Clockwise from top: all choreography by Artistic Director Eleanor Yung
Helen Tran in Water Portrait 1975, Boo Teo and Marie Alonzo in The Camp 1986,
Ray Tadio in Kampuchea 1981, Eleanor Yung in Sheng Sheng Man 1976
Clockwise from top: all choreography by Artistic Director Eleanor Yung
Helen Tran in Water Portrait 1975, Boo Teo and Marie Alonzo in The Camp 1986,
Ray Tadio in Kampuchea 1981, Eleanor Yung in Sheng Sheng Man 1976
The Asian American Dance Theatre (AADT) began as the Asian American Dance Workshop,
a program of the Basement Workshop in New York's Chinatown. The founders of the
Basement Workshop, Eleanor Yung and her brother Danny Yung, began a separate organization
in 1974, the AADT, to create and promote Asian American dance. AADT was active from
1974-1990 with multiple types of programming including performances, presentations, and
educational events. In 1987, with a significant increase in visual arts programming, the AADT
changed its legal name to the Asian American Arts Centre (AAAC), encompassing dance,
visual arts, and folk arts programming in performances, exhibitions, research, and education.
Asian American Dance Theatre's Annual Season in New York City from 1976-1990 presented works by Artistic Director Eleanor Yung and guest choreographers....
ID1. 1976.
Premiered at Synod House, Cathedral of St John Divine
Choreography: with Danny NT Yung
Dancers: Kwok Yee Tai and Lauren Dong
Midare. 1980.
Premiered at Dance Theater Workshop
Dancer: Satoru Shimazaki
Music: Ton De Leeuw
Mask: Robert Lee
Origami. 1982.
Dancers: Company
Music: The French Impressionists
Passage. 1978.
Dancers: Lauren Dong and Young Soon Kim
Costume: Kwok Yee Tai
Music: Korean Shaministic
Silkroad. 1984.
Dancers: Tamir Yardenne, Yung Yung Tsuai, and Young Ha Yoo
Music: Kitaro
Collaboration with visual artist Zhang Hong-Tu
Standstill. 1976.
Dancers: Fa Ching Chu, Lauren Dong, Eleanor Yung
Masks: Robert Lee
Water Portrait. 1976.
Dancer: Muna Tseng
Performances were presented at venues including the Clark Center, the Riverside
Dance Festival, Dance Theater Workshop, Open Eye Theater, the theater at
Marymount Manhattan College, Schimmel Center at Pace University and Synod
House at the Church of St. John the Divine.
Performances received much recognition from the dance field and reviews from many publications, including the New York
Time, Dance Magazine, New York Post, Village Voice and many others.
"[Yung] has made dances that, while they literally refer to nothing outside themselves, nevertheless possess the emotions of the original experiences that inspired them. They are fascinating dances. And its awareness of cultural crosscurrents makes the Asian American Dance Theater a fascinating company."- Jack Anderson, The New York Times, April 25th 1978, reviewing Identification in Progress and Madhouse
“Eleanor S. Yung’s extraordinary ‘Passages’. . . came closest to that fusion (of modern and traditional dance styles) . . . one was drawn, mesmerized, into the unfurling of its design.”Dancers performing during the AADT season over the years included Marie Alonzo, Annie Bien, Vivien Chen, Evelina Deocares, Lauren Dong, Tomie Hahn, Mei Hsieh Guobis, Audrey Jung, Junko Kikuchi, Young Soon Kim, Wendy Lai, Jean Lee, Julio Leitao, Yen Leung, Yuen Wah Leung, Lynn Macri, George Mars, Haruka Namiji, Pam Noschese, Rumiko Oka, Elizabeth Roxas, Nancee Sasaki, Ray Tadio, Nayo Takasaki, Michiyo Tanaka, Josephine Teng, Boon Teo, Helen Tran, Muna Tseng, Yung Yung Tsuai, Sanghi Wagner, Debbie Yamaki, Tamir Yardenne, Young Ha Yoo, and many many others.- Jennifer Dunning, The New York Times, 10/27/79
AADT on marquee, circa 1988
Company on Tour 1984 - Tomie Hahn and Marlene Pitkow
Company on Tour 1984 - Deena Burton, Gede, and Young Lan Lee
Rehearsal shots of Origami. 1984.
