BARBARA CHAN DANCE SCHOLARSHIP

Barbara Chan lived her life with joy, humor, grace, and a deep love of dance. She began her professional career as a member of Laura Dean Dancers and Musicians, touring the United States and Europe from 1987 to 1991. During a tour in Spain, Barbara attended her first flamenco performance, an experience that sparked a lifelong passion for the art form. She immersed herself in studying flamenco, training whenever and wherever she could. In New York, she sought out some of the field's most respected teachers, including Soledad Barrio, and returned to Spain regularly to deepen her connection to the dance, music, culture, and spirit of flamenco. An active member of the New York City flamenco community, Barbara was an enthusiastic supporter of Noche Flamenca.

Barbara lived with cancer for more than twenty-seven years, but she refused to let it define her. She kept dancing. Always. Dance was her heartbeat. If you ever stood beside her at the barre or shared a flamenco class with her, you might never have known what she was living with. What you would have felt was her joy, warmth, infectious sense of humor, and quiet, indomitable strength.

The Noche Flamenca Barbara Chan Memorial Dance Scholarship Fund was established in Barbara's memory to support the training and development of dedicated flamenco students. Through this scholarship, her love of dance, commitment to learning, and enduring connection to the flamenco community will continue to inspire future generations of artists.