Gin Dance Company presents Lightning

Gin Dance Company presents *Lightning*, an evening of contemporary dance centered on the power of nature, the complexities of identity, cultural reflection, and Mozart’s playful spirit. The program features four works choreographed by Shu-Chen Cuff, including a collaboration with Fairfax County Poet Laureate Angelique Palmer and a work by award-winning Vietnamese-American choreographer Thang Dao.

The performance opens with *Lightning*, a new piece inspired by the sound and energy of lightning and thunder and the deeper emotions stirred by the force of a storm. It also includes Dao’s *Cloaked*, which examines the boundary between concealment and revelation, the protective masks people wear, and the vulnerability involved in being truly seen. *Mirror of the Heart*, created through ArtsFairfax with Angelique Palmer, draws on Buddhist teachings about the heart as a mirror cleared of negativity to reveal truth and kindness, combining Palmer’s poetry with Shu-Chen’s choreography. The evening concludes with *That’s Mozart*, a lighthearted celebration of Mozart’s humor and playfulness intended to send audiences home smiling.

When: Saturday, September 12, 2026

Doors: 6:30 p.m.

Venue: Main Theater at Capital One Hall

Program: *Lightning*, *Cloaked*, *Mirror of the Heart*, and *That’s Mozart*

Choreographers: Shu-Chen Cuff choreographs *Lightning*, *Mirror of the Heart*, and *That’s Mozart*. Thang Dao choreographs *Cloaked*.

Collaboration: *Mirror of the Heart* was created through ArtsFairfax in collaboration with Fairfax County Poet Laureate Angelique Palmer.

Support: The production is supported by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, ArtsFairfax, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Tickets: On sale now; price not listed.