10,000 Dreams: Virtual Choreography Festival
Brinda Guha, photo by Lukas van der Fecht / LVDF
“What began with a mission to update the classical canon — most notably the section of “The Nutcracker” known as “Tea” — has since blossomed into a larger platform celebrating Asian dancers and choreographers.”
“The festival’s content is powerful because it isn’t tangled up in trying to define Asianness for the white gaze. Rather, dance as a form is challenged to prove itself worthy of what each choreographer of Asian descent has to say through their exploration of the human condition.”
There is an uncomfortable dynamic for Asians in classical ballet. Ballet companies continuously program “The Nutcracker,” “La Bayadere,” “Le Corsaire,” and other orientalist ballets season after season — yet as a field we face an absence of choreographers of Asian descent to make work on our terms. This problematic dynamic presents a barrier for our field to get Asian families to feel truly included when in the audience (and perhaps enroll their children in our schools). It is also counterproductive to efforts to diversify our Boards, when people of color rarely get to see themselves centered, and instead are faced with orientalist tropes on stage instead of mirroring their culture they hold with pride.
If we are to survive and remain relevant, as a field we must do better.
In May 2020, at the height of the global pandemic, feeling lonely and isolated, we decided to do an interview every day with a different Asian dancer to celebrate AAPI Heritage Month. What emerged was the What’s the Tea? Series, which was so profoundly impactful for both us and the interviewers and audiences, that we decided to repeat the series in 2021 — this time focused on choreographers.
During the month of May 2021, we profiled a different choreographer of Asian descent every day both here at yellowface.org and on our Instagram page. Each day, audiences saw a short digital work by the choreographer. To support our partner companies fulfill their commitments to commissioning a choreographer of Asian descent for a main stage production by 2025, we have also invited the directors who have signed the yellowface pledge to tune in and offer commissions to the choreographers they respond to.
Why 10,000 Dreams? Because 10,000 is the “biggest” number in many Asian languages (suggesting a number so large it is almost uncountable).
Our Opening Keynote was presented in partnership with the New York Public Library Chatham Square Branch and the Library for the Performing Arts on Monday May 3 at 6pm EST. Our panelists included Rohan Bhargava, Jessica Chen, Edwaard Liang, and Brinda Guha, and will be moderated by Final Bow’s Phil Chan.
We also partnered with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago to present Unboxed, a tradition re-imagined, that invited Yin Yue, Edwaard Liang, and Peter Chu to create new dances to the Nutcracker’s iconic “Tea” divertissement. Click HERE to learn more!
2021 Line Up
May 1: Disha Zhang
“Elapse”
Choreography: Disha Zhang
Music: Xiaogang Zeng
Lighting design: Lisa J. Pinkham
Performed by the artists of Houston Ballet
Generously underwritten by Anne and Albert Chao/The Ting Tsung & Wei Fong Chao Foundation
May 2: Brett Ishida
“longing floats around you” excerpt
a piece that explores observations on loneliness within intimacy
Choreography: ISHIDA
Dancers: Myles Lavallee and Madison Medina
Music: Max Richter
Lighting: Stephen Pruitt
Videography: Matthew Gattozzi
Editing: ISHIDA
Filmed at The Long Center
May 3: Rohan Bhargava
“The Underground” (Excerpt from KAMA)
Choreography: Rohan Bhargava, in collaboration with dancers
Dancers: Rovaco Dance Company; Nico Gonzales, Anna Pinault, Jihyun Kim, Elise Pacicco, and Alden Henderson
Music: Saúl Guanipa
Lighting Design: Ted Boyce-Smith
Costume Design: Barry Doss
This work was commissioned through a CUNY Dance Initiative Residency at LaGuardia Performing Arts Center
May 4: Dana Tai Soon Burgess
“Tracings”
Choreography: Dana Tai Soon Burgess
Music: Jason Kao Hwang and Aaron Leitko
Costumes: Judy Hansen
Props: Kelly Moss Southall
Dancers: Suzanne Bryant, Anna Kang Burgess, Dana Tai Soon Burgess, Jennifer Fergusson, Connie Lin Fink, Mary Hong, Sarah Craft Lebret, Miyako NItadori, Leonardo Giron Torres, Tati Maria Del Carmen Valle Riestra
Lighting: Jennifer Tipton
Light Direction: Maya White
Visual Design: Ryan Lalonde and Michael Lovett
Rehearsal Direction: Anne Sidney
May 5: Lia Cirio
“Lenore”
Choreography: Lia Cirio
Music: Antonín Dvořák
Costumes: Lia Cirio
Dancers: Addie Tapp and Desean Taber, Boston Ballet
Presented as part of Boston Ballet’s BB@Home ChoreograpHER program
May 6: Caili Quan
“Love Letter” (excerpt)
Choreography: Caili Quan
Music: "Be There / High Tide" by Micah Manaitai, "Hagu" by Flora Baza Quan
Cinematography : Elliot deBruyn and Nathaniel Brown
Editing: Elliot deBruyn
Costume Design: Christine Darch
Dancers: Richard Villaverde, Francesca Forcella, Ashley Simpson, Stanley Glover, Blake Krapels, Zachary Kapeluck, Andrea Yorita, Savannah Green, Roderick Phifer
Commissioned by BalletX in 2020.