University of Wisconsin
Choreography: Eleanor Yung
Dancers: Boon Teo and Marie Alonzo
Rehearsal shots of Origami. 1984.
University of Wisconsin
Choreography: Eleanor Yung
Dancer: Boon Teo
Rehearsal shots of Origami. 1984.
University of Wisconsin
Choreography: Eleanor Yung
Preparation for Performance. 1984.
Wisconsin
Kathakali Dancer: Marlene Pitkow
Preparation for Performance. 1984.
Wisconsin
Japanese Dancer: Tomie Hahn
Preparation for Performance. 1984.
Wisconsin
Peking Opera Performer: Kuang Yu Fong
Korean Fan Dance. 1984.
University of Wisconsin
Dancer: Young Lan Lee
Filipino Hat Dance. 1978.
PS 124 Yung Wing School
Choreography: Luna Borromeo
Dancer: Luna Borromeo
Tahitian dance outdoors under the Brooklyn Bridge. 1982.
Dancers: Nancy Latuja and Luna Borromeo
Japanese Dance. 1986.
Dancer: Sachiyo Ito
"In its contemporary repertory, the company draws upon traditional Asian dance and American modern dance for its aesthetic; both forms are the richer for it."The AADT touring company traveled to Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut, North Carolina, Louisiana, New Mexico and upstate New York. Some notable locations included the Sister Fire Festival in Washington, DC, the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival, and a 9-campus tour for the Penn State University system.- Josie Neal, Dance Critic for The San Antonio Light, May 20th 1984
The D'Asia Vu Performance Series (1986-1990) was the accumulated result of the Dance Discussions held by AADT dancers to voice their concerns related to the field of dance in the U.S. The D'Asia Vu Series presented Asian and non-Asian artists in Asian or fusion dance, theater, and music performances....
Brochure for 1988-1989 Season, pages one and four
Design: Garson Yu
Brochure for 1988-1989 Season, pages three and five
Design: Garson Yu
Program cover, Jan 1987 Year of the Rabbit celebration
Papercut by visiting folk artist Chen Hwei
Announcement Flyer of “Asia in the U.S.”
December 1987
Announcement Flyer of “Works Influenced by Asia”
April 1986
AADT Newsletter on Dance Discussion and D’Asia Vu series
December 1984
AADT Newsletter on Dance Discussion and D’Asia Vu series
June 1985
The Arts-in-Education program expanded from local presentations in community schools, libraries and community centers, to lecture performances, Pointed Brush Workshops, and the Intensive Indian and Chinese Dance Workshops offered citywide....
Arts-In-Education Program Brochure. 1987.
Design: Garson Yu
Lecturer/Performance Series. 1979.
Assembly Program at PS 2, NY Chinatown
Lecturer/Performance Series. 1979.
Assembly Program at PS 126, NY Chinatown
MC: Vivian Chen
Letter from Principal of PS 721 Q. 1989.
Lecture/Performance Series. 1989.
Letter from PS214 Queens
Intensive Indian Dance Workshops. 1987.
PS 95 Brooklyn
Instructor: Arundhati Chattopadhyaya
Intensive Indian Dance Workshops. 1987.
PS 721 Brooklyn
Instructor: Arundhati Chattopadhyaya
Intensive Indian Dance Workshops. 1987.
PS 327 Brooklyn
Instructor: Arundhati Chattopadhyaya
Intensive Indian Dance Workshops. 1988.
PS 327 Brooklyn
Instructor: Najma Ayasha
"We tried to present Asian dancers in schools a lot. I felt that children in schools had no exposure to the art forms of these cultures. The dancers were like ambassadors for their culture. Even people in Asian communities living here didn't get to see and experience these dances."— Eleanor Yung, Excerpted from Chinese Women Traversing Diaspora: Memoirs, Essays, and Poetry (pp. 165-187), Sharon K. Hom (Ed.), 1983
At PS 87Q. 1988.
Middle Village Queens
Instructor: Kuang Yu Fong
At PS 214Q. 1988.
Instructor: Kuang Yu Fong
At PS 87Q. 1988.
Middle Village Queens
Instructor: Chen Guo
At PS 721Q. 1988.
Middle Village Queens
Instructor: Chen Guo
At PS 721Q. 1988.
