Tai Soon Burgess is a leading American choreographer and cultural figure. The Washington Post Pulitzer Prize-winning dance critic Sarah Kaufman writes of Burgess, “Not only a Washington prize, but a national dance treasure.” The Smithsonian named Burgess its first-ever choreographer-in-residence in 2016. He is based at the National Portrait Gallery where he explores the confluence of dance and portraiture.

Burgess has performed, taught, and choreographed around the world. He founded the Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company in 1992. It is the preeminent modern dance company in the Washington, D.C. region. He is the host of slantpodcast.com which explores the lives and creative processes of prominent Asian American artists. Three portraits of Burgess reside in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian.