ANNUAL REPORT 2025-26
ANNUAL REPORT 2025/26
Letter From the Director
It is with deep gratitude that we look back at the year, and acknowledge the contributions of so many who have supported us and made the past year possible.
From the celebration of the 35th Anniversary of the NC Dance Festival, to the expansion of our Birthday Bash that honors and funds our Dance Project School community, to the continuation of our relationship with Peck Elementary school and the growth of our student body, and so much more–we have accomplished so much this year, thanks to:
- Our staff who bring deep care and commitment to their work everyday
- Our board of directors who steadfastly support and guide
- The donors, grantors, and partners who help bring our visions to life
- The teachers, interns, and volunteers who give so much energy and dedication
- And the students, artists, and audiences who remind us of the joy we find in dance
I believe that dance is a powerful force, and that we are doing powerful work at Dance Project, with your help. Thank you for being part of this important work! The space we create at Dance Project for dance, for community, for joy–that matters, and is more important than ever. Your presence, encouragement, and financial support make it possible for us to continue. Please join us in celebrating these moments from the past year, and we look forward to our next season with you by our side.
ANNE MORRIS
Executive Director
Festival Director
NORTH CAROLINA DANCE FESTIVAL
Celebrating 35 Years of Movement, Creativity, and Community
A STATEWIDE CELEBRATION OF DANCE
The North Carolina Dance Festival continued its mission of celebrating and supporting dance across the state through performances, artist residencies, educational programs, and community partnerships. During the 2025–2026 season, NCDF connected North Carolina artists with audiences of all ages through mainstage performances, school programs, artist talks, workshops, and creative collaborations. As the Festival celebrated its 35th Anniversary, the season also honored the enduring legacy of founder Jan Van Dyke while showcasing the innovation and diversity of today’s North Carolina dance community.
Throughout the 2025–2026 season, the North Carolina Dance Festival featured an exceptional roster of North Carolina artists and companies, including Stewart/Owen Dance, Tara Mullins, Chania Wilson, Eric Mullis, Alyah Baker, Jiwon Ha, Jen Guy Metcalf, Christa Oliver, Kylie Venticinque, Brandon Williams, KT Network, Virginia Freeman Dupont, George Barrett, Pavani Peri, Black Box Dance Theatre, Jenny Braswell, Amelia Renee Byrd, Shilpa Darivemula, Lee Edwards, Savannah Jenkins, Emma Johanna Little, Foster Weems, Lindsay Winthrop, Kendall Ramirez, and Charlotte Poet Laureate Jay Ward. Through performances, artist residencies, workshops, educational outreach, and community collaborations, these artists reflected the depth, diversity, and creativity of North Carolina’s vibrant dance community.
103 Artists Engaged
Supporting North Carolina artists through collaboration, creative opportunities, and innovative performance experiences
7 Performance Opportunities
Creating meaningful spaces for artists to share their work across the state.
1,451 Audience Members
Connecting communities through accessible and engaging dance experiences.
“[The NCDF] has me hopeful, critical, reflective, and moved. I’ve never been more proud of dance in NC.”
Audience Member
Post Audience Engagement 2025
Artists in residence
Supporting Artistic Development
The Artist in Residence Program supported the dance work of George Barrett, Jenny Braswell, Amelia Renee Byrd, Shilpa Darivemula, Lee Edwards, Savannah Jenkins, Emma Johanna Little, Pavani Peri, Foster Weems, and Lindsay Winthrop through rehearsal space, professional development, and opportunities to share works in progress with the community in Greensboro and Durham.
Jan van dyke's impact
A Celebration of a Legacy
In celebration of the Festival’s 35th Anniversary and the 10th anniversary of founder Jan Van Dyke’s passing, NCDF honored her enduring impact through commemorative programming with UNC Greensboro and a special class taught in Jan’s signature style; bringing together old friends and colleagues and demonstrating her impact to the next generation.
Student Outreach
Expanding Access to Education
NCDF connected students with professional artists through performances, classes, workshops, and conversations with Jen Guy Metcalf, Christa Oliver, Kylie Venticinque, Brandon Williams, KT Network, Chania Wilson, Virginia Freeman Dupont, George Barrett, Pavani Peri, and Black Box Dance Theatre, introducing young audiences to the breadth of NC’s dance community.
“The Artist in Residence program is the best way to work on choreographic material, research and play without expectations of a fully produced work ready to be performed. This residency has inspired me to do more dance research. To reach beyond dance technique and structure to dive more into ancestry of what it is that I do.”
Amelia Renee Byrd
Artist in Residence (2025-2026)
Photography by Signal/Noise of Stewart/Owen Dance in NC Dance Festival 2025
Photography by Signal/Noise of Stewart/Owen Dance in NC Dance Festival 2025
EXPANDING ACCESS
A community effort
Celebrating 18 years!
Through our classes, Dance Project ignites joy in our students, as well as hope, courage, compassion, creativity, and so much more that we all need to thrive in the world. We want everybody to have access to those benefits of dance, so a large part of our fundraising supports our efforts to make high-quality dance affordable and accessible to as many people as possible.
