Dieu-Thao Duong
Branding – Marketing – Events – Dance
"DieuThao and I first met when she auditioned for my choreographic project, Garden of the Wilis, in 2021. From the first moment in rehearsals, DieuThao was a visceral and engaging presence, emotionally open and consistently inventive. I work in a devised manner, utilizing many varied prompts to generate not only apt movement vocabulary, but character elements specific to each performer’s mind-body. It is a holistic approach that DieuThao seemed hungry and ready for, and she was practically the best performer out of ten corps dancers." (2023)
— Michael Sakamoto, a dance theater artist, curator, educator and scholar whose work has been presented in 16 countries, including at Vancouver International Dance Festival, REDCAT, TACTFest Osaka and Gøteborg Art Sounds. Michael’s work intersects butoh, hip-hop, devised performance, and intercultural dialogue. He is Performing Arts Curator at the UMass Fine Arts Center.
"I’ve worked with Dieu-Thao while she was in the company I started in Omaha, NE. She is such a brilliantly embodied mover who’s unbelievably connected to her intuition and self. She has the uncanny ability of being able to blend into dance styles flawlessly. Whether it be Jazz, Street Styles, Modern, or Contemporary dance, Dieu-Thao fully embodies the nature and groove of the movement. Her choreographic work is thoughtful and full of intentions. She flows well between virtuosic, high-energy movement and tenderness in gesture. Her movement and phrase work tells a story and truly pulls the audience into the world she’s creating. (2023)
— Vivian Kim, MFA, Co-Founder & Director of VisKosity Dance Co
"Thao came into the dance program with incredible technical skills. She has extended her virtuosity into choreography–a recent solo she choreographed will be presented at the Evening of Dance concert on the main stage of the Lied Center in April. Thao has consistently been selected to perform for guest artists including Bill T Jones and Rennie Harris; she appeared in their Lied Center concerts. Thao is an excellent student, who is dedicated to beliefs that center around diversity, inclusion and access for all people. She sets a luminous example of positivity, inclusion and action in the fights against bigotry, racism and intolerance, through dance and other platforms as well." (2021)
(Dieu-Thao received the Anne and William Porter Awards for Creativity in the Dance Division. This award is given to a student who have demonstrated the highest level of achievement and excellence in dance.)
— Susan Ourada, Head of Dance Department at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln
"Thao is a dedicated person who is a stellar example of positivity, inclusion, and action in the fights against bigotry, racism, and intolerance. Through her actions, she has demonstrated that one person can make a difference.
She organized a moving and professional performance on the steps of the State Capitol with students and alumni in the matter of literally days to celebrate the retention of the dance program during a very difficult year for us. She has spent her last undergraduate semester working for the LGBT Community Center in New York City. She has worked for the Lied Center for their MOSAIC Performing Arts series, which promotes artistic works with lenses around the issues of diversity, equality, and inclusion. She has worked to make mental health issues out of the shadow. She has been selected to perform with luminaries in dance from around the country as a representative of the university.
If all of these things seems all over the place, they are. Thao demonstrates in so many areas of her life being an example to others in how to be present, engaged, and following her own beliefs for the greater good." (2021)
(Dieu-Thao received the Student Luminary Award – an award designed to shine a light on exceptional students who make a difference through their leadership and extraordinary commitment to improving the community while excelling in their academic pursuits.)
— Susan Ourada, Head of Dance Department at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln