PROVIDING A PLATFORM FOR CHOREOGRAPHERS TO PRESENT THEIR WORK ON THE MAJESTIC DETROIT FILM THEATRE STAGE, DCF-Detroit’S CHOREOGRAPHERS SHOWCASE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING TOGETHER ARTISTS AND DANCERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD TO SHARE THEIR CURRENT PROJECTS WITH EACH OTHER, AND WITH DCF AUDIENCES ALIKE. FROM AMONG THE DIVERSE BODY OF WORKS SUBMITTED BY OUR APPLICANTS, PIECES HAVE BEEN THOUGHTFULLY SELECTED TO SHOWCASE AN INCLUSIVE REPRESENTATION OF LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL TALENT.

Read more about our DDCF Choreographers Showcase 2025 artists!

CPR Dance: Inhale Movement

Carolyn Pampalone Rabbers is the Executive Artistic Director and founder of CPR Dance: Inhale Movement and the Chayah Artistic Residency. She received her MFA at the University of the Arts and graduated as the Presidential Scholar with a BFA from Western Michigan University. Carolyn has danced in NYC, Miami, LA and Michigan dancing and acting both on stage and on camera. Her dance-based works have been featured nationally and internationally, have been a finalist for Maggie Allessee’s Choreography Competition, and awarded support in a KADI grant of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. She can be seen as ‘Abby’ in Moondance (2020) and has performed for Wellspring/Cori Terry & Dancers, Coldplay, Omi, Starbucks, Jockey Bra, Kaplan University, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Diavolo EdCo, Mariana Olivera, Clairobscur, LACDC, Nickerson-Rossi Dance, and Vox Lumiere.

Carolyn teaches adjunctly at Grand Valley State University, Western Michigan University, and at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. She has also taught for The Gabriella Foundation, honored by Michelle Obama in 2015. She is certified as an ABT NTC instructor in Pre-Primary through Level VII & Partnering. She also holds certifications in PBT, PCT, ISTD Contemporary, Reiki and Yoga.

Chris Johnson Dance

Chris Johnson, makes work that speaks to the human condition, drawing attention to matters of social justice. Critics have lauded her work as "stirring," "mesmerizing" and "ingeniously shifty." Johnson was awarded the inaugural commission of the Side Street Studio Arts Going Dutch Festival and earned First Place for Choreography at the New Prague Dance Festival in Prague, CZ. She has been selected to present work nationally and internationally for DUMBO Dance Festival, Dance St. Louis-Spring 2 Dance, Harvest Chicago Contemporary Dance Festival, Detroit Dance City Festival, Going Dutch Festival, Women in Dance Leadership Conference, and World Dance Alliance. Her work won the Laureate and Grand Prix at the Seventh International Competition: Festival of Choreographic Collectives in Moscow. Her dance "Wreath of Memories" was performed by special invitation at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. She has also presented her work in Tanzania, France, Germany, Newfoundland, Belgium and throughout the United States at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, Links Hall, The Union Theater in Madison, Wisc., in St. Louis, Kansas City and Sacramento. Her work has been regularly selected for the gala concerts at the American College Dance Association regional festivals. She performed and choreographed professionally with Dale Scholl's Dance/Art in Sacramento and taught for the Sacramento Ballet.

DETROIT DANCE COLLECTIVE

About: Detroit Dance Collective is a professional contemporary dance company dedicated to creating powerful choreography and offering inclusive community programs that heighten human expression within and across cultures. DDC’s legacy and life-affirming work voices the personal thoughts and feelings of our artists and our community and will always make its collective voice heard with respect, love and compassion.

Mission: Detroit Dance Collective believes in the expressive power of dance as a transformative force that reflects significant social issues and human expression. Through our performances and educational programs, we explore the intellectual, emotional, and physical dimensions of dance to create Art that Matters.

Vision: Detroit Dance Collective’s vision is to create and perform dances that express all that makes us human. We aim to leave a lasting impact on both our audiences and the broader community to ignite conversations, foster understanding, and inspire positive change through the profound artistry of dance.

