FOR IMMEDIATE RELASE FOR MEDIA INFORMATION CONTACT: Angela Harris
aharris@dancecanvas.com; 404-384-7140
(Photo by ShocPhoto)
September 30, 2019 – (Atlanta, GA)
Today, 8 choreographers are being announced as Dance Canvas’ 2019-20 Choreographer Career Development Initiative cohort! The selected choreographers will spend the next 5 months developing new work that will be presented during a weekend of performances at the Ferst Center for the Arts in Atlanta, GA on March 20th & 21st, 2020.
“The response to this year’s call for choreographers produced one of the largest applicant pools we have seen to date,” says Executive Artistic Director, Angela Harris.
“The decision continues to become harder and harder, but we are looking forward to this cohort of choreographers AND our 12th season of presenting new works!”
Dance Canvas is pleased to be partnering for a fourth year with Georgia Tech’s Office of the Arts. Dance Canvas performs at the 1,000-seat Ferst Center for the Arts, which provides the perfect setting for budding choreographic careers to be introduced to Atlanta audiences.
(Photo by Daley Kappenman)
The Choreographer Career Development Initiative is a core program of Dance Canvas. Each year, Dance Canvas selects up to 10 choreographers to create and present work through the Initiative. With the assistance of Dance Canvas resources, staff and artistic mentors, the selected choreographers create world premiere dance works. “This season, we are introducing additional workshops through our partners at C4 Atlanta and Kennesaw State University. Our choreographers will participate in business development, lighting design, marketing, costuming, and public speaking workshops to broaden their access and networks, and help their choreographic visions come to life,” states Harris.
Dance Canvas 2019-20 Choreographers (w/ recent affiliations):
Kaila Carter (ATL/MD) – Ballethnic Dance Company (Dancer); Butler University (B.A. Dance)
TereLyn Jones (ATL) – Disney’s Tarzan the Musical (Germany); Garth Fagan Dance Company (Dancer)
Elena Notkina (NJ/St. Petersburg, Russia) – The Rimsky-Korsakov St. Petersburg State Conservatory – B.A. & M.A. in Choreography
Catherine Messina (ATL) – Kit Modus (Dancer); ImmerseATL (Dancer); Emory University (B.A. Dance);
Lindsay Renea (ATL/AL) – Alabama State University (Asst. Professor); Garth Fagan Dance Company (Dancer); Jacksonville University (M.F.A. in Choreography)
Peter Swan (ATL) – Former Artistic Director, Covington Regional Ballet; Charleston Ballet Theatre (Soloist Dancer)
Mary Beth Stinson & Vanessa Zabari (ATL) – Artistic Directors, The Tap Rebels (*Dance Canvas’ 2019 Company Incubator Pilot organization)
**One additional choreographer is slated to be added to the cohort, with an announcement in October!
“It’s always so rewarding to see new work being developed by new voices in this industry. Our program provides opportunities not only to our choreographers, but also to Atlanta audiences to see these talented artists as they blossom on the local and national stage. I always love meeting new artists who call Atlanta home and helping to bring innovative choreographers from neighboring arts communities to present work in Atlanta!”
-Angela Harris, Executive Artistic Director
Photos of Choreographers:
(Top row; l to r): Kaila Carter, TereLyn Jones, Catherine Messina, Elena Notkina
(Bottom row; l to r): Lindsay Renae, Peter Swan, MaryBeth Stinson, Vanessa Zabari
Dance Canvas also will continue to grow new programming in other counties, working in partnership with Gwinnett Ballet Theatre on community programs, Artist-to-Artist class partnerships with Dekalb School of the Arts, and national professional development workshops.
For more information on the 2019-20 Season, please visit www.dancecanvas.com
Tickets will be on sale November 1st, 2019.
For more information on the 2020 Performances at the Ferst Center or for tickets, please visit: www.arts.gatech.edu
Dance Canvas’ 2019-20 Season is funded in part by:
Fulton County Arts Council
The City of Atlanta’s Office of Cultural Affairs
Imlay Foundation
Arthur M. Blank Foundation – Audience Building Roundtable
Georgia Council for the Arts
Bloomberg Philanthropies
X-Factor Solutions, LLC
Verizon
Dance Canvas’ 2019-20 Partnerships:
Georgia Tech/Office of the Arts
Gwinnett Ballet Theatre
Academy of Ballet Norcross
Atlanta Ballet
Kennesaw State University
City of Atlanta Department of Recreation
Company Information:
Dance Canvas’ mission is to provide opportunities, venues, and resources to increase professional dance in Atlanta. Our vision is to become the premiere ground for the “next generation” of dance makers, while finding interactive ways of making dance more relatable to the general public. Dance Canvas successfully accomplishes our mission through three major program areas of service: Choreographer Career Development, Youth Outreach & Engagement, and Audience Development.
Since 2008, Dance Canvas has presented ten acclaimed choreographer showcases at the Ferst Center for the Arts, Woodruff Arts Center, and Rialto Center for the Arts. Since its inception, Dance Canvas has premiered over 100 new works by emerging professional choreographers, presented 200+ professional dancers, performed for over 10,000 Atlanta audiences, and worked hands-on with 5,000+ Atlanta area students through our outreach efforts and youth programs. Dance Canvas’ youth programs DC NEXT and DC INTERNS serve as a springboard for students to learn, develop, and polish their skills in the business, production, and creative aspects of the dance profession. The DC NEXT curriculum has been implemented by both the City of Atlanta’s Office of Cultural Affairs & Department of Recreation, as well as recording artist Usher’s New Look Foundation. DC INTERNS works in partnership with Kennesaw State University. In addition, each season is full of free public performances, community festivals, youth summits, and collaborations to give back to the Atlanta community.
Dance Canvas is a 501 (c) 3, non-profit organization
Dance Canvas 