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

Special offer for Diplomats of Dance!

We have secured a block of tickets for the Diplomats of Dance Society for opening night of Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company’s “Potraits” at the Kennedy Center. Great opportunity to see these unique dance works, each created during Burgess’ historic residency at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, performed on a proscenium stage! 

A captured moment from “I Am Vertical”, inspired by the Sylvia Plath: One Life exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery. Photo by Jeff Malet. 

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.

Please email us at dancediplomats@gmail.com ASAP to secure yours! 

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

Ellen Kwatnsoski: Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company — 25 Years of Delighting Audiences in Washington and Around the World

The company rehearsing. Photo courtesy of EllenKwatnoski.com.

Take the time to read author Ellen Kwatnoski's recent blog about her impressions of Dana’s artistic process and direction, plus recent work as the Smithsonian's first-ever choreographer-in-residence, creating works inspired by National Portrait Gallery exhibitions on subjects like poet Sylvia Plath, as DTSBDC company members rehearse for their upcoming June 15-16 performance at the Kennedy Center:

Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company — 25 Years of Delighting Audiences in Washington and Around the World

DANA TAI SOON BURGESS to be awarded the 2018 Paul Ré Peace Prize by the University of New Mexico Foundation

DANA TAI SOON BURGESS will be awarded the 2018 Paul Ré Peace Prize by the University of New Mexico Foundation for bridging communities around the globe through choreography.

We are currently in Dana's hometown of Santa Fe and heading to Albuquerque tomorrow, May 24th, where Dana will receive the award, which traditionally acknowledges those who can bridge the arts and sciences to promote peace. His breath-taking work in collaboration with NASA, We choose to go to the moon, which featured interviews with famed astronaut Bruce McCandless, space scientists, as well as a special New Mexican medicine woman as part of the soundscore, is an example of how he not only bridges cultures through movement and storytelling, but also schools of thought.

From the UNM News Desk:

"The winner of the 2018 Peace Prize in the general category will be Dana Tai Soon Burgess for his work as an acclaimed choreographer, performance artist, and cultural figure.
...
Burgess promotes peace and harmony through his art form of dance and his beautiful, innovative choreography. For 25 years, he has worked on projects across the globe as a teacher and a performer engaging audiences and forming friendships around the world. He believes that finding connections between cultures and artists is a key to peace and diplomacy."

See "Portraits" at the Kennedy Center June 15th and 16th

A scene from DTSBDC's I Am Vertical at the National Portrait Gallery, inspired by
the "Sylvia Plath: One Life" exhibition there.

Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company made history recently as the Smithsonian Institution's first dance company in residence, creating dynamic dance works from exhibitions at the National Portrait Gallery. 

On June 15th and 16th at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the company 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. Space is limited.

In studio w/ DTSBDC, May 2018

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.

Donate to Dana's Birthday Fundraiser

Please support DTSBDC's very special 25th Anniversary Season with a donation in honor of Dana Tai Soon Burgess' birthday! Any amount is a major gift and supports the dancers and the creation of new work! Thank you! Please Donate Here.

From Dana: I love making dances and am so appreciative of the friends and dance family that have sustained the work of DTSBDC for 25 years. For my 50th birthday, I would so appreciate a gift that would support our dancers and creative team. Thank you so much.