More about DDC’s legacy and history: http://www.ddcdances.org/company.html

About DDC Dancers: http://www.ddcdances.org/dancers.html

BARBARA SELINGER

Barbara Selinger, choreographer, performer and educator, is Co-founder and Artistic Director of Detroit Dance Collective, a company she co-founded in 1980. She has choreographed and performed since 1973, creating more than 100 major works for DDC and other companies. Barbara is the only Michigan dance artist awarded six Creative Artist Grants from the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs to create, perform and produce her work. Barbara’s choreography, celebrated for its humanity and ability to stimulate the senses through visually striking images, has been presented throughout Michigan and in Detroit, Chicago, New York City and Toronto. Barbara has more than 30 years experience in higher education where she mentors students pursuing a career in the arts and conducts numerous dance/arts classes in schools grades K-12. Her academic achievements include M.Ed. in Dance - Wayne State University and B.A. - Anna Maria College. She has been awarded the prestigious Arts Achievement Award from Wayne State University and Teacher of the Year Award from the Michigan Dance Association, selected as one of 3 artists for the Governor’s People’s Choice Award for outstanding Michigan artist in 2005, honored by the cities of Farmington and Dearborn for her artistry and commitment to community arts programming, and is the 2015 recipient of Michigan Youth Arts Touchstone Award as VSA educator of the year. Barbara has been recently awarded the 70 Over Seventy Lifetime Achievement Award by Hannan Center, Detroit. More information regarding Ms. Selinger may be found at http://www.ddcdances.org/artistic-director.html

JoElla Fitzpatrick

JoElla grew up dancing at DuHadway Dance Dimensions in Alma, MI, and dual enrolled in dance at Alma College during high school. Through her classes at Alma College, JoElla worked with Lynn Bowman and Kristen Bennett, co-artistic directors of Third Coast Dance Company. Upon her high school graduation, JoElla danced with TCDC before attending Wayne State University. JoElla graduated from WSU in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management. While at WSU, JoElla minored in dance and had the opportunity to train with Meg Paul, Dr. Ras Michael Courtney, and Dr. Biba Bell. At WSU, JoElla performed in student choreographed works, attended Complexions Detroit Summer Intensive, danced as a company member for Fun Girl Dance Company’s first season, and choreographed for local studios in Metro Detroit. In 2023, JoElla performed at St. Mary’s College of California for Kate Morley’s Master of Fine Art thesis, and joined ConteXture Dance Detroit. During the summer of 2024, JoElla was chosen as ConteXture’s Darling Endowment Choreographer, which allowed her to choreograph a concert length piece on the company’s interns and apprentices to perform at their annual show. JoElla is currently the Head Coach for the Dance and Cheer program at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, and is a teacher/choreographer at Dance Beat in Plymouth!

Nova Linea Contemporary Dance

Nova Linea Contemporary Dance, co-founded by Artistic Director Jared Baker and Executive Directors Chris and Kellie Plath, is Wisconsin’s premier contemporary dance company. Known for our emotionally-provocative performances, it is Nova Linea’s mission to provide accessible and relatable stories through dance to our community.

In our first three seasons, Nova Linea has already left its mark on the Milwaukee area and beyond. We have been a three-time finalist for the Detroit Dance City Festival, and were awarded the opportunity to perform in the New Dance Festival in South Korea. In addition, Nova Linea has partnered with two local non-profits, Pathfinders MKE and NAMI Southeast Wisconsin, to help bring awareness and support for mental health. Thus far, we have reached hundreds of students through performances, outreach, intensives, and workshops in our mission to help build the future audience of dance.

Trifecta Dance Collective

The Trifecta Dance Collective (TDC) was established with a distinct mission: to act as the artistic voice of the communities it serves. The company is comprised of like-minded artists who use innovative performance approaches to forge deep connections between dancers and audience members. By collaborating and engaging with community members, TDC artists delve into diverse perspectives and refine their storytelling abilities. TDC extends beyond the stage by creating immersive experiences that inspire connection and serve as a catalyst for social change.

