Delight in this feast for the eyes as four new works premiere on the Yardley Hall stage.

For this festival of contemporary and modern dance, the Midwest Trust Center has enlisted four choreographers to create original works for four local dance companies to perform at the world premieres. This year, New Dance Partners is excited to welcome a new partner — the Regina Klenjoski Dance Company, Wichita’s premier professional dance company!

New Dance Partners is a commissioning project of the Midwest Trust Center.

This year’s collaborative partners are:

Kansas City Ballet, working with Peter Chu
Owen/Cox Dance Group, working with Alexander Anderson
Störling Dance Theater, working with Hélène Simoneau
Regina Klenjoski Dance Company, working with Kia S. Smith

Meet the Choreographer

Peter Chu

(he/him) is an award-winning multifaceted movement artist. Born in the Bronx and raised in Cocoa Beach, Chu’s interest in Traditional Chinese Medicine was a gateway to a deeper understanding of his Chinese identity. Being raised by his mother, a music therapist, profoundly shaped his rhythmic and musical approach to creating. Chu began his dance training as a competitive gymnast and nurtured his artistry at Dussich Dance Studio. He was a BFA student at The Juilliard School and awarded the Hector Zaraspe Prize for Choreography upon graduation. Chu’s career spans over three decades. He has performed with renowned dance companies such as Ballet Jazz de Montreal, Crystal Pite’s Kidd Pivot, EZdanza, Aszure Barton and Artists, and Celine Dion’s A New Day. Chu has also choreographed for Ballet Augsburg, Backhaus Dance, Charlotte Ballet, Cirque du Soleil, DART Dance Company, Gibney Dance Company, Giordano Dance Chicago, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT) Summer Intensive, Orlando Ballet Theatre, Paul Taylor Dance Company, and more. In 2008, Chu formed his project-based company, chuthis., which combines innovative lighting and sound with live contemporary movement. He takes great pride in chuthis., where he explores the deepest parts of his identity and artistry as a director, choreographer, and educator. Chu’s accolades include receiving the 2010 A.C.E. Capezio Award and being selected as the 2008 choreographer for the Perry-Mansfield New Works Festival. In 2018, he received the Harvard Blogett Award for Distinguished Artist for his creative process and piece at the Theater, Dance, and Media Department at Harvard University. Chu has also served as Rehearsal Director for Nederlands Dans Theater 2 and Guest Rehearsal Director for NDT1. Currently based in Cocoa Beach, Florida, Chu travels frequently for freelance choreographic commissions and teaching experiences. He has looked forward to Cincinnati Ballet and Kansas City Ballet commissions in 2024. Chu’s dynamic artistry and dedication to pushing the physical bounds of dance make him a highly respected and sought-after artist in the industry.