Fairfax County Supervisor Walter Alcorn presented a proclamation today to the Gin Dance Company to recognize its artistic contributions during the past 16 years.

The Board lauded the Reston-based contemporary dance troupe at Alcorn's request because the group announced in August that was disbanding. It was one of the few full-time professional dance companies in Fairfax County, and it delivered a lasting artistic and educational impact for the community.

“This is a little bit bittersweet, but it's certainly something that celebrates all the work that you've done,” he said. “This is a great example of folks coming out of Reston and doing things regionally and beyond.”

Celebrating Fairfax County’s Diversity Through Dance

Founded in 2011, Gin Dance Company blended Eastern influences with Western contemporary dance forms such as modern dance and ballet — intentionally reflecting Fairfax County’s multicultural community. With up to 12 female and 2 male performers, the troupe was composed of dancers with varied ethnicities, another deliberate recognition of Northern Virginia’s diversity.

Attracting International Artistic Talent to Fairfax County

Gin Dance Company elevated contemporary dance in the region, commissioning new choreography, investing in local choreographers, and attracting national and international talent here.

For example, they collaborated with renowned artists, including the kinetic sculpture artist, Kevin Reese, the Chinese Dulcimer musician, Chao Tian, and award-winning choreographer Christian Denice, among others. 

For the last two years, Gin Dance also hosted “The Aurora Dance Fest” at Capital One Hall. Each event featured more than 100 performers from 10 dance companies in works choreographed by 16 different choreographers.

Making Dance Accessible: Giving Back to the Community

The company strove to make dance accessible to all audiences and cultivate a love of the art form in future generations. The troupe offered workshops in local senior and community centers and schools, teaching modern and folkloric choreography that included seated movement to meet a participant’s physical abilities. Since March 2020, Gin Dance has also provided more than 250 free virtual dance workshops.

Gin Dance Company’s Performance History

Over the past 16 years, Gin Dance Company has performed at many prestigious events and venues, including The 30th Annual DC Mayor’s Arts Awards at the Lincoln Theatre, The Kennedy Center, Capital One Hall, TED Talk - TEDxMidAtlantic at Sidney Harman Hall, The Celebration of the 40th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relation between China and the United States at the Embassy of The People’s Republic of China, Wolf Trap National Park for Performing Arts, DUMBO Dance Festival at the Gelsey Kirkland Arts Center and SoloDuo Dance Festival at the Dixon Place in New York, Atlas INTERSECTIONS Festival at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, VelocityDC Dance Festival at the Sidney Harman Hall, and “Yes! Dance Invitational” at the Dogtown Dance Theatre in Richmond.

Shu-Chen Cuff’s Artistic Journey and Career

In 1994, Shu-Chen immigrated from Taiwan to the U.S. to pursue a dance career. She began her artistic training in ballet, modern, Chinese opera, and Chinese folk dance, and she had a successful dance career with Miami Ballet, Nevada Ballet Theater, and the Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company. After 27 years as a professional dancer, Cuff took her final bow as a Principal Dancer in November 2023 at Capital One Hall.

She has received nominations for Outstanding Choreographer and Outstanding Individual Performer at the Dance MetroDC Awards and a Fellowship from the Virginia Commission for the Arts. And, she was a 2024 ArtsFairfax Achievement Award Honoree.

When she first came to the U.S., her immigration paperwork mistranslated her actual name: Shu-Gin. She didn’t correct the mistake at tine, but when she formed the dance company, she revived her actual name “gin,” according to the company’s website. Given to her by her father, the name Gin means “real”, “truthful”, and “sincere.”

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About Walter Alcorn

Supervisor Walter Alcorn has been a member of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors since 2020, representing the Hunter Mill District that includes Reston, Vienna and parts of Herndon. He has focused on protecting open space from development, making our community safe for pedestrian and bicyclists, increasing affordable housing and protecting the environment. In his second term on the Board, he chairs the Older Adults Committee and serves on numerous regional commissions and boards, including the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC), Northern Virginia Regional Commission, and as the WMATA Board’s 1st Vice Chair.