MOCA PERFORMS – Quiet Acts of Becoming

General Admission: $20 | Student & Senior Admission: $15 MOCA Member Admission: $10 Tickets In celebration of Pride Month, Museum of Chinese in America is proud to present a new choreography, Quiet Acts of Becoming, by Shan Y. Chuang, highlighting the legacies of several prominent Chinese American women—Margaret Cheung, Esther Eng, and Cheryl Chow. Set within an immersive environment, this dance work explores the inner journeys of lesbian women, portraying how they gradually embrace their true selves free from external expectations. Inspired by the life stories of these prominent Chinese American women, the piece reflects a time when homosexuality was not widely accepted. Despite social constraints, these women courageously pursued their identities, built their careers, and sought love on their own terms. The work presents a quiet yet confident, resilient, and sincere expression of lesbian lives, highlighting their strength, authenticity, and the beauty of living truthfully. *Audience members will move through the exhibitions alongside the dancers throughout the piece. There will be brief moments when standing is required. **This program is part of MOCA Luminaries for America250. 為慶祝同志驕傲月，美國華人博物館很榮幸推出編舞家莊詠善的新作品。這部舞劇以女同志身分的心路歷程出發，描繪她們在不受外界影響下，逐步活出真實自我的樣子。作品靈感來自幾位知名華裔美國女性的生命經驗，在早期同志仍不被社會接受的時代，她們勇敢追尋自我、建立事業並追求愛情，呈現女同志低調卻自在、堅定且真誠的生命姿態。 *觀眾將在整個演出過程中隨舞者一同穿梭於展覽空間。部分段落需短暫站立。 **本節目為MOCA Luminaries for America250公共活動之一。 ABOUT Shan Y. Chuang Shan Y. Chuang is a dynamic queer artist from Taiwan whose talents span acting, singing, dancing, and choreography. A proud graduate of Circle in the Square’s Musical Theater program in New York City, Shan has spent over a decade performing and creating in the city’s vibrant arts scene. In 2021, she received the City Artist Corps Grant to create 10 Years in the Making, 10 Years of Me, a deeply personal work reflecting her journey as an immigrant and artist. Her performances have been featured in festivals such as Prelude Festival ’23 and PhysFestNYC ’25, where her theatrical style and resonant storytelling stood out. Shan’s creative work explores themes of LGBTQIA+ identity, social justice, and self-discovery, often using dance as a powerful language for narrative expression. She has collaborated with institutions including MOCA and currently performs with the New York Chinese Cultural Center. IG: @shanychuang | shanychuang.com