up in as a child in NM. But Cusco is almost double in altitude, so for the first day I thought I would just sit and not move everytime I tried to walk up a hill. It takes days to adjust.

After beginning to acclimate to the high altitude which affects the amount of strenuous dancing you can do as well, we taught a wonderful master-class to local dancer, actors and acrobats at the Kusikay Theatre. They were great movers, very engaged and interested in new forms of movement. Their physicality was awesome! Many people were from a local show that I am going to check out their show Monday night after our show on Sunday.

Yesterday we rehearsed in the theatre and Sarah, Laura, Richard and Susan began work with our DVD projection needs and tweaked the music into the wee hours of the night. They are tireless in their commitment!! Thank you!!!

Our light designer on tour is my old friend Qui Que who I met in Lima years ago. He is bilingual and so talented in staying calm and getting the job done. He begins work late tonight focusing lights.
Yesterday Renzo our host helped us buy baskets as props for one of our dances from a great lady at the local market. Renzo has been great to take care of us as we manuever from rehearsals thru the city. He is a very good dancer and artist as well.

Today many of our group are going to Macchu Picchu. They just left the hotel and now I am going to run to get ready to go to the Sacred Inca Valley with Kelly. It is one of my favorite places in the world, especially the open market at Pisac.

More soon, tomorrow is a long day!

Dana

DTSB&Co heads to Peru

2009-06-03T10:40:00.005-04:00

Dana Tai Soon Burgess & Co. are off again to distant lands! This time they are headed to Peru. The first stop will be the city of Cusco, the historic capital of the Inca Empire sitting 11,000 ft above sea level in the Andes.

On June 9 the company will head to Lima to open the 21st International Festival of Dance at the North American Institute of Peruvian Culture in Lima. The company will perform the highly-acclaimed Hyphen and Chino Latino on June 10-12, 2009. The festival is one of the biggest celebrations of art and movement in Peru. This tour is supported by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, the Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the US State Department.

Follow along as the company teaches, performs and sightsees in the land of Inca warriors and Spanish conquistadors.

Heartfelt Thanks

2008-07-26T21:58:00.003-04:00

Yesterday at the Ballet San Marcos we had a wonderful showing of dance technique and 5 choreographic works. The dancers were really wonderful and the audience very interested. One audience member said that he felt a very liberated and free feeling from viewing the the work which was different than what he had seen before. The company presented works from Chino Latino, a new work and also a work I created for them 2 years ago. It was so interesting for me to see the work years later and to recall where I was creatively and emotionally then. It was like an amazing time capsule. I want to thank all the dancers, Vera Stasny and Henri Harman for all their support! Warmest, Dana

New Training Techniques

2008-07-22T21:55:00.002-04:00

Rehearsals continue and much improvement is occurring! The dancers have learned a group work, two duets and one solo now. We have a showing on Friday at 12 noon of the dances at the San Marcos Casona. We will also demonstrate how we are training in class as well. Because the dance classes are quite different from what we are learning in my class, I decided to slow down today and tackle specific issues of body alignment in a special workshop. It was great to take a moment to explore in duos, specific issues of alignment. We will apply what we discovered tomorrow in our daily technique class tomorrow morning. It is great to have several weeks to really go in-depth with the work.

On another note to stay in shape, I have been going to a gym around the corner and have been exchanging ideas on training with several trainers there who are interested in the work I do to stay in shape that Connie taught me using the gymnastic ball.

I am off to have dinner with Tati's sister Pachi now. She is a wonderful dancer as well and is a judge on a very popular TV Show here similar to the US show Dancing with the Stars.

Dana

Lima City Life

2008-07-18T22:06:00.000-04:00

I just finished my first full week in Lima. What a fabulous city. Lima is a complete juxtaposition of old and new. I always feel at home here. There is a strange calm within all the calamity of everyday life in Lima. There is an incredible traffic problem here right now due to a new bus route that is being built. So the traffic is crazy. Once I get to downtown, I teach for 2 hours, rehearse for 4 with a small break and tackle the traffic to get back to my hotel. The weather has been sunny for this winter season. I have been connecting with old friends and having dinner at many of Lima's amazing restaurants. Lima has the best restaurants I have ever eaten in.

The Ballet San Marcos dancers have been great and I am setting 4 short pieces on them. We will have a work in progress showing next Friday! Vera Stasny, the director of the Ballet San Marcos, is working on a new fully accredited degree program and we speak daily about structure and process. Looking forward to seeing Elvi, Ralph and Kathy again tonight who are back from Cuzco.

More soon!

