“New Century Dance Project taught me the importance of sharing my integrity as a mover and emerging choreographer. Working on my craft and holding on to my ideas is much more valuable than presenting works based on what is trending or cool.”
Bianca Calderon
2019 NCDP Award Winning Student Choreographer
Point Park University, Class of 2023
Francisco Gella’s distinguished career as a professional dancer, choreographer, artistic director and dance educator in the genres of ballet, modern and contemporary dance, spans more than twenty years since he took his first ballet class at the University of Washington during his freshman year. As an educator, Francisco believes that the key to excellence in dance arts moving forward is inspiring young dancers to see what is possible through honoring historical foundations of technique and artistry, appreciating the diversity of style and genre in contemporary dance, realizing the body-mind-spirit connection in creating powerful movement, and experiencing transformative opportunities to be mentored by professional dancers who model what it takes to be successful in finding their own voice and to acquire the essential tools for success.
Each year, the New Century Dance Project Artistic Director selects venerable, award-winning artists to share their extensive knowledge, experience and wisdom with festival intensive participants. You can find out more about them and our resident artists by visiting our teaching artists page.
The 2020 selected artists will be announced after March 31 following completion of the choreographer application and selection process.
Two culminating events of the 2019 festival weekend bring together a diverse group of professional, emerging, and student choreographers from across North America who have been selected from a talented pool who submitted their work* for consideration. These artists represent some of the best of our collective dance future. The work of the student choreographers takes the stage on Friday, August 16 in the Leona Wagner Black Box Theatre and on Saturday, August 17 professional and emerging choreographers will present their work at the Festival Gala Concert in the Jeanne Wagner Theatre. The work of all choreographers – with the exception of those noted below – will be adjudicated and selected artists will be awarded choreographic commissions. As a primary objective of New Century Dance Project is to nurture artistic talent, all choreographers will receive critique from an expert panel of experienced dance makers. All festival student participants will attend these shows as part of the educational program, and in the case of Saturday’s Gala Concert, will perform the new choreography they learn during the week.
*Non-adjudicated work – ineligible for awards
The Festival Class Pass offers admission into all master classes, workshops, choreography, and special events for the weekend (including the concert). You can either start by learning about the schedule, workshops, and more or if you are ready for NCDP 2020, you can go ahead and enroll today!
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