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NORTH CAROLINA DANCE FESTIVAL

Photo Credit: Colin Murasko

24-25 SEASON

FEATURED SHOW: OCTOBER 19TH MAINSTAGE SHOW

Join us October 19th at 7:30PM for our biggest show of the season! 

Tickets are on sale now for our Mainstage showcase, which features over thirty five dancers & five talented guest choreographers.

This performance is one of our largest in NCDF history, you don’t want to miss it!

Find out more about it and reserve your tickets today!

SEason Activities

Up Next:

AIR showing 2023 (1080 × 1080 px)

Artist IN residence showing

June 7 | 6:30pm
Studio 323 Dance Project

Join the NC Dance Festival’s 2023-34 Artist- in-Residence cohort as they share original works-in-progress and projects they have been working on since Summer 2023. This free and informal showing will present live performances and an opportunity to discuss dance with the artists and ask questions.

Artists Jonah Carrel, Ashlee Dance, Ayan Felix, Christine Fisher, and Rob Myers will share work in this studio showing.

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Other Upcoming Events

NCDF Performance for School Groups

On November 1, NCDF presents a free performance specifically for local school groups. The concert, featuring four professional choreographers from across NC, has been arranged to present a variety of perspectives on dance, and designed to help young audiences find the awe, humor, curiosity, and inspiration in dance. The concert is followed by a Q&A session, facilitating interaction between these students and local professional artists, and giving the students tools to watch, think about, and even create their own art.

Artist-in-Residence Showcase

Keep your eyes peeled here for upcoming Artist-in-Residence announcements!

SEASON ARTISTS

FlamenKatha

nov 1,
Van Dyke Performance Space, Greensboro

Matt Rock

nov 1, Van Dyke Performance Space, Greensboro

ABOUT NCDF

The NC Dance Festival, a production of the Dance Project, is an annual touring showcase of modern and contemporary choreography by NC artists. The Festival establishes a network of venues for professional regional choreography and performance, expanding accessibility of dance throughout the state while raising the profile of North Carolina’s own artists. The North Carolina Dance Festival has been supported by state and local arts councils as well as local and national foundations and individual donations.

Artists in Residence

2024/25 cohort

Dance Project and the NC Dance Festival are pleased to announce the 2024-25 Artists in Residence!

This initiative nurtures North Carolina choreographers and supports the development of high-quality dance work. This program provides space, peer support, and professional development for both the seasoned choreographer and those newly emerging who are looking to create new work, explore new territory, develop an artistic practice, and/or gain additional experience developing their craft.

PAST EVENTS

Monthly Dancer Chats (3)

NCDF/AIR MONTHLY DANCER CHATS

April 27 | 10:30-11:30AM
virtual event

The NCDF/Artist-in-Residence Dancer Chats are casual opportunities to get to know dancers from across the state, and establish future collaborations and relationship-building in NC. Join us on Zoom on Saturday, 4/27 for a chat with Greensboro Artist in Residence Jonah Carrell, on the topic of  “Finding your leadership style in the studio, creating a healthy rehearsal culture, and other adventures in rehearsal dynamics”.

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NCDF and Music for a Great Space Collaboration

April 19 | Greensboro

7:30pm, Van Dyke Performance Space

Music for a Great Space and NC Dance Festival come together to present a concert of live music and dance, featuring new dance work by Jiwon Ha, set to music performed by the Khemia Ensemble. Eric Mullis will also present his dance “Data Streams.”

Monthly Dancer Chats (1)

NCDF/AIR MONTHLY DANCER CHATS

Mar 28 | 6:30pm
virtual event

The NCDF/Artist-in-Residence Dancer Chats are casual opportunities to get to know dancers from across the state, and establish future collaborations and relationship-building in NC. Join us on Zoom on Thursday, 3/28 for a chat with Greensboro Artist in Residence Ayan Felix & Christine Fisher, on the topic of “How does the idea of “research” intersect with your personal creative practice? Does your dance journey have connections with academia or do you bring research into your process in other ways?”