Dana

Wonderful Days and Nights in Lima

2008-07-16T08:55:00.006-04:00

Kelly and I have been working very hard with the Ballet San Marcos. They are a wonderful company. I teach for almost 2 hours each morning and then we rehearse for several more hours. They are doing very well and it is always a pleasure to work and catch up with the dance community here in Peru.  Every morning I leave the hotel at 8am and begin teaching at 9am.  I leave the historic downtown area around 3pm daily and take in the streets and energy of Lima in the afternoons and evenings.  There is no other city in the world like it. Lima spans the old and new and there are many juxtapositions of imagery to consider daily. For the last 2 nights I have had wonderful dinners with Elvi Moore, Ralph Meyer and Kathy. They are on their way to Cuzco and Machu Picchu today.  I am always amazed by how small the world is and how important good friends are.  More soon!

Dana

Kelly's POV: Amazing Lima!

2008-07-15T17:24:00.002-04:00

Lima is such an exciting city! My first Peruvian experiences include amazing cuisine, artisan markets that are overwhelmingly beautiful, a 4 hour parade displaying such a wonderful sense of community and culture in addition to many beautiful folk dances from across the country, a minor earthquake, and great interactions with the dancers from the Ballet de San Marco. I wish I could stay longer to assist Dana in his work, but I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to travel to Mexico and Peru. My experiences are unforgettable!

Kelly

On to Peru

2008-07-14T20:41:00.003-04:00

Our performance in Guadalajara was incredibly well received and it was so difficult to leave our new dance friends in Mexico. We hope to return very soon!

I arrived in Lima very early yesterday. I am just re-adjusting to the climate now. I have gone from extreme heat in Colima to rain in Guadalajara to winter in Lima. It is like moving through the seasons of the year in just a few weeks. I am looking forward to getting to work Monday with the Ballet San Marcos. I had a wonderful meeting with Vera Stasny the Director of the Ballet San Marcos at the San Marcos University yesterday. We are very excited to have the program begin. Lima is always full of evergy, interesting artists, great food and colorful sights.

Elvi Moore is in town and we are going to see the Wong Parade together. Wong was a Chinese Peruvian who started a huge supermarket chain. Every year he traditionally had a parade for his employees. Having seen it before, it is quite an amazing event. Dances from all over Peru and bands will flood the streets.

The dance begins! ;)
Dana

Sarah's POV: Hola!

2008-07-08T03:26:00.006-04:00

Hola! It's hard to believe we have already been in Mexico for a week. The time seems to be passing so quickly!

We've had many memorable experiences so far in both Colima and Guadalajara, but one that was particularly unique was appearing with Dana on a television news program in Colima to talk about our performance. I studied Spanish in high school and college, but my mastery of the language is far from perfect. Therefore, I spent a lot of time the night before the appearance trying to brush up on my speaking and anticipate the types of questions that would be asked. But, alas, the anchors didn't end up asking me any of the questions I thought they would! I struggled through the interview, but I just smiled and did my best. I think it was a good example of how important it is to just roll with the punches and keep a sense of humor about things when you're in an unfamiliar culture.

Nevertheless, Dana and I had a great time visiting the television station and observing how similar it was to local television stations in the States.

We arrived in Guadalajara yesterday. The first thing I noticed is that the temperature is much cooler than in Colima. The cool evening breeze feels refreshing and relaxing.

Today we visited a market called San Juan a Dios. It was a bustling and interesting place that was packed with locals and tourists alike. Aisle after aisle was filled with a broad assortment of items; some shops peddled souvenirs and tourist trinkets, while others featured raw pig's feet or wheel barrels brimming with peanuts, spices, or even dog food! It was a great way to see and buy a little slice of Mexican culture.

In addition the all the fun we're having dancing and being immersed in another culture, I think this trip (like all of our other tours) has been a great chance for the company members to bond and build camaradie. Touring is a real pleasure because the company is comprised of people who are warm, caring and always make me laugh!

Sarah

Miyako checks in

2008-07-07T05:03:00.004-04:00

Today was so much FUN! Some of us went to the beach this afternon in Manzanillo, which is about 1 hour and 15 min away from Colima. The water was so warm and the sand was black..due to the natural volcanic rock of the region. The tide was very massaging for our sore muscles and the sand was a great exfoliant for our skin! After about an hour in the sun we drove to the center of town were we looked through some shops and had lunch by the ocean! It was a well deserved afternoon of relaxation!

