Accent Dance NYC invites audiences to an intimate first look at Echoes Between Us, a powerful new work by Miaotian Sun, commissioned through NEXT: The Emerging Choreographer Commissioning Program, ahead of its 2026 world premiere. Tickets start at $28.52 and can be purchased here.

Echoes Between Us blends ballet, contemporary dance, and Chinese folklore to create a powerful and provocative narrative about identity, culture and preserving tradition that resonates deeply through our collective experience, and is especially relevant today.

It centers around Sanxingdui, a mysterious, abandoned Bronze age archaeological site located in modern Sichuan, China – recently discovered to hold unique artifacts suggesting a distinct civilization and worldview.

Miaotian describes Echoes Between Us as follows:

“My piece highlights transformation, memory, and cultural imagination. It’s less about trying to ‘recreate’ history, but more about listening to the echo between that history and ourselves.”

Attendees also will have the opportunity to participate in a Q&A with the choreographer, delving deeper into the themes of her work.

Miaotian Sun holds a masters in Dance Education from NYU and further refined her artistry through Peridance NYC. With over 20 years of training in Chinese classical and folk dance, as well as contemporary dance, she has worked with XieXin Dance Theatre, Suzanne Dellal Center, and many NYC-based choreographers. In 2023, she secured second prize at the European Dance Arena Championships and performed as the only Asian dancer in “Apart/A Part” at the Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre. As a choreographer, she breaks boundaries, blending various dance forms, with a distinct emphasis on Chinese dance elements. Her works have been performed at the Making Moves Dance Festival in Jamaica Art Center, Steps Beyond Foundation/Choreography Lab, and Spark Theatre Festival, among other festivals. Miaotian also is a seasoned educator who teaches contemporary, Chinese classical dance, and Chinese folk dance.

Echoes Between Us

Choreographer: Miaotian Sun

Music: Huang Shi Fu, Zhang Xiao Di, Master Minded, Jo Blankenburg, The Shining, Youzee Music, Guo Si Da, Monolake

Music edited by Miaotian Sun

Dancers: Juliet Berstein, Sofia Forero, Damontae Hack, Shizu Higa, Amina Konate, Uila Marx, Emily Masia, Ke’ala O’Connell, Sierra Sanders

In addition to Echoes Between Us, the program will feature a lyrical duet from the ballet, So Proudly We Hail, by acclaimed Cuban choreographer Pedro Ruíz, along with other signature works by the company.

NEXT: The Emerging Choreographer Commissioning Program

The NEXT program underscores Accent Dance NYC’s commitment to nurturing the artistry of early-career choreographers who bring fresh voices and innovative ideas to the forefront of the dance world. Dedicated to spotlighting the NEXT voice, the NEXT collaboration, and the NEXT idea that ignites thought-provoking discussions or explores significant themes, we are delighted to present choreographer Miaotian Sun as this year’s recipient of the NEXT commission.

About Accent Dance NYC Company

The Accent Dance NYC Company is a professional concert dance company committed to exploring the artistic, cultural, and humanistic connections among people of all backgrounds. We commission and showcase the work of a diverse array of emerging and established choreographers, including Cuban choreographer Pedro Ruiz, Mexican choreographer David Fernandez, Argentinian choreographer Dardo Galletto, and American choreographers Will A Ervin, Jr., Christina Coleman, and Danielle Diniz.

As a metaphor for cultural acceptance and convergence, the Company fuses diverse dance styles, including ballet with Hip Hop, flamenco with contemporary dance, tap with Hip Hop. Pressing issues of social justice, climate change, inclusion, and identity also are explored and highlighted.

Artists hail from across the globe, perform a wide range of dance styles, and have danced with prestigious dance companies including Alvin Ailey, the Cuban National Ballet, New Jersey Ballet, and Dance Theatre of Harlem, as well as with well-known hip hop artists, folkloric dance companies, and in international tango competitions.

The Company had its first full-length season on March 7 and 8, 2025 at the Ailey Citigroup Theater in Manhattan, which featured Pedro Ruiz’s Danzón, a reinvention of Cuba’s traditional dance, Danielle Diniz’s A Place for Us, an exploration of the immigrant experience, Will Ervin’s Narcissus, a bold reimagining of the classical myth, along with other works highlighting the Company’s breath of movement and storytelling.

In addition to its professional seasons, the Company partners with cultural institutions throughout New York City and beyond, performing as part of NYC’s Summer Streets Festival, Battery Park Dance Festival, iHeart Dance NYC Festival, the City of New Rochelle’s ArtsFest, at the Bronx Music Heritage Center, Teatro LATEA, and Ballet Arts, and contributes to community celebrations of Hispanic and Black history, Juneteenth, and LGBTQ Pride.

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