Film Screening

wideman Davis Dance Residency

Sept 27-30 | Greensboro

Wideman Davis Dance will engage multiple community groups in workshops around themes of history, memory, family legacy, migration, and how art and culture are threaded through every aspect of our lives. The NC Dance Festival will screen the short film, “We Dance,” followed by a lively conversation between Wideman Davis Dance and the audience. 

NCDF Charlotte

OCT 6-7 | GOODYEAR ARTS, CHARLOTTE​

4 professional NC-based choreographers will present new or recent dance works at Goodyear Arts in Charlotte. Featuring ShaLeigh Dance Works, Joy Davis + Eric Mullis, Lee Edwards, and Carol Finley + Courtney White.

Artist Mixer

oct 7 | Charlotte

5-6pm, Goodyear Arts, Charlotte

NCDF will co-host a community Artist Mixer with Dance Artists Alliance Charlotte (DAACLT) prior to the performance on Saturday, October 7 from 5-6p at Goodyear Arts. This gathering will provide a special opportunity for the Charlotte dance community to meet up and connect with artists from across the state.

ncdf/air Monthly Dancer Chats

OCT 15 | 3:30p
virtual event

The NCDF/Artist-in-Residence Dancer Chats are casual opportunities to get to know dancers from across the state, and establish future collaborations and relationship-building in NC. Join us on Zoom on Sunday, 10/15 for a chat with Durham cohort artists, Londs Reuter, Chania Wilson, and Durham director, Kristin Clotfelter!

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daytime School Show

Oct 27 | Van dyke performance space, greensboro

4 professional NC-based choreographers present new or recent dance works during a daytime performance at the Van Dyke Performance Space in Greensboro, designed specifically for local school groups. Featuring Renay Aumiller, Gerri Houlihan, Mandi Moore, and Seema Kudur Viswanath.

Monthly Dancer Chats (1)

NCDF/AIR MONTHLY DANCER CHATS

Nov 4 | 1p
virtual event

Join us on Zoom for a second round of NCDF/AiR Dancer Chats on Saturday, 11/4. Greensboro cohort artists Ashlee Dance and kt williams will host a virtual conversation. Register below!

NCDF Artist Announcement 2023 (1080 × 1080 px)

Creative Collaboration Exchange

nov 12 | the artist bloc, greensboro

4 artists, working in dance, spoken word, visual arts, and music, will create a collaborative performance in just one day. Featuring Anna Williams, James Daniels, Seema Kudur Viswanath, and Damien Mathis, the performance, co-presented with TAB Arts Center, will be followed by a conversation with the audience.

AIR showing 2023 (1080 × 1080 px)

Artist in Residence Showing

Jan 20, 4PM | Barriskill Dance Studio, Durham

NCDF Artist in Residence will show works in progress and finished works in an informal showing in Durham. Showing will feature the work of Chania Wilson, kt williams, Ayan Felix, and Londs Reuter. Showing is free. Reserve your ticket below. 

Monthly Dancer Chats

NCDF/AIR MONTHLY DANCER CHATS

Feb 25 | 3pm
virtual event

The NCDF/Artist-in-Residence Dancer Chats are casual opportunities to get to know dancers from across the state, and establish future collaborations and relationship-building in NC. Join us on Zoom on Sunday, 2/25 for a chat with Greensboro Artist in Residence Rob Myers, on the topic of “What is the responsibility of artists and their art to speak in protest?”

UPCOMING EVENTS

A movement shot of professional dance artist, Caitlyn Schrader.

Contemporary Movement Lab

Saturdays | Studio 323 | 10:30am-12pm

With NCDF Artist in Residence, Caitlyn Schrader, offered as part of Dance Project’s Spring 2023 Semester. Ages 18+, drop in. 

Designed graphic for the NCDF Monthly Dancer Chats.

Monthly Dancer Chat

MAY 13 | 12:30pm | Zoom | Free

Graphic with Artist in Residence showing details

Artist in Residence Showing

June 8 | Studio 323 | 7pm | Free

NCDF Artists in Residence Jiwon Ha, Casey Avaunt, Janice Lancaster, Jurne Smith, and Alexandra Joye Warren will show dance film and live performance in this informal showing.

