Tsai Hsi Hung, Thang Dao Selected for Joffrey Concert Group Creative Movers Choreographic Initiative

Joffrey Concert Group has announced the talented choreographers chosen for the prestigious Creative Movers Choreographic Initiative (CMCI). This initiative is a testament to their commitment to nurturing emerging dance creators and fostering innovation in dance. Following a rigorous selection process, Tsai Hsi Hung and Thang Dao are the two choreographers selected for this opportunity.

The Creative Movers Choreographic Initiative created by Artistic Director, Bradley Shelver in 2021 is the search for the dance makers of the future. It provides an exceptional platform for choreographers in contemporary, modern, and contemporary ballet styles to unleash their creative visions. Through the CMCI initiative, the Joffrey Concert group provides each recipient with rehearsal space,  a company of 20 highly skilled and versatile dancers, a 40 hour creative process and a $2500 stipend to help them realize their creative vision. Spanning over four weeks, CMCI culminates in a fully produced work to be presented at the Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theater. The CMCI offers emerging dancemakers a remarkable opportunity to develop and showcase their artistic voices. Each commissioned piece will be between 12 to 17 minutes in length and will feature the full company of the Joffrey Concert Group.

The CMCI performance, In My Art, showcasing new works by Tsai Hsi Hung, Thang Dao, and Artistic Director Bradley Shelver will take place from February 14 - February 15, 2025 at the Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theater. Join them in celebrating the artistic innovation and choreographic verve of Dao, Hung, and Shelver and witness the next generation of dancers in the Joffrey Concert Group.

About the Joffrey Concert Group:

The Joffrey Concert Group, located in the heart of New York City, is a cornerstone of our institution. Founded by Robert Joffrey in 1981, it serves as a pre-professional performing ensemble for young artists carefully selected from the Joffrey Ballet School's year-round Trainee Program. Over the years, our talented Trainees have had the privilege of studying and performing iconic classical and contemporary repertoire, including works by renowned choreographers such as Gerald Arpino, Robert Battle, George Balanchine, and many others.

Under the visionary leadership of newly appointed Artistic Director Bradley Shelver, the Joffrey Concert Group aims to continue its tradition of excellence. The ensemble was successfully rebooted in September 2022, setting the stage for the next generation of artists to shine. Former Concert Group dancers have gone on to join premiere companies including Miami City Ballet, Boston Ballet, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, the Forsythe Company, and the Martha Graham Dance Company, among others.

About the choreographers:

Bradley Shelver (Artistic Director/ Choreographer) trained at the National School of the Arts in Johannesburg and at The Ailey School in New York. He has danced with the Ailey II, Elisa Monte Dance, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Ballet Hispanico, The Francesca Harper Project, Limón Dance Company, Phoenix Dance Theater (UK) and in projects with Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Co., Lar Lubovich Dance, The Universal Ballet, Radio City Music Hall,  and in productions with the Mark Morris Dance Group. He is in his 13th season as a principal dancer with The Metropolitan Opera Ballet. Mr. Shelver has choreographed works for; Joffrey Ballet Concert Group, Contemporary West Dance Theater,  Graham 2, St Louis Dance Theater, Richmond Ballet, Ailey II, Ballet Austin, Lustig Dance Theater, Compania Rio Danca, New Jersey Dance Theater Ensemble, Cape Dance Company, Cedar Lake 2, Sobers & Godley Dance, Nexus Dance Lab, as well as creating works for The Royal Danish and Royal Swedish Ballet Schools, Joffrey Ballet School, Central Ballet School (London) The Ailey School, Boston Conservatory, Long Island University and Purchase College.

