NURTURING PERFORMANCE ARTISTS & CHOREOGRAPHERS

OUR PURPOSE

"Solfège"

Choreographed by: Yusha-Marie Sorzano.

Performed at: New Century Dance Project Festival 2024.

Danced by: Zeitgeist Dance Theatre second company members: Zivitte Bergman-Igra, Sophie Biderman, Lorena Daily, Felix Fulton, Audry Gonzalez-Rutt, Gredel Holladay, Lilia Holladay, Madeleine Joseph, Lucy Lin, Maya Loureiro, Carrington Mason, David McCool, Helena Merlino, Sienna Pearson, Camila Perez, Cara Ricciardi, Mia Rojo,Piper Rovsek, Brooke Sahawneh, Jagger Starr, Cierra Zoller. Captured by Audrey Durell.

ABOUT NEW CENTURY DANCE PROJECT

NCDP brings together dance artists with skills in diverse genres and styles, creating an exceptional laboratory for artistic development and breakthroughs.


With all festival classes, workshops, and activities geared toward the art of performance and the craft of choreography, there is no other dance program that offers such an innovative and unique training ground for young artists in the manner that we deliver it. With the guidance of world-renowned teaching artists, participants are given the time and tools to explore their own artistic voice and ideas. The diverse master classes and workshops offered during the festival are a safe space to encourage risk-taking and self-exploration – essential elements to performing and creating. Whether you are an aspiring choreographer or a dancer who wants to take their performance skills to another level, there is a place especially for you at the NCDP festival.


There is no other dance event like NCDP. This highly participatory, educational, and nurturing event brings together the best parts of every kind of dance experience that student performing artists are accustomed to; master classes, performances, workshops, concerts, career exploration, mentoring from professionals and opportunities to develop lasting new friendships.

ABOUT NEW CENTURY DANCE PROJECT

There is no other dance event quite like New Century Dance Project. NCDP brings together dance artists with skills in diverse genres and styles, creating an exceptional laboratory for artistic development and breakthroughs. This highly participatory, educational, and nurturing event brings together the best parts of every kind of dance experience that student performing artists are accustomed to; master classes, performances, workshops, concerts, career exploration, mentoring from professionals and opportunities to develop lasting new friendships.


With all festival classes, workshops, and concerts geared toward elevating the art of performance and the craft of choreography, there is no other dance program that offers such an innovative and unique training ground for emerging professional artists in the manner that we deliver it. With the guidance of world-renowned teaching artists and dance makers, participants are given the time and tools to explore their own artistic voice and ideas.


The innovative master classes and workshops offered during the festival are a safe space to encourage risk-taking and self-exploration – essential elements to performing and creating. Whether you are an aspiring performer and/or choreographerwho wants to take their skills to another level, there is a place especially for you at the NCDP festival.

OUR INTENSIVE FOR PREPROFESSIONAL DANCERS

A highlight of the festival is our six-day intensive for pre-professional performers and choreographers, ages 13-24.

 
The unique intensive includes:

  • Morning classes in ballet and modern technique
  • Master classes by festival guest artists
  • Hands-on workshops to develop skills in performance and choreography
  • Discussion panels on college and career preparation
  • Engaging sessions on behind-the-scenes concert production
    Mentoring with experienced professionals
  • Learning original choreography to be performed at the festival
  • Attending exceptional festival concerts including Zeitgeist Dance Theatre World Premiere

WE FOCUS ON TEACHING THE CRAFT OF UNDERSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY, AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR BOTH THE CHOREOGRAPHER AND DANCER

While being a well-trained dancer and an experienced performer is of the utmost importance and a necessary foundation for any aspiring choreographer (and also a key component of the festival educational program), the art of composition (making a dance) is a nuanced skill that dancers with interest in choreography must hone over time. Every dancer has their own artistic voice, but how do artists learn to express themselves with meaningful, impactful choreography? How do they transition from creating movement to composing a piece? And even if a dancer doesn’t want to become a choreographer, why is it helpful for them to understand this as a performance artist? The lack of guidance for aspiring choreographers (and their parents) is alarming. So, we are doing something about this. Through NCDP, we have curated an educational program to help provide direction, motivate, and inspire aspiring dancemakers and performance artists that are looking to make a bigger impact on the stage. With the participation of esteemed and experienced teaching artists and mentors selected, we have created a curriculum of classes, workshops, and other special activities to launch young artists into lasting careers.

WE FOCUS ON TEACHING THE CRAFT OF CHOREOGRAPHY & WHY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR BOTH THE CHOREOGRAPHER & THE DANCER

Why it's Important for Both the Choreographer & Dancer

While being a well-trained dancer and an experienced performer is of the utmost importance and a necessary foundation for any aspiring choreographer (and also a key component of the festival educational program), the art of composition (making a dance) is a nuanced skill that dancers with interest in choreography must hone over time. Every dancer has their own artistic voice, but how do artists learn to express themselves with meaningful, impactful choreography? How do they transition from creating movement to composing a piece? And even if a dancer doesn’t want to become a choreographer, why is it helpful for them to understand this as a performance artist?

The lack of guidance for aspiring choreographers (and their parents) is alarming. So, we are doing something about this. Through NCDP, we have curated an educational program to help provide direction, motivate, and inspire aspiring dancemakers and performance artists that are looking to make a bigger impact on the stage. With the participation of esteemed and experienced teaching artists and mentors selected, we have created a curriculum of classes, workshops, and other special activities to launch young artists into lasting careers.