Burr heads to China to dance and teach

Andrea Burr, Island Dance instructor and choreographer, has accepted a contract to dance and teach dance in China.

Andrea Burr, Island Dance instructor and choreographer, has accepted a contract to dance and teach dance in China.

Burr was hand-picked for the job by Cameron Lee, dancer for the McDonald/Selznick Associates agency of California who Burr signed with in August. Lee also leads the Seattle group “Potion,” of which Burr is a member, and has traveled to China twice investigating dance prospects.

Lee sent video and photos of five dancers to an agent in China who was familiar with Lee’s work. The Chinese agent chose Burr and one other dancer from Los Angeles. Burr had only one day to decide whether she wanted the job.

Burr will fly to Beijing today, for her first assignment: creating a nightclub act for Chinese and Taiwanese dancers who will do two shows per day, six days per week in the style of “So You Think You Can Dance.” The group is required to create a new act every two weeks and to present the dances in music videos, commercials, shows for corporations and perhaps another show in Shanghai. Burr’s initial contract is for six months.

Her mother, Island Dance instructor Susan Vanderwood, will take over Burr’s Island Dance Competition Team responsibilities.