Oakland Ballet presents a screening of the documentary of
Ten Times Better
The story of pioneering Asian dancer, George Lee
Directed by Jennifer Lin | Produced by Jon Funabiki
Sunday, September 29th | 1:00pm
Oakland Asian Cultural Center | Pacific Renaissance Plaza
388 9th St Ste 290, Oakland, CA 94607
Get ready for an unforgettable event as the Oakland Ballet’s Dancing Moons Festival presents an award-winning performance that celebrates the rich heritage of Asian American Pacific Islander creatives in the Bay Area! This dance series, established in 2022, is the very first of its kind in the US, dedicated to showcasing the voices and talents of our AAPI choreographers, designers, composers, and dancers.
We are thrilled to announce that director Jennifer Lin and producer Jon Funabiki of the acclaimed documentary Ten Times Better will join us at our Dancing Moons Festival Fundraiser. This remarkable film tells the inspiring story of change-maker George Lee, a visionary dancer who broke barriers with his incredible journey.
Composer Huang Ruo has created a stunning oratorio for string quartet and voices, titled Angel Island, that honors the poetry carved into the walls of the Angel Island Immigration Station by detainees. This powerful work will come to life next spring, filled with breathtaking and captivating dances, and we need your help to make it happen.
You will have the opportunity to hear from the choreographers as they share their thoughts and inspirations behind their creative process during this memorable Fundraiser event. You’ll also see danced highlights from the Angel Island Project performed live by the talented artists of the Oakland Ballet Company. Join us for a panel discussion with the artists, where you can ask questions and learn more about this life-changing work after the documentary screening.
Your generous support will help us further and deepen our collective understanding of our shared histories.
Don’t miss this chance to be a part of this historic event and celebrate the incredible talents of Asian American Pacific Islander creatives. Get your tickets now and join us as we continue to make history by highlighting our AAPI community!
Click Here to Learn More About the Film
Established in 2022, the nationally recognized Dancing Moons Festival is an award-winning program and is America’s first dedicated to showcasing Asian American Pacific Islander creatives; choreographers, designers, composers and dancers.
About the Film
Ten Times Better is a short documentary about George Lee, an 89-year-old blackjack dealer who still works five days a week. He’s a familiar and beloved figure in the pit of the Four Queens Hotel & Casino in downtown Las Vegas.
But none of those card players knows his astonishing story or his place in ballet history. A child dance prodigy who grew up poor in Shanghai.
A refugee fleeing war. And as a teenager in New York, George was selected by George Balanchine to dance in his staging of The Nutcracker exactly 70 years ago.
Performing the “Tea” divertissement, he was a sensation. It’s a uniquely American story: an immigrant striving to prove himself. An Asian pioneer in ballet and on Broadway. A dancer whose artistry was recognized by no less than Balanchine and Gene Kelly, who cast him in the original production of Flower Drum Song. He danced on stage for 25 years before switching careers. His story comes to life via archival footage, personal photos, news accounts—including a spread in Life magazine—as well as
contemporary interviews with George and footage of him working at the Four Queens Hotel & Casino.
The only known footage of George dancing is included in the film — a 1958 WGBH television show called “A Time to Dance,” and the Flower Drum Song cast’s appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. The film is a tale of talent and perseverance in the face of hardship, and a reminder of the extraordinary stories behind the nameless
faces all around us.
Creative Team
Director/Producer
JENNIFER LIN
worked more than 30 years as a reporter for The Philadelphia Inquirer, including postings in New York, Washington, D.C., and Beijing. Her film Beethoven in Beijing, a documentary feature about the Philadelphia Orchestra’s legacy in China, premiered nationally on PBS’s Great Performances in 2021. She is the author of Shanghai Faithful (2017), a family memoir, and Beethoven in Beijing, an oral history that grew out of the film.
Producer
JON FUNABIKI
advocates for media equity following a career spanning journalism, teaching and philanthropy. After covering Asia for The San Diego Union, Jon worked for The Ford Foundation and was a professor of journalism at San Francisco State University.
Producer
CORY STIEG
studied dance at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Currently a marketing manager, she has written extensively about dance for such publications as Dance Magazine, Dance Teacher, and Pointe Magazine.