September 30, 2026 (Oxford, MD) — The Asian Wine Association of America (AWAA) is proud to partner with the Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company (DTSBDC) for a special evening celebrating AAPI culture, identity, and community through the intersection of dance, storytelling, and wine. Dana Tai Soon Burgess: From Memoir to Movement will take place Friday, October 9, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. at the Oxford Community Center in Oxford, Maryland.
The collaboration brings together two distinctive cultural pioneers: internationally acclaimed Korean American choreographer, author, and cultural ambassador Dana Tai Soon Burgess, whose work has brought Asian American stories and perspectives to audiences around the world, and the Asian Wine Association of America, which champions the wines, heritage, and contributions of Asian American and Asian vintners and wine professionals in the United States.
The evening will feature wines from AWAA Member RD Winery, Napa Valley’s first Vietnamese-owned winery, providing guests an opportunity to experience AAPI heritage through wine alongside Burgess’s powerful exploration of identity and culture through dance.
“We are honored to bring together two cultural pioneers who have each created greater visibility for AAPI voices through their respective art forms,” said Susan R. Lin, Master of Wine, President and Co-Founder of AWAA. “Dana Tai Soon Burgess has opened doors for Asian American stories through dance and storytelling, while RD Winery represents the heritage, entrepreneurship, and contributions of AAPI vintners in American wine. Bringing these worlds together is deeply meaningful for our communities. Representation matters, and so do the opportunities to connect our stories across disciplines and introduce audiences to the richness of AAPI culture.”
Burgess, founder of the Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company, has been recognized internationally for contemporary modern dance that explores identity, heritage, history, and belonging. Known as the “Diplomat of Dance,” he has served as a U.S. State Department Cultural Ambassador for more than two decades. In 2016, he became the Smithsonian Institution’s first-ever Choreographer-in-Residence. The Washington Post has described Burgess and his company as “not only a Washington prize, but a national dance treasure.”
During the Oxford Community Center program, Burgess will discuss his award-winning memoir, Chino and the Dance of the Butterfly, in conversation with Margaret Andersen. The discussion will explore his Korean American heritage, family history, artistic journey, and the experiences that have shaped his work. Members of DTSBDC will then bring those themes to life through live excerpts of the Company’s signature works.
For AWAA, the partnership reflects its broader mission to create bridges between wine and the wider cultural community. By bringing AAPI wines into cultural spaces and connecting vintners with artists, institutions, culinary leaders, and audiences, AWAA seeks to increase visibility for AAPI contributions while fostering meaningful cross-cultural dialogue.
RD Winery, founded by Vietnamese American winemaker Dong Van Nguyen and run by Mailynh Phan, embodies this connection through its focus on wine, heritage, craftsmanship, and community. Its participation offers a natural complement to an evening centered on the ways culture and personal history can be expressed through different forms of creative practice.
EVENT DETAILS
Dana Tai Soon Burgess: An Evening of Conversation, Memoir & Dance
Friday, October 9, 2026 | 5:30 p.m.
Oxford Community Center | Oxford, Maryland
General Admission: $40
VIP Experience: $80, including a VIP meet-and-greet with Dana Tai Soon Burgess and a signed copy of Chino and the Dance of the Butterfly
Books will also be available for purchase.
Tickets: Oxford Community Center event page
The program is funded in part by a grant from Talbot Arts with revenues provided by the Maryland State Arts Council.
About the Asian Wine Association of America
The Asian Wine Association of America (AWAA) champions the wines and heritage of Asian American and Asian vintners and wine professionals in the United States through advocacy, community engagement, and professional development. AWAA works to elevate AAPI voices and visibility in wine while creating meaningful connections between the wine community and the broader cultural landscape through partnerships, events, and unique wine experiences.
About the Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company
Founded in 1992, the Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company is Washington, D.C.’s preeminent contemporary modern dance company. Led by internationally acclaimed choreographer and cultural ambassador Dana Tai Soon Burgess, the Company is recognized for work that explores cultural identity, history, memory, and the human experience. DTSBDC has performed throughout the United States and internationally, serving as a cultural ambassador for American modern dance.
