A Brief History
The Fairfax Chinese Dance Troupe (FCDT) was founded in 1988 by Mrs. Chin-Siu Lee Choi, with the support of the local Chinese-American community. Under the leadership of Mrs. Choi and her two daughters, Stella and Amy, the troupe has grown and thrived. Mrs. Choi has received numerous prestigious accolades, including the Formosa Prize for artistic direction, the 2004 Flying Phoenix Award from the National Dance Association of the Republic of China (R.O.C, Taiwan), the 2008 Rockville Arts Award, and the 2024 Flying Phoenix Award for Lifetime Contribution to Dance Education. In addition, Stella Choi was nominated for the 2008 Metro DC Dance Award for Emerging Choreographer.
FCDT has earned recognition in a variety of dance competitions, including securing 1st and 2nd place in both solo and group categories at the 2004 New England Chinese Dance Competition. The troupe was also named a finalist in 2006 and nominated for Outstanding Youth Performance in both the 2007 and 2008 Metro DC Dance Awards. More recently, FCDT earned 1st place in the 2024 National Dance Association of the Republic of China-Taiwan's 5th International Cup Dance Competition, in the ethnic classical dance category.
The troupe has captivated audiences both locally and internationally, with performances in Taiwan, Grenada, Trinidad & Tobago, and the 2012 London New Year’s Day Parade & Festival, which marked the first official celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee and launched London’s Olympic year festivities. Most recently, FCDT toured and performed in Kinmen and Taiwan in 2024.
Other notable performances include appearances at the National Theatre, the International Children’s Festival at Wolf Trap, the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage and Terrace Theater, the Smithsonian Institution, the Smithsonian National Zoo, the National Cherry Blossom Festival, Capitol Hill, the Kimmel Center, the World Dance Showcase, the US 14th Air Force Flying Tigers Reunion, the National Asian Heritage Festival, the National Independence Day Parades, National Cherry Blossom Parades, and Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Each year, FCDT participates in a range of arts and cultural festivals throughout the region, including Lunar New Year celebrations, the National Cherry Blossom Festival, the DC Dance Festival, Fiesta Asia, and the Asian Pacific Islander American Heritage Festival.