MOCA PERFORMS - Quiet Acts of Becoming

Event Details

In celebration of Pride Month, Museum of Chinese in America is proud to present a new choreography, Quiet Acts of Becoming, by Shan Y. Chuang, highlighting the legacies of several prominent Chinese American women—Margaret Cheung, Esther Eng, and Cheryl Chow. Set within an immersive environment, this dance work explores the inner journeys of lesbian women, portraying how they gradually embrace their true selves free from external expectations. Inspired by the life stories of these prominent Chinese American women, the piece reflects a time when homosexuality was not widely accepted. Despite social constraints, these women courageously pursued their identities, built their careers, and sought love on their own terms. The work presents a quiet yet confident, resilient, and sincere expression of lesbian lives, highlighting their strength, authenticity, and the beauty of living truthfully.

*Audience members will move through the exhibitions alongside the dancers throughout the piece. There will be brief moments when standing is required.
**This program is part of MOCA Luminaries for America250.

為慶祝同志驕傲月，美國華人博物館很榮幸推出編舞家莊詠善的新作品。這部舞劇以女同志身分的心路歷程出發，描繪她們在不受外界影響下，逐步活出真實自我的樣子。作品靈感來自幾位知名華裔美國女性的生命經驗，在早期同志仍不被社會接受的時代，她們勇敢追尋自我、建立事業並追求愛情，呈現女同志低調卻自在、堅定且真誠的生命姿態。

*觀眾將在整個演出過程中隨舞者一同穿梭於展覽空間。部分段落需短暫站立。
**本節目為MOCA Luminaries for America250公共活動之一。

CREATIVE TEAMCreated & Choreographed by Shan Y. ChuangMusician: Sobina Chi KanterDancers: Hannah Jew, Maya Lam, Sevanah Portillo, Kiki (YuChin) Tseng
ABOUT Shan Y. Chuang
Shan Y. Chuang is a dynamic queer artist from Taiwan whose talents span acting, singing, dancing, and choreography. A proud graduate of Circle in the Square’s Musical Theater program in New York City, Shan has spent over a decade performing and creating in the city’s vibrant arts scene. In 2021, she received the City Artist Corps Grant to create 10 Years in the Making, 10 Years of Me, a deeply personal work reflecting her journey as an immigrant and artist.

Her performances have been featured in festivals such as Prelude Festival ’23 and PhysFestNYC ’25, where her theatrical style and resonant storytelling stood out. Shan’s creative work explores themes of LGBTQIA+ identity, social justice, and self-discovery, often using dance as a powerful language for narrative expression.
She has collaborated with institutions including MOCA and currently performs with the New York Chinese Cultural Center. IG: @shanychuang | shanychuang.com

ABOUT Artists
SOBINA CHI KANTER
Sobina Chi Kanter (祁苡瑄), pianist, composer, music director and educator. This native of Taipei, Taiwan came to the states to further her performing career. She received her BA and MM in jazz performance from CUNY Brooklyn College Conservatory. She hopes to continue to make an impact on the New York musical community and abroad. Website: https://sobinamusic.com/ Pianist credits include:  Carnegie Hall, Apollo Theater, Flushing Town Hall, Symphony Space, Guggenheim Museum, Museum of Chinese in America, Birdland Jazz Club, Merkin Hall, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York, ShapeShifter Lab, Culture Lab LIC, Empty Sky 9/11 Memorial Foundation, New York Winter Jazz Festival, Staten Island Jazz Festival, The Gallery Players, Passport to Taiwan Festival, National Taichung Theater, The Duplex Cabaret and Piano Bar, Gracie Mansion, Pregones Theater, Klub 45, Hershey Theatre, ART New York Bruce Mitchell, Flushing Taiwan Center, Taipei Jazz Festival, Taichung International Jazz Festival etc. 

HANNAH JEW
Hannah Jew (周健倫) is an NYC based multi-hyphenate artist originally from Oklahoma City, OK. Graduate of The University of Oklahoma (BFA Ballet Performance). Danced with Oklahoma City Ballet, Dayton Ballet, Ballet Hispánico’s BHdos, and Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company. Favorite credits: dancing in AES Yuletide Celebration with Indy Symphony, working on plays with the Museum of Chinese in America, Pan Asian Rep, and NY Theatre Workshop, Eliza/Dance Captain (Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre: The King and I), The King and I (National Tour), choreographer/dancer collaboration with Chengjin Koh & Verona Quartet (Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art).

MAYA LAM
Maya Lam is a New York-based Asian-American dancer and interdisciplinary artist. Maya graduated summa cum laude from Marymount Manhattan College with a BFA in Dance, a BA in Business, and a minor in Biology. Maya has worked with Sidra Bell, Jessica Lang, Jenn Freeman, and Yin Yue to name a few. She currently performs and tours with J CHEN Project, Chelsea Thedinga, and Aslin Projects among others and has danced professionally with Nimbus Dance Works, Ballet Nepantla and Periapsis Music and Dance.

Maya is a recipient of a City Artist Corps Grant, has been commissioned by the The Kennedy Center, and was a Resident Artist with Moulin/Belle in France. She has worked administratively with GALLIM and McKoy Dance Project.

SEVANAH PORTILLO
Sevanah Portillo is a New York based actor, dancer, and singer. She received her BFA in Musical theatre from Stephen’s College’22 and was fortunate enough to travel around the country doing what she loves. Since moving to New York, she has been grateful to start making connections not just in the theatre world but the dance world; and leading her to new works/voices such as this beautiful piece. Credits include 9 to 5, Mamma Mia, Clue, We Will Rock You, and Grease.

KIKI (YUCHIN) TSENG
Kiki (YuChin) Tseng is originally from Yilan, Taiwan.  She received a full tuition scholarship to train at the Harid Conservatory in Florida for two years, upon which she enrolled in SUNY Purchase College in New York. In 2021 she graduated summa cum laude with a BFA in Dance Performance and a BA in Arts Management, and she was the recipient of the 2021 Outstanding Senior Award for Dance at SUNY Purchase. Kiki has performed professionally with Graham 2, Buglisi Dance Theatre and Mason Lee Dance Theater, Company of Collaborative Artists and Nai Ni Chen Dance Company.

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