WHITE WAVE Dance proudly announces the extraordinary generosity of philanthropist and longtime patron John C. Ryan, who has pledged a $125,000 Matching Gift for FY 2027.

John shared his reason for supporting WHITE WAVE Dance: “When I first encountered Young Soon’s Dance Company, the world of modern dance opened up before my eyes in a way that was both captivating and transformative. Their performances radiated grace, passion, and innovation, leaving an indelible mark on the New York dance scene. Through Young Soon Kim’s vision and leadership, WHITE WAVE has flourished for 38 years, creating thought provoking and emotionally charged works that touch the souls of countless individuals.”

WHITE WAVE GIVES YOU
Captivating performances by world-class WHITE WAVE Young Soon Kim Dance Company, presenting the artistic culmination of 38 years of Ms. Kim’s choreographic exploration. Art is a window through which artists share their sense of beauty with others, and the company is a vehicle to fulfill Young Soon Kim’s artistic vision which is expansive, challenging the threshold of dance, music, theater and visual art, surging forward to create new possibilities. Ms. Kim creates works of vision and movement in reverence and awe by challenging and broadening the boundaries of dance. Her work is hailed as “exhilarating, visually stunning and emotionally rich.” For her elaborate multimedia dance-theater productions, Ms. Kim collaborates with top-artists in their respective fields, including composers/musicians, video artists, costume designers, and dramatists.

WHITE WAVE GIVES TO THE DANCE COMMUNITY
Through its festivals WHITE WAVE fulfills the artistic visions of thousands of performing artists and provides them with a venue for choreographers/companies to congregate, create, and present new dance works. The contemporary dance world has always been inspiration-rich but resource-poor. Much of the best work in the field is being created by independent artists with small companies that do not have the resources to produce NY seasons on their own. WHITE WAVE’s Festivals Project provides these worthy artists with opportunities to present their cutting-edge work to enthusiastic dance fans. Offering its three annual festivals from 2001 with DUMBO Dance Festival, Wave Rising Series, CoolNY Dance Festival, now include SoloDuo Dance Festival, at low cost or free of charge to the public, WHITE WAVE gives access to the community at large to see hundreds of superb performances by up-and coming artists.

GIVE TO WHITE WAVE
WHITE WAVE has been able to continually grow and develop as a performing arts company and presenter for more than three decades, thanks to supporters like you! WHITE WAVE’s programs cannot take place without the generous support of its patrons and its funders. Become a member of WHITE WAVE, so that WHITE WAVE Young Soon Kim Dance Company to continue to produce works of choreographic virtuosity and to create opportunities for the public at large to encounter dance works of exceptional beauty. Support WHITE WAVE today through a tax-deductible donation!

With nearly four decades of groundbreaking performances, festivals, and education programs, WHITE WAVE Dance continues to thrive thanks to the unwavering support of our Friends, Patrons, and Funders.

Your contribution today will ensure our dedication to the future of dance through the challenges of 2026 and beyond. Every gift makes a difference — and with John’s matching pledge, your support will go twice as far!

WHITE WAVE Young Soon Kim Dance Company is a nonprofit organization under IRS code 501(c)(3). All contributions are 100% tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Here NOW So Long Promo Video: https://youtu.be/-RDJ33PRGQ0?si=hR8t_3qHd8d-NVnm

Visit https://whitewavedance.networkforgood.com/projects/304604-matching-gift-for-white-wave-young-soon-kim-dance-company to support Matching Gift!

Questions: Please send us email at wwyskdc@gmail.com or call at 646-456-6761.

ABOUT WHITE WAVE
WHITE WAVE Dance, led by visionary Artistic Director Young Soon Kim, is an internationally acclaimed contemporary dance company known for its daring innovation, emotional depth, and global reach. The company’s name reflects its identity: “WHITE” honors Korea’s national color and cultural spirit, while “WAVE” symbolizes the dynamic rise of Korean culture—Hallyu—throughout the world. For decades, Kim has been recognized as a pioneering force, bringing Korean artistry into vibrant dialogue with the international dance community.

Since its founding, WHITE WAVE has performed on major stages across the United States, Europe, and East Asia, including the National Theater of Seoul, National Theater of Taipei, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, the 1988 Summer Olympics World Dance Festival, SIDance Festival, and the Asian Cultural Center for the 2019 FINA World Championship Masters’ Games. In North America, the company has appeared at BAM Fisher, La MaMa Moves! Dance Festival, Ailey Citigroup Theater, Vancouver International Dance Festival, and New York’s SummerStage. Recent highlights include acclaimed performances at the 2025 Mostra Internacional de Dança de São Paulo and the ChangMu International Dance Festival.

WHITE WAVE’s work has been featured on WWOR TV, Fox 5, PBS’s NYC ARTS, and CNN’s Inside Asia. Honors include a 2025 ITI Award nomination, the 2023 Bessies Angel Honoree Award, and a Jerome Robbins Foundation grant for Eternal NOW, now archived at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

WHITE WAVE DANCE presented New York Premier of Here NOW So Long, a multimedia dance theater production from May 21-23, 2026 at New York Live Arts with a standing ovation from audiences.

More info at www.whitewavedance.org.

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Young Soon Kim, Artistic Director of WHITE WAVE Dance, is an internationally acclaimed choreographer and the recipient of the 2023 Bessies Angel Honoree Award. Over a four decade career, she has become known for creating work that is visually striking, emotionally resonant, and grounded in her signature blend of sweeping movement, sculptural imagery, and deeply human storytelling.

Kim began her artistic journey as a performer, touring internationally with Jennifer Muller/The Works and presenting her own repertory throughout Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, and Korea, including a landmark 60 day national tour. She appeared at major venues such as Théâtre de la Ville in Paris, Teatro Nazionale in Milan, Schauspielhaus in Cologne, and the Festival d’Avignon, establishing herself early on as a compelling artistic force.

In 2001, after inaugurating the WHITE WAVE John Ryan Theater in DUMBO, Kim launched a series of dance festivals that have become essential platforms for emerging and established choreographers. Her leadership as a producer and curator has made her one of New York City’s most influential advocates for contemporary dance.

“There are people who simply have a lot of energy, and the Korean-born choreographer Young Soon Kim is clearly one of them.” – Roslyn Sulcas, The New York Times