Tallulah Falls School recently named Kinsun “Frank” Chan its 2024 Alumnus of the Year. Chan, a 1985 graduate of the school, is known worldwide for his accomplishments in ballet as a dancer, choreographer, and set designer.
Dean of Students Jimmy Franklin presented Chan with the award.
“He is a rock star in the ballet world as a performer and choreographer,” said Franklin. “Frank was always of strong mind and had a strong work ethic. Most importantly, he had a great heart and always helped others.”
“It is a pleasure to be back on the TFS campus,” said Chan. I learned a lot about time here at TFS. Here, they organize your time. I learned there is time for learning, working, and playing, but also to discover, create, and build friendships. It is a great model to carry forward.”
From break dancing to ballet
Chan’s love of art and dance developed at TFS. While he was a student, former math teacher Martha Cantrell entered his artwork into an art contest on two separate occasions. Chan won both times, and his artwork was featured on the cover of two different Mathematics Teacher magazines!
Some say his dancing career started here at TFS. Chan was well known for his break dancing.
“Frank Chan and Mark Burdette were break dancers,” said long-time faculty member Linda Harris. “They would perform in talent shows. It was so amazing. He did it as well as anyone ever did.
A lot of the kids learned from him. He was a dance instructor here in the dorm, helping and teaching students to dance.”
Today, Chan is a distinguished choreographer and designer who works internationally in various artistic disciplines. The Swiss-Canadian studied art, graphic design, and dance in the United States at Virginia Intermont College, Georgia State University, and the University of Louisville.
Chan discovered the ballet world at a late age. He began his professional dance career in the United States and came to Europe when he was invited to join Ballet Zürich and later Ballet Basel. He performed many soloist roles from renowned choreographers. His first choreography was created at the Ballet Zürich. Soon after, he was invited to choreograph for the Noverre Society at the Stuttgart Ballet.
His choreographies have been performed by multiple academies, companies, ballets, and schools. His creation for the Hong Kong Ballet was invited to the Jacobs Pillow Festival (USA) and Festival des Arts de Saint Sauveur (Quebec, Canada).
Global career
Alongside his choreography, Chan is a stage and costume designer who has created designs for his own works and those of other international choreographers. He has lectured at the University of Florence, Mount Holyoke College, the University of Zürich, and the Zürich University for the Arts.
Chan is an Honorary Fellow recipient from the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts. He has also been a jury member for the prestigious international ballet competition Prix de Lausanne in Switzerland and has two contemporary solos as part of their repertoire (ECHO and RAIN). Most recently, he created the choreography and designs for the 2024 Partner School Choreographic Project at the Prix de Lausanne.
Chan’s choreography brings full circle his work in art and design, encompassing a dynamic visual language. As of the 2019-20 season, he became the director of the Tanzkompanie des Theaters St. Gallen in Switzerland. Beginning with the 2024-25 season, Kinsun Chan will begin his new tenure as Director of the Semperoper Ballet in Dresden, Germany.