After returning to Colima, we had the opportunity to watch the professional company from the university rehearse for a major concert in Mexico City late July. Some of the dancers also took Dana's workshop, so it was amazing to see how diverse their movement vocabulary is! They are such wonderful and talented individuals!

Miyako

Update from Kelly

2008-07-07T05:02:00.001-04:00

Happy 4th of July Everyone!

The company had it's debut performance in Colima this evening! The show went so well and was a big hit with the audience! The dancers from Colima performed the Paper Section from Images from the Embers, and were absolutely brilliant! We are so proud of them and also very excited to perform with them again next week in Guadalajara!

Tomorrow is a day of rest and relaxation for the company...we travel to Guadalajara Sunday afternoon!

Colima Performance

2008-07-07T01:59:00.003-04:00

The performance last night was gorgeous!

The company looked great and the Colima dancers whom we set Images from the Embers on were amazing! Such a special evening with a warm large audience! The work looked amazing on the large stage and Maja did a great lighting job while Kevin ran our DVD projections flawlessly. I was especially moved by watching Fractures, Khaybet and Hyphen last night. It is such a gift to be able to watch the company from the wings, they are all so generous to each other and so professional.

After the show a dance scholar and I had a wonderful conversation about Michio Ito's work in Tiajuana with the Japanese community there in the 1930's. It was a wonderfully unexpected connection.

Lynn Roche who put this whole project together, attended the performance all the way from Guadalajara. She made all the dancers feel welcome. She also eloquently reinforced the fact that dance has the capacity to bridge communities all over the world. We are deeply moved by the fine artists we met in Colima and we will undoubtedly have lasting ties to this vibrant community.

Off to Gaudalara in the morning, but happily we attend a folkloric dance rehearsal this evening and we will be able to say goodbye to many of our new friends there.
More soon!
Dana

Kelly's POV: The dancers have arrived!

2008-07-03T12:18:00.002-04:00

All of the DTSB&CO dancers made it to Mexico safe and sound! We are having such a wonderful time here. Colima is such a beautiful city, the dancers at the university are amazing, and the people of Colima are so warm and friendly.

It is Thursday, and the university students had their final rehearsal with Dana this morning. They have been learning the Paper Section from Images from the Embers over the past 4 days. Throughout this process the dancers have demonstrated how intelligent and talented they are. This section is not easy, yet they have managed to not only learn the movement and timing, etc...but also the subtle nuances and character elements within the work. Everyone in the company is so proud of them!

Today is the tech-in for the concert. Maja, our technical director, has been working in the theatre all week with her tech crew, prepping for the concert tomorrow night. The theatre is a new and beautiful contemporary building. We are all very excited to perform in Colima with the university students!

Tati's POV

2008-06-30T08:09:00.004-04:00

Here I am Sunday night 11:45 pm waiting for the first group of the DTSBCO dancers to arrive to Hotel America where we are staying. It is a warm tropical night with the characteristic soothing sounds of frogs and crickets.

I can not believe that almost a week has gone by since our arrival to Lindo Colima Mexico!! It has been a fabulous week in every way, the perfect combination of work and having a great time. Dana's classes have been so well received by this very warm, talented, energetic and beautiful dance community of the University of Colima that it makes us very happy. Three days in a row we have seen dances performed and created by the Colima artists contemporary and folkloric and I will live to remember so much of what I have seen these days. Their happiness and good attitude to work is contagious and I am so glad for that and also grateful to Dana for having me as his assistant in this project.

Mexico in a way seems a little like home to me a Peruvian, both the language language and the body language is very similar that I feel absolutely adapted to the environment. There is a plus that is that Colima not being a big city has an unstressed pace making everything easier - 10 minutes at most to get anywhere.

I can not write much longer today but do not want to leave without mentioning some highlights and special people of this trip:
-- The amazing thunderstorm on our second day while in class

-- Walking out to the balcony of my hotel room every morning and looking for the great Colima Volcano and seeing it magnificent on clear skied days.

-- The beautiful ceramic precolumbian dogs seen in every museum and the replicas in every store.

-- The numerous plazas with mango trees and many other trees, paradise of refreshing shade in the hot day walks around the city.

-- The 6:30 am bells of the neighboring churches.

-- The huge and great obscene figure sculpture by Jose Luis Cueva in the roundabout near the University theater.

-- The vast and wonderful sprung floor in dance studio number 9 where we work under an incredible Zamarripa sculpture of a crucified man.

-- Having free food at the portales of the small town of Comala as long as you order any beverage.

-- The Ex Hacienda Nogueras home to a famous Colima painter Alejandro Rangel Hidalgo and now a museum , a very prolific and influential artist in this area. I will never forget the angels and children he portrays

-- Having time for long conversations with Dana.