Valkyrie Yao

Valkyrie Yao (b. 2000, Qinghai, CHN) is a multidisciplinary artist and choreographer based in both China and the USA. Their works aim to harmonize traditional Eastern philosophies with contemporary Western methodologies, offering a commentary on the complexities of modern life. Their research explores the intersections of culture, identity, and societal complexities.

In 2023, Yao’s short film What’s Left won the Best Short Film Award at SWIFF 2023, showcasing their ability to merge cinematic storytelling with conceptual depth. Their visual art and performance works have gained significant recognition, including Influx: The Bipolar at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art and My Name Is… at the Phoenix Art Museum, both lauded for their innovative approach to blending performance and installation art.

Yao’s choreographic portfolio spans both national and international stages, with pieces such as I SEE at National Sawdust, New York City (2024). Since 2015, their works have been performed across numerous venues globally, reflecting a commitment to artistic collaboration and cultural exchange.

In 2024, Yao was honored with an invitation to exhibit at the Florence Biennale XV, a prestigious international platform celebrating contemporary art and design. This recognition underscores their growing impact on the global art scene, where they continue to push boundaries and redefine the role of art in society.

Lauren Blair Smith Dance Company

Lauren Blair Smith is a director, choreographer, performing artist, and educator. She performed Hofesh Shechter’s work in the first Broadway National Tour of Tony Award-winning Bartlett Sher’s Fiddler on the Roof (2021-2023) in 400+ performances in 100+ cities across the US/Canada. Lauren grew up in Singapore and attended the Singapore American School (SAS) where she discovered her love for the arts. Lauren graduated in 2020 from UNCSA with a BFA in Contemporary Dance. Lauren is a William R. Kenan Fellow at Lincoln Center Education in NYC, an American Ballet Theatre Certified Teacher, and Vice-President of World Dance Alliance Singapore. She was selected as one of three for the University of Michigan’s highly competitive MFA in Dance on full scholarship and will be instructing classes there starting in fall 2024. Beyond the stage, Lauren promotes wellness through movement as a certified Pilates and HIIT instructor, collaborating with Marina Bay Sands, Artyzen Singapore, Parkroyal Collection Pickering, and The American Club Singapore. After graduation, Lauren established the Lauren Blair Smith Dance Company in Singapore. She choreographed/presented “Recollection”, the Company’s inaugural, in-person performance in 2020 featuring renowned local artists, with training backgrounds including Juilliard, Taipei National University of the Arts, New Zealand School of Dance, and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. The Company established the Pre-Professional Dance Immersion Program to nurture the next generation of young, aspiring artists as well as the Singapore Dance Intensive which launched sold-out programs. The Company has enjoyed successful collaborations with organizations such as Panasonic, Google, Jewel Changi Airport, TEDx Procter & Gamble, and the Singapore American School. Lauren’s company presented work and received prestigious recognition at the SHAPE Choreography Festival, International Online Dance Competition, Palm Springs International Dance Festival, The Artists Forum Choreography Competition, Virtual DUMBO Dance Festival, Quinzena de Dança de Almada, Lion City Dance Film Festival, Palm Desert Choreography Festival, Washington International Dance Festival & Choreography Award, Doug Varone & Dancers Device’s Showcase, You