He was co-producer and curator for the annual REVERBdance Festival from 2010-2016. From 2013-2016, he was the Artistic Director of the STEPS Repertory Ensemble and the Production Director for Steps on Broadway. He is currently the Artistic Director of The Joffrey Concert Group and the Acting Artistic Director of Joffrey's Jazz and Contemporary Trainee program. He has been company teacher for Mathew Bourne's “Adventures in Motion Pictures”, The Lion King on Broadway, The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Elisa Monte Dance. Mr Shelver is on the faculty of schools and universities worldwide including ABT/JKO School, Adjunct Professor at Montclair State University, The Limòn Institute, Complexions Contemporary Ballet Academy, Royal Danish and Royal Swedish Ballet Schools, The Ailey School, La Guardia High School for the Performing Arts, Joffrey Ballet School, Bikuratim (Israel), Pan American Modern Dance School (Brazil), Hinton Battle Academy. (Tokyo), DAR Jazz Academy (Russia) among others. He is a certified ballet teacher with the ABT National Training Curriculum. He was a contributing writer for Dance Spirit Magazine and His book, “Performance Through the Dance Technique of Lester Horton” is available worldwide. 

Thang Dao resides between Los Angeles and New York City where he works as a freelance choreographer, educator, and coach. He is a graduate of Hollins University (MFA' 21) and New York University (MA' 09). Dao received his formal dance education from the Juilliard School and Boston Conservatory (BFA' 01).

Dao performed nationally and internationally with the Stephen Petronio Company between 2001-2006. He also danced for the Metropolitan Opera between 2006-2008. He has choreographed for Contemporary West Dance Theater, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Ballet Austin, Ballet Austin II, Ailey II, Ballet X, Philadanco, Taiwan National University of the Arts, Jacob's Pillow, Missouri Contemporary Ballet, Kennesaw State University, Troy University, Michigan State University, and the Boston Conservatory along with many universities and performing arts schools nationally and internationally.

His works have toured throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia with acclaimed reviews. His ballet Stepping Ground, choreographed for Ballet Austin for the 1st Biannual New American Dance Talent, received the Audience Choice Award all four nights. Dao is the recipient of the 2008 Princess Grace Choreography Fellowship, the 2009 Special Project Grant, and the 2012 Vilcek finalist for Creative Promise in choreography. In 2012, his work Waiting Women was featured at NYCDAF Gala: Destiny Rising at The Joyce Theater in New York. Dao was part of the creative team for the James Brown Project: Get On The Good Foot commissioned and produced by the Apollo Theater in collaboration with Philadanco under the artistic direction of Otis Salid.

Tsai Hsi Hung graduated from Taipei National University of the Arts 2011. In 2009, she traveled to Australia as an exchange student for the Dance at Queensland Technology University Dance Department. She has worked with the Australian Dance Theater, Tasdance, Expressions Dance Company, and Chunky Move Dance Company Dancers.

In June of 2018, the MET Dance company performed Hung's work IO for 12 dancers at the Miller Outdoor Theater in Houston, Texas. In 2019, Hung's piece DOUBLEND was performed at the NU VU Festival at the LaGuardia Performing Arts Center, Martha Graham Studio Theater and NYU Skirball Center. Her most recent work, Brushstroke- X2, was performed at the 2020 APAP Peridance Showcase in New York.

In 2020, Hung received a Choreography Fellowship from the New Jersey Council on the Arts. Shortly after, Hung's work was selected by the Joffrey Academy of Dance for their Spring 2020 Winning Works performance in Chicago. Hung was invited to Taipei National Dance Theater to perform New work this July 2020. Hung's work was then featured in BalletX's 2020-2021 season. In 2021, Hung won Western Michigan University's National Choreography Competition and premiered a new work in 2022. For BalletX's 2022 Season, Hung created a new work for their dancers through the BalletX Choreographer Fellowship. Battery Dance Company of New York also premiered an original work in the summer of 2022, inspired by the paintings of Hans Hofmann. Hung premiered new work in the Spring of 2022 with the Ballet Hispánico Professional Studies dance students. Later that summer, Hung was in residence at Kennesaw State University, Georgia to choreograph for the students of their dance department. Hung was recently commissioned by the South Chicago Dance Theatre to create a new work for their 2024 season. She will also continue to work with Taipei National

University of the Arts in 2023/2024, teaching and creating new work for their department. During the 2024 season, Hung will produce new work for the Milwaukee Ballet and Arkansas Ballet to be performed in the Winter and Spring.

For more information about the Creative Movers Choreographic Initiative and to purchase tickets for the performance, please visit www.joffreyballetcenter.org