Middle Village Queens
Instructor: Chen Guo
In 1974, when AADT first began, dance classes were held at the Chatham Square Library on the vacant third floor. The first classes offered were creative dance for little kids, to teach them how to freely express themselves, free from the confine and pressure of immigrant life. In 1976, when the organization moved to its loft space at 26 Bowery, the school was expanded and many more classes were added, including children's ballet. Classes occupied all Saturdays and Sundays....
Children Creative Dance Class. 1976-1988.
Teachers: Vivien Chen, Linda Reiff
Children Ballet Class. 1976-1988.
Teacher: Nai-Ni Chen
Children Ballet Class. 1976-1988.
Teacher: Oilin McBreen
Children Ballet Class. 1976-1988.
Teacher: Yen Leung
Adult Chinese Dance Class. 1976-1988.
Instructor: Chen Pi-Chuan
AADT School of Dance and Art. 1984.
Class flyer for Winter term
AADT Adult Movement Class Flyer. 1982.
Design: David Moy
Open House
Children Creative Class with teacher Vivian Chen
Open House
Children Creative Class with teacher Oilin McBreen
Open House
Adult Chinese dance with teacher Chen Pi Chuan
Everybody on stage group picture, 1983
PS124 Yung Wing School in Manhattan Chinatown
Let’s get ready for recital 1983
Big Kids Ballet led by teacher Yen Leung
Taking turn run across stage led by Linda Reiff 1983
PS 124 Yung Wing School
Bunny Dance led by teacher Yung Yung Tsuai 1983
PS124 Yung Wing School
Flower Dance led by teacher Oilin McBreen 1984
PS124 Yung Wing School
Happy and Light led by teacher Miranda Chin 1984
PS124 Yung Wing School
Scarf Dance led by teacher Yen Leung 1985
New York Public Library Chatham Square Branch
Chinese Ribbon Dance led by teacher Yung Yung Tsuai 1984
PS 124 Yung Wing School
Adult Indonesian Dance led by teacher Deena Burton 1984
PS 124 Yung Wing School
Students hanging out 1985
Yvonne Yee and Amy Lee
Since 1980, the school expanded its offerings to include art classes for children, and in the weekday evenings for adults, Chinese painting,
calligraphy, life drawing, and Chinese seal carvings. Some of these works would become a part of the Annual Recital, and would be exhibited in the hallway of PS 124.
Class
Teacher: On Omegi
Children Art works display. PS 124 Chinatown, 1983. Concurrent School Recital.
Teacher: Nina Kuo
Children Art works display. PS 124 Chinatown, 1983. Concurrent School Recital.
Teacher: Nina Kuo
Art Exhibit with Pointed Brush workshops. PS 124 Chinatown, 1983. Concurrent School Recital.
Teacher: Nora Shih
Children Art Self Portraits. Other children art teachers: Evelyn Yee, Ko Chat Hay, On Omegi, and Eun Young Choi
Teacher: Robert Lee
Children Art Self Portraits. Other children art teachers: Evelyn Yee, Ko Chat Hay, On Omegi, and Eun Young Choi
Teacher: Robert Lee
Children Art Self Portraits. Other children art teachers: Evelyn Yee, Ko Chat Hay, On Omegi, and Eun Young Choi
Teacher: Robert Lee
Children Art Self Portraits. Other children art teachers: Evelyn Yee, Ko Chat Hay, On Omegi, and Eun Young Choi
Teacher: Robert Lee
After the student massacre in Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989, in
response to the massacre, a dance performance was held outdoors in
Chinatown, with choreography by company manager and choreographer
Marie Alonzo and guest Barbara Chang.
The following year in 1990, AADT initiated and organized a 10-hour
performance marathon at the Triplex Theater in the Borough of Manhattan
Community College in protest of the student massacre on June 4, 1989 in China.
This Memorial performance in 1990 included many well known New
York artists such as Hikari Baba, Fred Houn, and the Susan Marshall Dance
Company, to name a few. The main feature in the evening was Zuni
Icosahedron of Hong Kong, a company of 12 who flew to NYC to perform
China is a Big Garden, choreographed and directed by AADT co-founder Danny Yung.
Photo Credits: Cheung Ching Ming, Sandy Geis, Nina Kuo, Corky Lee, Nathaniel Tileston and Tom Yahashi.
Graphic Design Credits: Lauren Dong, CN Lee, David Moy and Garson Yu.