If you happen to be driving by Tysons Corner Center, be sure to look up! We are up on the digital billboard on Tysons One Pl!

Thank you to ArtsFairfax and Tysons Corner Center.

Although the rest of my family did opt to stay in Taiwan, I came to the U.S. and attended University of Florida’s dance program at the New World School of the Arts in Miami. Just as my Uncle said, I would be learning from the best in America. And I did. My amazing teachers at NWSA helped shape me in so many ways into the dancer and person I am today. 

When I was 7 years old, my Uncle who was living in Houston, where he still lives to this day, came to visit my family in Taiwan. At that time, I had just been taking dance classes for about a year and couldn’t stop thinking about dance every day. I still vividly remember at that dinner table, when my Uncle was energetically and enthusiastically telling us what a great country the Unites States is. It’s a land of opportunity with so many people wanting to immigrate to the U.S. to have better future and better life. “How is dance in the United States?” I asked. “Oh, there are so many great schools and companies there, you will love dancing there. They get the best training!” He said. … and I had to ask… “Is it true that they’ve got the best ice cream in the U.S.?” My uncle laughed and said “Yes, there are lots of delicious flavors of ice cream! The best!” Dancing and ice cream! Oh boy! I had to convince my parents to immigrate to the U.S.! With my Uncle’s help, I did. In 1983, my parents started the application process for green cards (permanent residentship). A few years later when I was in junior high school, a very good dance friend of mine gave me my very first Dance Magazine from the United States. I looked at the magazine over and over. I was mesmerized by all those beautiful dance pictures. I couldn’t understand what the articles said (they were written in English), but those images of dancers moved me so much. I wanted to be like them, which only deepened my thoughts and desires of coming to America to pursue my dance dreams. However, while we waited for our paperwork approval, year-after-year, life continued to change. My parents were focused on their careers in Taiwan and raising their family. My Dad got promoted to Police Sergeant. I was so busy with school and dance training, I had set my goals of auditioning for a prestigious dance college in Taipei for my senior year in high school. My dream of dancing in America had slowly faded. Then, after waiting for 10 long years, we received the approval from the U.S. that we could continue our process of immigrating to the States. My parents told me that we were in different stages of our lives than we were when we applied 10 years earlier and that we should continue to focus on our lives and careers in Taiwan and not to think about moving to the United States anymore. My Uncle from Houston came to visit us in Taiwan around that time. When my Dad told him of our decision to stay in Taiwan, he was in disbelief. He argumentatively said “There are so many people trying so hard to immigrate to the U.S., you guys waited for 10 years and finally got the paperwork, but you are going to give up this opportunity?” Amazingly, he convinced my parents to continue the green card process. The rest is history. 

Walking down memory lane, I often wonder how I could’ve been so determined to move to a foreign country where I could hardly understand and speak the language. I still remember the fear in me, so much unknown was in front of me, but it was that dream of mine – dance, being a professional dancer in the United States. It kept me going. It pushed me out of my comfort zone. When you want something badly enough, it pushes you to do the things you don’t think you can do. 

After I graduated from Tsoy High School, which was a prestigious dance program in Taiwan, I immigrated to the U.S. I am beyond grateful for my amazing parents who worked so hard to support me so I could come to this country and pursue my dance dream. After graduating with a BFA from the University of Florida’s New World School of the Arts (UF’s Dance Program), I danced professionally with Nevada Ballet Theater and Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company for fourteen years, touring domestically and internationally. Fourteen years ago, my husband, Gary and I started Gin Dance Company. It truly has been a dream come true. Being that little girl in Taiwan, I never would have dreamed in a million years that I would have my own dance company one day in United States. I have so many people to be thankful for who helped me along the way. I am proud and fortunate to call myself Asian American. Learn more about Shu-Chen

Flowers overflow Capital One Hall stage as the celebrated Taiwanese American dancer and choreographer retires from performing.
By Lisa Traiger – November 18, 2023

“Long-stemmed red carnations tossed from the audience carpeted the front of the stage at Capital One Hall this past Saturday evening in celebration of Gin Dance Company founder Shu-Chen Cuff’s retirement from performing. The Taiwanese American dancer and choreographer founded Gin Dance 13 years ago as a means to express and share her dual identity through the language of dance. Offering bouquets and tossing flowers is a long-held tradition in the ballet world and fitting for Cuff, who, while her choreography draws on contemporary elements, is firmly rooted in the ballet aesthetic and its traditions.” Click Here to read the full interview.