JAN VAN DYKE

Legacy Award

The Jan Van Dyke Legacy Award honors an individual who makes NC a great place to dance. In the spirit of Dance Project founder Jan Van Dyke, this individual sees a need in the community and works to fill it, generating ideas and laying a foundation that others can build upon, making a difference that will reverberate throughout the community. Nominees need not be members of the NC dance community, but will be working in ways that improve conditions for NC dancers and/or choreographers.

Nomination submissions due by September 22nd

ShaLeigh Comerford

2023 JVD Legacy Awardee

Congratulations to ShaLeigh Comerford, director of Durham-based ShaLeigh Dance Works.

ShaLeigh Comerford was nominated on the strength of her company’s dedication to inspiring people of all abilities, social backgrounds, cultures, and generations with the transformative power of dance. SDW is recognized for its socially conscious works, expansive movement language, and commitment to community action.

SPONSORS

Thank you to this year's season and site sponsors, and partners!

Logo for National Endowment for the Arts
Logo for the Cemala Foundation
Logo for Stability Engineering.
Logo for Goodyear Arts.
Elon Dance Program logo
Logo for High Point University.

New to attending dance concerts? Here’s what to expect

Anything that makes you feel comfortable is fine. Most people will be wearing slightly dressy casual clothes, but you’ll see everything from khakis to cocktail dresses. Some people enjoy dressing up and making a special night of it. If you do decide to dress up, though, go easy on the perfume and cologne. It can distract others near you and even prompt them to sneeze (which may distract you).

Plan to arrive at least 15-20 minutes before the scheduled start time (7:30pm for this concert), so you can find a seat, take a look at your surroundings, and have time to glance through the playbill, too.

If the door to the theater is closed when you arrive, the ushers will ask you to wait until after the first dance has finished. In between dances, you may enter the theater quietly and find an available seat.

This concert has 5 different dances created by 5 different choreographers. At the end of each dance, the audience will clap for the dancers, although they may not bow until the very end of the performance. Sometimes, there will be a brief pause in between dances, and the lights in the audience may come up slightly during that time. Talking is discouraged during the dances themselves, but quiet conversation in between is just fine.

Many dance performances are between an hour and 2 hours long. This concert is about 90 minutes long including the intermission.

It is respectful to the rest of the performers and the audience to remain seated throughout the performance, and to stay until the very end of the show, even if the performers you came to see have already danced. If you do need to leave, to use the restroom or for other reasons, please try to wait until the pause between dances or intermission so you don’t disturb other audience members or the performers.

Please don’t take photos or video during the performance. In a formal theater performance like this one, it is typical for professional photographers and videographers to attend to make the official record of the concert. Choreographers like to be able to know who is taking and sharing photos or videos of their work, so audience members are not encouraged – in this setting – to film it themselves. Plus, the light from your device will be distracting in the dark to people around you! However, selfies or pictures of you and your friends before or after the show are most welcome!

It depends on the performance and on the age of your kids. Many standard-length dance concerts are not a great choice for small children because they require an attention span that is difficult for youngsters to maintain. This NCDF concert is likely to be most interesting, in length and content, for ages 10 or 11 and older.

Turn it off, or to silent mode. It’s a good idea to double-check in the few minutes before the concert begins, and again as intermission draws to a close. If you must check your phone during the concert, please do so in the pause between dances. The light from your device is very distracting to other audience members, and to the performers!

Anything unfamiliar can seem a little intimidating at first, but you already know all you need to watch dance! Some dances tell a story, others create striking images and designs, or seem to be “about” a specific idea or issue. No need to fully “get” the dance or exactly what it means. For most choreographers, they expect that each audience member will make their own meaning from what they see. Here are some tips: 

  1. Pay attention to how the dance makes you feel. Does it bring up any emotions, physical sensations, or memories?
  2. Notice how the performers are interacting with the music, and with the other dancers. 
  3. Look at how the dancers move through space. Are they filling the space or limiting it? What kinds of energy are the dancers using?

If the dance makes you laugh, you can laugh! If it prompts other kinds of feelings or responses, those are welcome too. If you don’t like a dance, that’s ok! Modern dance is so varied that it’s likely the next dance, or the one after that, will be more your speed. 

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Get Tickets for NC Dance Festival's Mainstage Show on October 19th!