Homage/Dancing the Dream: A ‘First’ Movement

“Dancing the Dream,” which opened recently at the National Portrait Gallery, is the Smithsonian’s first exhibition on dance in America. In conjunction with the exhibit, Dana Tai Soon Burgess is the Smithsonian’s first ever choreographer-in-residence.

“Dancing the Dream,” a six gallery dance exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, celebrates 20th and 21st century performing arts tradition in America as one of opportunity, multicultural innovation, and creativity. The display, developed by cultural historian Amy Henderson, was the backdrop for those lucky guests who attended the world premiere of the performance “Homage” earlier this week.

“Homage,” a collaborative effort by Henderson and performing artist, Dana Tai Soon Burgess, brings to life the most important moments in American dance history; honoring the 1942 film “Yankee Doodle Dandy” and highlighting pop culture celebrities like Shirley Temple, John Travolta, Liza Minnelli, and many more.  As Henderson explained to attendees minutes prior to the show, Burgess “took the kind of impulses he was feeling from the images on the walls [of the exhibition]…paying tribute to great, iconic dancers of America.”

The performance was an instant, intimate crowd-pleaser despite the vastly high ceiling and expanse of space around the modestly-sized stage in the portrait gallery’s great hall. Without a doubt, it captivated Washingtonians with its interpretation of seizing the coveted American Dream.

We’ll call it cultural choreography.