APulso Dance Project

Andi is a Chilean Choreographer, Dance Educator, Performer, and Sociologist. She got her BA degree in Sociology at UC of Chile, the same place where she founded Kazé Dance, a Contemporary dance company where she was the Artistic Director and Choreographer for eight years. In 2017, Andi relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area, California, and obtained her MFA in Dance and Choreography from Mills College. There, she also had the opportunity to perform for choreographers such as Joe Landini and Molissa Fenley and showed her work with her Dance Company “A Pulso Dance Project" at many festivals around the State. During her years in the Bay, Andi also worked as a faculty member at the Bay Area Ballet Conservatory, Shawl Anderson Dance Center, and as a Teaching Artist at Alonzo King Lines Ballet Dance Center. In 2023, she relocated to New York to keep her studies and joined the Master’s degree “Teaching Dance in the Profession: ABT Ballet Pedagogy” at New York University while working as a Teaching Artist for ABT and as an assistant at the ABT JKO School. During her time in NYC, she also did an internship at Peridance Contemporary Dance Company with Igal Perry as an administrative assistant and worked as a Contemporary faculty member for Maria Kowroski’s New Jersey Ballet Summer Intensive. In 2024, she moved to Michigan where she has taught at UofM Dance Department, Western Michigan University, Alma College, and Grand Rapids Ballet, as well as choreographed for Eastern Michigan University and Grand Valley State University.

Elizabeth Shea Dance

Reviewed as “a remarkable contemporary dance display,” Elizabeth Shea’s choreography has been produced by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and presented at numerous festivals and major cities across the USA, as well as in Australia, Israel, and China. Liz has been a guest artist for many professional companies and universities, most recently for Eisenhower Dance and as a collaborator with NYC-based Stefanie Nelson Dancegroup. Liz presented the site-specific work "Ascension" at the Eskenazi Museum of Art to over 1,000 people; her newest choreography, "Rhythm Runs Through It," premiered in 2022 at Dixon Place in NYC and was invited to RADfest, in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Liz also creates extensively in new media and film, screening her work at film festivals internationally, and is a professional film curator. Awards include Best Choreography for the Lens, Best Dance Film, and Best Ensemble. Liz teaches her self-developed somatic system, SomaLab®, yogic practices, and choreographic methods at workshops in the USA and abroad, most recently at the Royal Academy of Dance in London, and Dance Italia, in Lucca, Italy. She was awarded an Eastman Residency in the Arts and Humanities on Martha’s Vineyard to develop a program of somatic practice for non-medical hospice workers and presented at the 2022 Performing Arts Medicine Association International Symposium and the 32nd International Association for Dance Medicine and Science conference in Limerick, Ireland. A 500-hour Registered Yoga Teacher, and Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider, Liz is Professor and Director of Contemporary Dance at Indiana University.

Eric Mullis Project

Eric Mullis is a dance artist and scholar whose work centers on the possibilities of interdisciplinary performance. His choreography has been featured in the North Carolina Dance Festival, The Fact/SF Summer Dance Festival, Breaking Ground Festival, UrBANGUILD Kyoto, and at Performance Philosophy, Amsterdam. He is a Fulbright Scholar who, in 2021, conducted research on dance and the philosophy of technology at Taipei National University of the Arts in Taipei, Taiwan. Eric has authored of two books, "Pragmatist Philosophy and Dance: Interdisciplinary Research in the American South" (Palgrave MacMillan: 2019) and "Instruments of Embodiment: Costuming in Contemporary Dance" (Routledge: 2022). He is the Director of Goodyear Arts (an artist-run gallery and performance space in Charlotte, North Carolina) and is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Queens University of Charlotte.

Lauren Mortimer

LAUREN ASHLEY MORTIMER a native from Butler, Pennsylvania danced competitively and trained under high-profile instructors. She has formal training in ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, modern, pointe, heels, hip hop, lyrical, musical theater, Bharatanatyam, and West African dance.

She was cast as the lead dancer in Ashley Marina’s music video for her single, Clouds Across the Sun. Her highlighted performances include performing at the 9th Annual White Wave SoloDuo Festival; Harlem Globetrotters half-time show at PPG Arena; Bodiography Dance Company at SUCCOP Theater; Traces by Irishia Romaine and Rove by Ryan McMullen in a Faculty and Guest Concert at Miller Theater, and numerous dance pieces throughout college. She currently is under contract with The Talent Group (Pittsburgh, PA) and ClickModels (Philadelphia and New York City).