-- Our host Deni who picks us up everyday and helps us out with many things

-- Meeting Mr. Rafael Zamarripa, an amazing person that has been very special to us, with his conversation and questions and opening himself to us by inviting us to his home.

Tati

Vibrant Arts Scene

2008-06-29T08:02:00.001-04:00

Last night we saw a wonderful performance by the Colima University Dance students. It was quite diverse and technically quite fine. Tati and I spent the day in Comala a small city near Colima sightseeing and walking through the small streets. There seems to be a mango tree and orange tree on every corner here. We are off to attend 2 dance concerts this evening. The arts community is quite vibrant here.

Dana

Lunch with the Maestro

2008-06-27T22:00:00.004-04:00

Tati and I love working with the Colima modern dance community! What gorgeous dancers! Setting Images from the Embers on 8 of the dancers is going very well. It is as if our company has twins in Colima. It is a very interesting process for me to see the repertoire transfered to another community. We had a beautiful lunch after class and rehearsal today with Maestro Zamarripas, the director of the Colima Folkloric Ballet. He is an amazing teacher and artist. He has a beautiful home and sculpture studio. What a wonderful conversationalist, I was quite inspired by him. Such a gifted man. We are so glad to have had the opportunity to spend the day with the Maestro. Off the theatre to see the dance students of the University perform, many of their teachers are taking our classes currently.

Dana

Already in full swing!

2008-06-26T13:11:00.006-04:00

Tati and I arrived 3 days ago in Colima, Mexico and have been teaching and setting my work Images from the Embers on modern dancers here.  We have been so impressed by the quality of the dancers.  They have beautiful alignment and training.  Their training facility at the University of Colima is gorgeous, large sprung wood floor studios with 2 story tall ceilings.  The theatre in which we will perform when the company arrives seats 1000 and was built 2 years ago. It has state of the art lighting and sound systems.  It is quite grand in size!  Tati and I teach in the mornings, rehearse and teach again in the afternoon. The city is quite colorful with tropical gardens and plazas full of people.  The early evenings are when a cool breeze sweeps through the hot streets and people sit for coffee and drinks at sidewalk cafes. Life in Colima has a pace which feels very natural and alive.  Off to class! 

Dana

Next Stop: Latin America

2008-06-23T09:49:00.003-04:00

Dana Tai Soon Burgess will soon be blogging from Mexico as the company tours Guadalajara and Colima. Dana arrives June 23 to teach and choreograph. His dancers will join him June 28. Check back here soon for a more detailed schedule and to read about their adventures.

The First Indo-American Dance Production in Chennai

2008-01-16T12:57:00.001-05:00

Sunday night January 13 we had a triumphant production in Chennai! On Saturday, Maja our trusted Lighting Designer began the technical load in to the large auditorium. On Sunday night the audience filed in and filled the auditorium. There were gorgeous giant posters not just advertising the show but also speaking of the history of John Britto's initial State Dept. visit to the States and how our organizations both began this collaboration in 2006. Two years later the work has really paid off!

John Britto's Dance Company performed the new work I choreographed beautifully. We were all so impressed by their physicality and performance quality. The audience loved the show and we received wonderful reviews in The Hindu newspaper, the NewIndPress and ChennaiOnline.

This was truly a life changing experience which we will remember forever. I know that this experience will open sincere Indo-American relations through dance on an ongoing basis. John launched his new Dance Connect project which will continue to bring American artists to Southern India produced at an extremely high level. My sincere thanks to John Britto and the dancers of the John Britto Dance Company for their hospitality and warmth. My company is forever appreciative!

Warmest, Dana

A day in the studio

2008-01-12T08:12:00.000-05:00

Thursday January 10
In the morning we were back at the studio to warm-up and then do a run-through of the performance pieces. In mid afternoon Dana taught a Master class to students from a local college some of whom are also in John Britto's company. After class our dancers did a couple short pieces to demonstrate modern dance. Then the college students performed one of their high energy dances that they have performed and used in dance competitions. The students did so well in class and their enthusiasm and hard work was very gratifying to see.

In the evening we were invited to dinner at the residence of General Council of the United States. Several US diplomats attended as well as members of a Classical Indian Dance group from Bangalore. It was a wonderful evening of good Indian food and great conversations in a lovely home.

Friday January 11
we all took a day off to go sight seeing. Two of John Britto's dancers took us to Mamallapuram Temple about an hour and a half south of Chennai. It was nice to get out of bustling Chennai and climb around the stone carvings and other interesting structures of this ancient shore temple. The cool breezes of the Bay of Bengal felt very nice on this hot sunny day.

