Art Works Podcast

Today we’re closing our celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month by re-visiting our 2017 conversation with the acclaimed Washington DC-based dancer and choreographer Dana Tai Soon Burgess.  Burgess and I spoke as his dance company was marking its 25th anniversary; so, the podcast is a retrospective of his philosophy and vision as a pioneering Asian American choreographer as well as a look at his first quarter century creating and leading the Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company-- a company the Washington Post has called “a national dance treasure.”  In this podcast, we discuss his background: growing up in New Mexico as the child of Korean immigrants, his exposure to diverse cultures, and the development of his passion for dance, his education at renowned institutions like Juilliard and the London Contemporary Dance School, and how these experiences shaped his artistic voice. Burgess talks about the fusion of multicultural influences in his dance and choreography, blurring the boundaries between contemporary dance, ballet, and traditional Korean movement. We gain insight into his creative process: how he develops ideas, collaborates with dancers, and brings his artistic vision to life. And we explore Burgess's perspective on the role of arts and culture in our daily lives and their ability to foster understanding and empathy.  Let us know what you think about Art Works—email us at artworkspod@arts.gov.