Class fees and other school revenue cover about 65% of the full cost of the School. Community support like grants, sponsorships, and donations help subsidize the cost of providing professional-quality dance with a community feel!
In 2025, our December Give25 scholarship campaign exceeded our fundraising goal by 11%, directly supporting scholarships for students to start or continue dancing in the Spring of 2026.
Our 3rd annual Birthday Bash celebrated the 18th year of the School at Dance Project, and it was a week of celebrations, memories, and fun! From Just Dance to line dances, tutu relays and costume contests, we saw smiles all around as we brought back some 2008 fun to celebrate our 18th season at the School! This party also raised over $13,000 for our EveryBODY Dance campaign, to help keep dance affordable for our community!
55 scholarships awarded
Removing financial barriers so more students can experience dance.
$14,500 Scholarship Funds Raised
Investing in access, opportunity, and the future of young dancers.
$35,000 Grant Funding Secured
Strengthening our mission through the support of public and private funders.
“I donate to Dance Project because you provide accessible dance experiences to the community. The world is a challenging place and people are struggling and feeling isolated. Dance and movement help to combat those feelings… This is what we need right now – opportunities to be together in community and connect. I also believe that Dance Project has a ripple effect – every person who finds peace when they are dancing then takes that positive energy out into the world with them. Thank you for the powerful and impactful work that you do.”
Allyson Bogie
Dance Project Donor
DANCE PROJECT: THE SCHOOL
Growing Confident Dancers
Thoughtful Growth in the studio and behind the scenes
In her second year as School Director, Magalli Morana led Dance Project’s School through a year of thoughtful growth and refinement. Overall enrollment increased over the 2024–25 season, reflecting the success of intentional efforts to strengthen student retention and remove barriers to participation. Behind the scenes, streamlined registration processes, rollover enrollment, and flexible mini-session offerings made it easier for students to continue dancing throughout the year. At every step, the School prioritized exceptional customer service, strengthened student retention efforts, and focused on making every dancer’s experience at Dance Project feel personal, supportive, and special.
Collaboration was a particular theme of the season. Partnerships with GSOul Collective and Greensboro Contact Jam brought new dance forms into the Dance Project studio, while classes and performances in the Greensboro Public Library, the Greensboro Children’s Museum, and the NC Folk Festival increased visibility for dance and Dance Project throughout Greensboro.
At the heart of these efforts is an exceptional faculty dedicated to artistic excellence and student success. 87% of Dance Project’s teaching artists hold a BFA or MFA in dance, every instructor has professional performance experience, and 80% bring more than five years of teaching experience to the classroom. Together, these investments in people, systems, and community partnerships strengthened Dance Project’s ability to provide high-quality dance education in a welcoming, supportive environment.
“Dance Project is amazing and our experience has been so great that it brings tears to my eyes. They have treated our son as family and been so incredibly inclusive!! It truly is dance for all at Dance Project!!”
Erin Fuller
Dance Project Parent
540+ Students served
Inspiring the next generation through high-quality dance education.
49 Performance company Dancers
Providing kids, teens, and adults with opportunities to perform, grow, and lead.
200+ Costumes loaned
Bringing performances to life while supporting every dancer’s artistic journey.
79% INCREASE IN PRE/PROFESSIONAL Intensive Enrollment over 2024
Expanding advanced training opportunities for the next generation of dancers.
Challenge at Every Level
The 2025 Pre/Professional Dance Intensive was a resounding success. Over 30 dancers from across the region came together to train with leading artists, push their technique, and explore new creative possibilities.
From intensive classes to mentorship and professional development opportunities, these dancers, ranging in age from 13-28, gained the skills and confidence they need to take their next steps toward professional careers. In addition to taking classes with top-notch dancers such as Stewart/Owen Dance from Asheville, Maurice Watson, and Kendall Ramirez (named one of Dance Magazine’s 25 to watch for 2025), these participants got an inside look into the NC Dance Festival, and the dance journey of leading NC choreographers.
Student Milestones
Our 2026 Graduates
This spring we watched a very special group of high school seniors graduate and head off to new adventures! Whether they had danced with us for 10+ years or 2, these students shaped Dance Project. We can’t wait to see what they accomplish out in the world. They will always have a home at Dance Project; recent graduates have returned as teachers, interns, or artists in residence.
Continuing the Journey
Adult Performance Company
This group of 12-15 dancers, ranging from 20-somethings to 50-somethings, is a space where adults can keep dancing, growing, and creating together. This year, our Adult Performance Company participated in our multidisciplinary residency with Reconsidered Goods, blending visual art, poetry, and dance, and collaborated with dancers from our Parkinson’s Dance Class for the 2nd year.
Parent Leadership
Our Parent Committee
We grew our Parent Committee this year from a group of 2-3 to a total of 8-10 parents who volunteered for events, helped shape our fundraising campaigns, arranged for teacher appreciation gifts, gave advice from a parent perspective, and supported the School in so many ways! We are so grateful for the support of this group who make Dance Project a special place for all.