GDC’s 2023 ‘7-8-9’ Fundraising Drive – Together, keeping the curtain up!

We need your help raising $14,000 by 8/9…

It’s been a very busy and exciting 2022 – 2023 season at GDC…  We’ve completed some wonderful performances including our season opening production  “I Am Here” in which we collaborated with Kinetic Sculpture Artist, Kevin Reese and Chinese Dulcimer Musician, Chao Tian at the Capital One Hall.   We were thrilled and honored to perform “Aspire” and“A Cup of Tea” for A Celebration of “Buoyant Force”, a magnificent 50 foot tall steel sculpture created by Sue Wribcan which is installed at the Reston Town Square Park. We were especially proud to collaborate and perform with Grammy nominated Billboard No. 1 Concert Violinist, Jenny Oaks Baker, New York Times Best selling Author, Jason Wright, The Washington DC Temple Choir, The Boyle School of Irish Dance, and Celtic Woman Star, Alex Sharpe to perform “Joy to the World” at Capital One Hall last December. This Spring we got invited to share our production “I Am Here” in The Washington Ballet’s “Ubuntu: Building Bridges Between Diverse Communities through Dance” production and Metropolitan School of the Arts’ “Higher Ground” production.

In addition to these great events and more, we had the absolute pleasure of bringing our “A Cup of Tea” to A Gala Benefit Concert for World Central Kitchen through our Outreach Performance Program. Kevin and Shu-Chen also designed special free, hands-on workshops based on the work “I Am Here” at the Metropolitan School of the Arts for kids from differing backgrounds and ethnicities and helped them to understand the struggles and challenges those immigrants were facing when they first immigrated to U.S. and taught the kids the techniques of making kinetic sculptures and creating dance as a way of sharing their stories.

At GDC, we pour our heart and soul into every production. We create to impact, inspire, and brighten lives.  We have a tremendous passion and love for what we do. We are excited to announce that we will be returning to Capital One Hall to open our 2023 – 2024 season. At this very special evening, we will share a full evening length innovative production of “Insight” a brand new original work that was inspired by the quote “When an old person dies, a library burns down.” This powerful quote reminds us of the immense wealth of knowledge and experience that older generations possess. Shu-Chen, through her choreography and dance, expresses the awakening message that we should respect more and care more for our seniors and appreciate all they have done to give younger generations the world they will inherent from them.

The funds raised during our 7-8-9 Funding Drive ($14,000 by 8/9) will help us cover the production costs of our exciting 2023-2024 season, keeping our artists working and creating to bring excellence in performing arts to the community. We humbly ask for your help in raising the funds needed for this exciting and ambitious production with your tax-deductible contribution. You can help us achieve our goal of raising the needed funds with your tax-deductible contribution.

Please give whatever you can … Every dollar donated will bring us closer to our goal.
TOGETHER, we can keep the curtain up!

You can click here to donate.

Note: If you prefer to make a contribution by check, please make check payable to Gin Dance Company and mail it to:

Gin Dance Company
1818 Library ST, Suite 500
Reston, VA 20190

Gin Dance Company is seeking dancers for our 2023 -2024 Season!

When:
June 21, 2023
– 7:15 p.m. Check In (Pre-Registration Required)
– 7:30 p.m. Audition

What: 
Gin Dance Company is seeking dancers with a strong background in ballet and modern technique along with performance experience and a great passion and eagerness to grow.

Rehearsals are from 7:30 – 10:00 pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

Must be able to legally work in the USA.

Pre-registration is required by 5:00 p.m. on June 20, 2023. To register, please send your bio, dance photos, and a dance video to info@gindance.com

Where:
BalletNova Center for Dance
3443 Carlin Springs RD
Falls Church, VA 22041