During a visit to northern Pakistan in 2000, choreographer Dana Tai Soon Burgess was intrigued with the way most women there lived behind veils. So after he returned home to the United States, he created a dance inspired by their lives.
On Friday, nearly 50 Virgin Islands students got to see the piece when Mr. Burgess’s dance company visited the territory.
During the session — which was held ahead of a Saturday show that was part of the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College’s 19th Performing Arts Series — Mr. Burgess told the students that there’s much more to dance than just body movements.
“Creativity is very similar to science and to writing,” he said. “You have to have an idea of the dance and then you have to do your research.”
He also told students brief stories on the background of each piece.
“Leaving Pusan” was based on the memory of his great-grandmother, who left Korea for Hawaii in the early 1900s.
During the slow, melancholy performance, the dancers wore all white, a colour traditionally worn by mourners in Korea, Mr. Burgess explained. One dancer carried a white suitcase, signifying the great-grandmother’s journey to the United States.
The California-born dancer and his company recently performed at the White House during National Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
See the March 20, 2014 edition for full coverage.
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