Lauren enjoys guest teaching and choreographing at local studios. She will complete a BFA in Dance in May 2026 from Slippery Rock University. While in college, Lauren continues to train frequently in New York City at Broadway Dance Center; Steps on Broadway; and Exactitude Dance. When in Pittsburgh, she trains at Firewall Dance Theater. Lauren also travels west several times a year to train at Millennium Dance Complex in Las Vegas.

Mojo Co.Lab

Choreographer, Morgan Joanne Grube (formerly known as, Morgan Walker)

Morgan Joanne Grube, a Cleveland-based movement artist, holds a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from Kent State University. Morgan began her professional career by joining Philadelphia based company, Cardell Dance Theatre, while concurrently training on scholarship at The Ailey School in New York, NY. In 2019, Morgan joined Cleveland-based dance company, Dancing Wheels Company. During her five seasons with the company, she was a full time company member and company class instructor. In her final two seasons, Morgan was the Dancing Wheels’ Rehearsal Director and Wardrobe Manager.

Creatively, Morgan is an ever-evolving and passionate choreographer driven by inclusivity, empathy, candor, and collaboration. Throughout her creative journey she has been commissioned by establishments such as Kent State University, Bellingham Repertory Dance, GroundWorks DanceTheater, Cleveland Dance Festival, Dance City Festival, Mark DeGarmo International Dance Festival, OhioDance Festival, Dance City Festival, and Contemporary Dance Choreography Festival. This past fall, Morgan was selected as a Commissioned Artist for Cleveland Dance Festival and premiered her newest work, “Happily Ever Never”, in November 2024.

Presently, Morgan is a dancer for Dominic Moore-Dunsons, The Remember Balloons Tour, and for Alexandra Clark-Stilianos's, STILGO dance + tech while also developing her company, MoJo Groove LLC.

Omnivore Dance

Yinqi and Maggie are choreographers and dancers from China, and are currently based in Columbus, Ohio. After receiving their MFA in Dance from University of California-Irvine, they continue to dance, choreograph and teach in the United States. Their collaborative works have been presented at various dance festivals and venues across the United States, including Work-in-Progress Showings at American Dance Festival and Bates Dance Festival, Arts on Site (NYC, Jan/25), National Dance Institute (NYC, Nov/24), Columbus Dance Theater (Columbus OH, Sep/24), Stomping Ground (LA, Feb/23), MashUp Dance Company (LA, Feb/23), Guangdong Modern Dance Festival (Guangzhou China, Nov/24), and Powerlong Museum Shanghai (Shanghai China, Dec 2021). Their movement research is heavily influenced by Gaga, Countertechnique, and contact improv. In their choreography, they intend to create humanistic and imaginative artworks through movement, storytelling, and theatrical design, weaving together the deep threads of mythology, folklore, intimacy, and violence.

Selah.Gabrielle

Jessica Thomas is a professional educator, choreographer, performer and mentor. She has performed for and featured with prestigious companies such as Ann Arbor Ballet Theatre, American Repertory Ballet, Ohio Dance Theatre in collaboration with Ohio Contemporary Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Dayton Ballet, Naomi Goldberg Haas, Second Avenue Dance Company NYC, Ballet Edge Detroit, to name a few. Her choreographic work entitled Mandela/Angelou is featured in Pointe Magazine as Editor's Choice for Pointe Video of the Month. Her choreographic works have also been showcased at Brighton Dance Festival, Biomorphic Dance Festival, Detroit Dance Race, Detroit Dance City Festival, MODArts Dance Collective, Sarasota Contemporary Dance Company, as well as New York University-Tisch. Jessica has educated artists as well as choreographed for students at Detroit Public Schools. She currently teaches classical ballet at Wayne State University, Juliana's Academy of Dance, as well as The Foundation House. She has also instructed at Christina's Adult Ballet, Ontario Secondary Schools, Legacy Dance Studio, LLC, Dancers Only Studio, to name a few. Jess obtains a M.F.A in Dance from NYU - Tisch and B.F.A in Dance from Wright State University.