May 7: Peter Cheng
“T I L T S H I F T”
Choreography: Peter Cheng in collaboration with the performers
Music: Treya Lam, Tale of Us, SHXCXCHCXSH
Costumes: Peter Cheng
Performers: Melissa Anderson, Peter Cheng, Sid Dutta, Nami Kim, Mikaela Morisato, Mamiko NakatsugawaVideo: Jake Kruty
Premiere: February 24-25, 2020 LaGuardia Performing Arts Center, Queens, NY Mare Nostrum Elements Emerging Choreographer Series #7
May 8: Benjamin Akio Kimitch
“Fan dance study”
Directed and Performed by Benjamin Akio Kimitch
Camera by Tyler Ashley
Commissioned by AUNTS: WPA
May 9: Xin Ying
“Zhi 织”
Choreography and Direction: Xin Ying
Dancers: Xin Ying, Wang Dengchao
Filming and Editing: Meng Yu
May 10: Yin Yue
Choreography: Yin Yue
Original Music: Juliane Jones and Doug Beiden
Costume: Barbara Erin Delo
Lighting: Christopher Chambers
Performers: Grace Whitworth, Erika Choe, Lacey Baroch, Lizzy Zevallos, Omar Roman and Yin Yue
Video by: Dancing Camera
Editing by: Yin Yue
May 11: Sanjay Saverimuttu
“Amid Exes and Whys”
Choreography by Sanjay Saverimuttu
Art by Jake Ford
Filmed and Edited by Tyler Gater
Music by Antony and the Johnsons (Crazy in Love) used with permission by WMG
May 12: Ma Cong
“Escaping the Weight of Darkness”
Choreography: Ma Cong
Music: Ezio Bosso
Costume Design: Emma Kingsbury
Lighting Design: Les Dickert
Commissioned by Tulsa Ballet 2019
May 13: Michael Sakamoto
“Flash”
Written, choreographed, and performed by Michael Sakamoto and Rennie Harris
Soundscore: Raphael Xavier and Michael Sakamoto
"Flash" was originally developed with generous funding from the Artists Innovation Grant program of the Center for Cultural Innovation.
Use of “Chop Suey” courtesy of Velvet Hammer Music and Management Group.
Use of “Nothing Compares 2 U” courtesy of Artists Only Records.
Video from performance at Dance Center of Columbia College, Chicago, 2016.
