Celebrating D.C.’s Diplomat of Dance

Ambassador of Peru Harold Forsyth and his wife Veronica hosted a lavish private reception Nov. 19 at their home to celebrate the role of D.C.’s foremost modern dance choreographer Dana Tai Soon Burgess as a cultural ambassador. Guests were treated to a performance of his acclaimed dance, Chino Latino. His dance company has toured to Peru multiple times and the National Ballet of Peru housed an evening of Burgess’ repertoire. Acclaimed Peruvian dancer Maria “Tati” Del Carmen, a native of Lima, who is in her 14th season with the company, performed to an enthusiastic audience. Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company is Washington’s preeminent contemporary dance company. Burgess was recently the Smithsonian Institution’s first ever choreographer-in-residence and is a State Department cultural ambassador. Burgess has been described by Washington Post dance critic Sarah Kaufman as “not only a Washington prize, but a national dance treasure” and the “poet laureate of Washington dance”.