Dance of Asian America

Dance of Asian America (DAA), founded in 2001 by Janie Yao and Mitsi Shen and based at Dunhuang Plaza in Houston's Chinatown, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dance company promoting Chinese cultural heritage through authentic dance and preserving the traditions of China's 56 ethnic groups. It reaches more than 50,000 people a year through over 50 free performances, PreK-12 and adult education programs, and outreach at festivals, schools, libraries and hospitals, with annual productions at Miller Outdoor Theatre. Its affiliated DAA Dance Academy trains students from age 3 upward in Chinese and Asian dance, ballet and pointe, modern and contemporary, jazz, acro and gymnastics, turns and leaps, K-pop and conditioning, plus private lessons and adult classes. Around 40 dances compete each year at events such as KAR, Hall of Fame, Revolution Talent, Starquest and Showstoppers, and academy students may audition for the company, which offers complimentary year-round training. The season ends with a spring showcase recital.