Magalli Morana teaches a Creative Movement class.
Magalli Morana teaches a Creative Movement class.
COLLABORATION AND OUTREACH
Strengthening Community Connections
BUILDING A STRONGER COMMUNITY
120+ RESIDENCY STUDENTS REACHED
Providing sustained arts learning through our 12-week residency at Peck Elementary.
750 SCHOOL PERFORMANCE AUDIENCES
Introducing an entire school community to the power of live dance.
Engaging young minds
Peck Elementary Partnership
Since 2020, Dance Project continued a partnership with Peck Elementary School in Greensboro to provide dance classes and live performances for students. This year, this partnership gave 120+ first graders the opportunity to discover the joy of dance, build confidence, and explore creative self-expression. By bringing dance directly into the school setting, the program helps make arts education more accessible.
Dance for Every Body
Parkinson's Dance Class
Since 2018, Dance Project has offered a free dance class for people with Parkinson’s and their caregivers as an opportunity to use dance as a form of therapy, with the support of Cone Health Movement Disorders. Each class combines physical movement, cognitive engagement, sensory experiences, emotional expression, and social connection. Participants also had the opportunity to perform in our annual Spring Showcase.
Community Arts
Reconsidered Goods Residency
In February, Dance Project partnered with Reconsidered Goods, a creative reuse center and thrift store in Greensboro, for a month-long collaboration that explored creative reuse through dance, poetry, and visual art. The residency featured multidisciplinary workshops, informal showings, and a culminating final performance that invited artists to share both works in progress and completed pieces with the community.
OUR DANCE PROJECT TEAM
A Team Dedicated to Dance
Dance Project staff and volunteers in LeBauer Park after a successful Spring Showcase
THANKS TO OUR Staff
Behind every performance, class, and community program is a dedicated team committed to making dance accessible, inspiring, and impactful. From teaching artists and administrative staff to interns and volunteers, the Dance Project team works collaboratively to cultivate creativity, support artists, and create meaningful experiences for dancers and audiences across North Carolina. Together, they bring our mission to life through education, collaboration, and community engagement.
6 iNTERNS MENTORED
Preparing emerging arts leaders through professional experience.
23 Teachers employed
Empowering dedicated teaching artists to make a lasting impact.
Dance Project Admin Staff 2025-26
Anne Morris
Executive Director
Magalli Morana
School Director
Lauren Joyner
Director of Strategic Programs
Fay Poindexter
Bookkeeper
Amiyah Johnson
Operations Assistant
Domynique White
Communications & Marketing Assistant
Thank you to our Board!
Dance Project is so grateful for the support and guidance of our Board of Directors. As we close out the 2025-26 fiscal year, we want to recognize two Dance Project Board members who have finished out their terms on the board: Michele Smith and Allie Arpajian.
Michele joined the board in 2019, after her granddaughter had been taking dance classes with us for several years. Michele’s wise legal counsel served the organization well, and we could always count on Michele to ask great questions and consider ideas carefully.
Allie has served on the board since 2020. Once an adult student at Dance Project, she has been a passionate supporter of the organization, bringing her expertise in inclusion, accessibility, and general nonprofit management to serve the organization.
Allie and Michele, thank you both for your guidance, support, and belief in our mission! We are so grateful for the time, energy, and spirit you have given to Dance Project over the years!
Board and staff during 2025 Board retreat: (on screen) Bre Forbes, (from left) Amiyah Johnson, Michele Smith, Liz Penn, Alison Ridings, Anne Morris, Lauren Joyner, Allie Arpajian, Domynique White
board of directors 2025-26
Alison Ridings
Board Chair and Acting Treasurer (2025-2026)
Senior Solutions Developer II, Uber Freight
Michele G. Smith
Board Vice-Chair
Attorney, Hill Evans Jordan & Beauty, PLLC
Bre Forbes
Board Secretary
Dance Faculty, NC State University
Trip Adams
Board Member
Attorney, Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC (retired)
Liz Penn
Board Member
President and Founder of The Penn Group
Sarah Britt
Board Member
Development Manager, Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro
Deana Dehart
Board Member
Dance producer and dance educator; Busch Gardens, Williamsburg (retired)
Alexandria Arpajian
Board Member
Executive Director, Carolina Theatre of Greensboro
Davian "DJ" Robinson
Board Member
Dancer, dance educator; Shaleigh Dance Works & Inspire Inclusion
Karen Scott
Board Member
Curriculum Facilitator, Peeler-Hampton Visual and Performing Arts School
Dance Project students wait for the Greensboro Holiday Parade to begin.
Dance Project students wait for the Greensboro Holiday Parade to begin.
FINANCIALS
INCOME & BREAKDOWN OF SUPPORT
- Earned Revenue: $161,881 (62%)
- Contributed Income (Donations/Grants): $97,272 (38%)
- Total Cash Revenue: $259,153
Dance Project receives additional support from: annual distribution from Caldwell Trust & in-kind office/studio donation from Greensboro Cultural Center
EXPENSES
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
And all of our community partners!
