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THURSDAY

When a young Dana Tai Soon Burgess inquired about the scars on his mother’s hands, he got a lesson in both familial and cultural histories. Among the first wave of Koreans to migrate to the United States in 1903, his mother’s family worked on plantations upon their arrival in America, and she acquired her wounds during long hours spent picking and transporting pineapples in Hawaii. To pay tribute to his own family’s heritage, as well as that of the estimated 1 million people of Korean descent living in this country, the local choreographer created “Tracings: A Korean American Centennial Project.” Burgess’ 13-year-old company employs a mix of Eastern and Western movement to explore the themes of traveling, belonging, and the bridging of cultures. And in documenting the Korean-American experience through dance, Burgess even takes a moment to acknowledge the woman who helped inspire the work: His mother takes the stage for a brief cameo. The family affair begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theater. $25. (202) 467-4600. (Sarah Godfrey)