Van was awarded Best Choreography from the Black Theatre Alliance Awards for the piece he choreographed for Dance Chicago 2000 entitled “3/5”.

Van has danced with such companies as Tyego Dance Company, Anatomical Theatre, River North Dance Company, American Danz Theatre, Farago Dance Company, and the Joel Hall Dancers, where he also held the position of Rehearsal Director.  He has also performed and directed the JHD outreach program D.I.A.L. (Dance Is A Language).

In April of 2002, Van founded RASA Dance Theatre.  He is proud of their ongoing success and growth over the past few years.  From the Sanskrit language, RASA means, “the mood or sentiment that is evoked by a work of art.”  Through RASA, Van hopes to entertain, inspire, educate, and invoke the human spirit through the performing arts. 

Besides Van’s involvement with the dance community, he is also President and Executive Director of Good Vibes Teen Prevention Theatre, founded in 1993 by legendary performer Ben Vereen. Good Vibes was established as a community outreach vehicle whose basis is “Teens Teaching Teens” to increase and promote positive peer pressure through the arts.

Van is also on staff at numerous studios in Chicago and Milwaukee and teaches master classes throughout the Midwest.

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