May 14: Robyn Mineko Williams
Excerpts from “Echo Mine”
Romans
Directed & choreographed by Robyn Mineko Williams
Music by Califone
Danced by Jacqueline Burnett
Cinematography by David Schultz
Lighting by Elliot Hammans and David Schultz
Snow Angel v2
Choreographed and danced by Robyn Mineko Williams
Music by Califone
Video by Mike Gibisser
Costume design by Hogan McLaughlin
With support from Andrew Murdock, Tina Katrivesis, Morgan Frasier, Philip Rabalais
Special thanks to Thalia Hall Chicago
May 15: Marie Lloyd Paspe
“to whom it may unmask”
Choreography/Concept/Performers: Marie Lloyd Paspe and Adrian Hoffman
Music Composition and Film Editing: Adrian Hoffman
Videography/Director: Paulo Tonn
Costume Design: Marie Lloyd Paspe and Adrian Hoffman
May 16: Brinda Guha
“Can't Take My Eyes Off of You”
Choreography: Brinda Guha
Music: Lauryn Hill
Danced by: Rebecca Robinson (Becca Robinson) Soraya Lundy Amanda Castro + Brinda Guha
Filmed by: Kenichi Kasamatsu
Support: Stacie Webster
May 17: Edwaard Liang
“Distant Cries”
Choreography: Edwaard Liang}
Music: Tomaso Albinoni
Dancers: Wendy Whelan and Peter Boal
May 18: Bennyroyce Royon
“Homebound/Alaala”
Choreography by Bennyroyce Royon
Music by Perfecto De Castro, Pilita Corrales, Nora Aunor, Grace Nono, Pinikpikan
Scenic Design by Amanda Gladu, Bennyroyce Royon
Costume Design by Amanda Gladu
Lighting Design by Joe Doran
Performances by Ballet Hispánico Company Dancers
Commissioned by Ballet Hispánico
May 19: Nai-Ni Chen
“Phase II”
Dance Choreography/Video Composition/Video Editing: Nai-Ni Chen
Music: Duality by Tumbara
Dancers: Greta Campo, Sonny Shiu, Candace Jarvis, Ethan Gwynn, Rio Kikuchi, Evan Matthew
May 20: Thang Dao
“Folded Prism” (excerpt)
Choreography: Thang Dao
Music: John Levis
Performed by: Philadanco
May 21: Jessica Chen
"I Can Almost See You"
Choreography by Jessica Chen
Filmed + Edited by David Burton
Danced by Chieh Hsiung
Music composed by Tony Yang
Costumes by Erica Johnston
Cover Art Illustration by Felicia Liang
May 22: Keerati Jinakunwiphat
“Big Rings”
Choreographer: Keerati Jinakunwiphat
Dancers: Jae Neal, Marcella Lewis, Claude 'CJ' Johnson, Tamisha Guy, Catherine Kirk, and Javon Jones
Lighting Design: Dan Scully
Costume Design: Karen Young
Music arrangement/editing: Zach Berns
May 23: Pallabi Chakravorty
“The Mahatma is Fasting”
Choreography and music arrangements: Pallabi Chakravorty
Performed by the Courtyard Dancers
May 24: Peter Chu
"yourFace"
Choreography: Peter Chu
Choreographic Assistant: Jenni Gordon
Costumes: Peter Chu
Rehearsal Director: Armin Frauenschuh
Composition & Sound Design: Djeff Houle
Video edit: Lauren Berthelot
Performers: Dancers of Staatstheater Augsburg
May 25: Mina Nishimura
“Theme Song”
Choreography: Mina Nishimura
Music: Miles Davis
May 26: KJ Takahashi
“Get You (Freestyle)”
Choreography: KJ Takahashi
Music: Daniel Caesar
May 27: Jesse Obremski
Choreography: Jesse Obremski
Music: Jarom Hansen
Lighting Design: Jesse Obremski
Filming and Editing by Scott Cook
May 28: Zhongjing Fang
“Perception”
Choreography: Zhongjing Fang
Music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Film and Sound Editing: Herman Cornejo
May 29: Norbert De La Cruz III
“Generation 1.5”
Choreography: Norbert De La Cruz III
Music: Michelle Ross
Additional music by: Tim Hecker, Ludovico Einaudi, and Norbert De La Cruz III
Lighting design: Roderick Murray
Premiered June 2019 Hollins University MFA Dance Program
May 30: Connie Shiau
“108 (excerpt)”
Choreographer and performer: Jie-Hung Connie Shiau
Music: Luc Ferrari, Jlin
Videographer: Going Show
Performed in The Experimental Theater of National Theater & Concert Hall in Taipei, Taiwan, August, 2019
May 31: Choo San Goh
“Fives”
Choreography: Choo San Goh
Music: Ernest Bloch
Performed by The Washington Ballet