The dancers have arrived

2008-01-10T12:38:00.000-05:00

Wednesday January 9
The dancers and Maja the lighting designer arrived early Tuesday morning. So the company is all here! We are now ready for the rehearsals and master classes leading up to the performance on Sunday. After checking into the hotel we took the company on a tour of some of the places Kelly and I thought were interesting so we headed to the beautiful and spiritual Kapaleeshwarer Temple and to the shopping mall to haggle over silk scarves, sandalwood trinkets and embroidered cotton clothing. We also had lunch outdoors at a cool restaurant called Mocha.

The dancers then visited John Britto's studio where his dancer Apu was teaching a children's class. At the end of class the children lined up for a special handshake that they have taught me.

Dance Workshop for Students

2008-01-07T06:11:00.001-05:00

Today was the first day back for students at John Britto's Dance Studio. As a treat for them, we taught a couple modern dance classes, which they seemed to really enjoy...everyone had a lot of fun! Some of them had been taking classes at the studio for a few years while others had come for their very first time. In a way, it was refreshing to teach a group of younger dancers because I think we sometimes forget how students of different ages learn and process new material. This was great exposure for them movement wise and also very educating for them as dance viewers in general. I think the young dance students who were part of the workshop and who come to see the upcoming concert will have a very different and more fulfilling experience because they will be able to make connections to the movements they see on stage.

Kelly and Dana celebrate the New Year

2008-01-02T04:10:00.001-05:00

New Year's Eve

Today Dana and I visited Kapaleeshwarar Temple, an ancient temple dedicated to the Lord Shiva. This is one of Chennai's largest temples. It could not have been a better day to visit, everything and everyone was decorated in celebration for the new year. The smell of fresh floral wreaths and incense filled the air, streets were marked with chalked designs of prayer symbols..everything had such a magical feel. Truly an amazing experience!

We visited the small market and neighborhood around the temple and purchased a few gifts for family and friends. We celebrated New Year back at the hotel, which was also decorated and very festive. Many people were visiting the hotel to enjoy the various restaurants and parties...it was a buzzing place!

Happy New Year Everyone!!

First Day in 2008

Dana and I made our first outing this morning alone...on foot. We are usually guided by a rickshaw driver, but today we felt a little daring. Basically, we only made it two blocks from the hotel before discovering an antique shop and a department store/shopping center. the antiques and furniture were great to see...everything was very beautiful to see. The shopping mall was interesting just out of shear interest of making a comparison to US stores.....visually they are similar as in the US, though there are many more clerks, which consequently makes quite the impact on their service.

By afternoon coffee was in order, hence began the quest for a western style coffee house....they are far and few but when you find one.....you'll be content. We found one just a short 5 minute ride from the hotel. Coffee house culture is very popular here because most stay open late and serve as hangouts for young adults. 4 cups of coffee and 2 slices of cake later, Dana and I headed back to the hotel to get ready for evening events.

This evening we were invited to visit Kalakshatra, a private arts school, to attend a production of "Masquerade: The Man in the iron Mask", directed by Sheejith Chakkappoyyan. We received a private tour of the school grounds, walked through the museum, and then had a small snack while we waited for the performance to start. Dana looked up into the trees and noticed a monkey sitting up on a branch. I was personally excited because this was one thing on my India to-do list! So we saw our first wild monkey....he had shown up just a day prior and seemd to be making the place his temporary home. Monkeys don't really present themselves very often in Chennai because populations aren't very exorbitant. It isn't until one travels to New Delhi were you'll see monkeys walking the streets and stealing fruit from markets, etc.

The production of "The Man in the Iron Mask" was presented in the contemporary style, which, we have been told, is the new rage with dance/theatre artists and audiences. It was fascinating to watch because although movement wise the performers were dancing in the Bharatanatyam style of Classical India dance, they were acting out a western and fairly contemporary story. Performances in most South Asian cultures last an average of three-four hours....it was amazing to observe the dancers' stamina throughout the performance. It was truly and enjoyable experience!

After the show, it took us about 10 minutes to find a rickshaw to drive us 30 min back to our hotel. Our driver this evening was the most enthusiastic and daring driver we have encountered on our trip. The best way to sum up the experience is to think of yourself as a passenger in a car during a high speed chase in a hollywood film. We were quite thankful when we finally saw the lights of our hotel!

What a way to begin the new year!!

---- Kelly Moss Southall