Allison Lincoln

Allison Lincoln is a choreographer, performer, and teacher. She has been dancing freely with her duet partner, Alicia Falzon, performing and creating dance on stage, and on film for 4 years. Allison was the recipient of the Emerging Choreographer Award from DDCF in 2023. She is eager and excited to continue to create new works, and explore new movement qualities. Allison and Alicia are passionate about working with local artists, having gotten to perform and create movement for multiple music videos for Detroit musical artists. They perform pieces that are close to their personal experiences; exploring the vastness and complexity of everyday emotions, spirituality, and memories. They both are hoping to create an atmosphere on stage that the audience can personally resonate with, that leads to communication and conversations.

Hot Crowd Dance

About Hot Crowd: Hot Crowd is a 501(c)3 non for profit Chicago-based modern dance company located in Logan Square whose goal is to stimulate and inspire dancers and non-dancers alike through innovative movement, community interaction and accessibility to strengthen and spread the art of modern dance throughout the Chicagoland area and beyond. Established in 2017 by founder, Emily Kamp, Hot Crowd has been invited to perform in several major cities throughout the U.S. including Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit and St. Louis as well as out of the country in Seoul, South Korea. They have also created ten self-produced shows and two professional dance for films. Other Hot Crowd programming includes dance workshops/residencies for students ranging in age from youth to adult, pay what you can community dance classes, and collaborative events with other local artists and businesses. Hot Crowd has recently started their 7th Season which has already included several dance festivals,  performances, and classes in their beloved neighborhood of Logan Square. Connect with the Crowd today by connecting with them on social @HotCrowd and their website www.hotcrowddance.com 

 

About Noelle Kayser:

Noelle Kayser is an Atlanta-raised, Chicago-based choreographer, director, and multi-disciplinary performer. Her choreographic commissions include Whim W’Him, Open Space Dance, DanceWorks Chicago, SALT II, Visceral Dance, Lyric Opera (associate choreographer), Dance in the Parks, Hedwig Dances, Ballare Carmel, and Moonwater Dance Project, among many others. Noelle was the founding rehearsal director and administrator for PARA.MAR Dance Theatre (2022 Dance Magazine Top 25 to Watch) and served as the Ballet Mistress for the Lyric Opera’s production of Jenufa. Noelle is the founder and director of the Chicago-based performance project NK // COLLAB. As a dancer, Noelle has performed with PARA.MAR Dance Theatre, LED Boise, Open Space Dance, NW Dance Project, Visceral Dance Chicago, The Cambrians, Fly on a Wall, and Luna Negra Dance Theater, among others. She has taught various classes, workshops, and intensives for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Visceral Dance Chicago, and the Goodman Theatre, among others. Noelle has narrated 16 audiobooks for Listen Up Productions / Audible.com, appeared in industrial advertising for Grey Television, KitchenAid, and Whirlpool, and performed as an actor in theater productions with The Alliance Theatre, The Chicago Shakespeare Theater, 7 Stages, Theater for the Stars, Scrap Theater Group, and the Goodman Theatre. Noelle is honored to be the BalletX 2025 Choreographic Fellow.

Feather Weldon

Feather Weldon is a freelance professional dancer, choreographer, dance educator, and MFA Dance candidate at the University of Arizona. Most recently, she has danced with MadJax Dance Company, Ballet Legato, American Neoclassical Ballet, and as a second company member of Ad Deum Dance Company. Feather holds a BA with a Business Cognate in Dance from The University of Akron, where in addition to her classical training, she had the opportunity to learn from renowned guest artists such as Bill T. Jones/ Arnie Zane Dance Company, Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, Groundworks Dance Theatre, and Alexandre Munz. Her most recent choreographic work, Risk and Release, won second place in the Rocky Mountain Choreography Festival 2025.

Mark Gonzalez

Mark Gonzalez is a dance artist from Edinburg, Texas. He received a BFA in Dance with an emphasis in Performance and Choreography and a minor in Theatre from Texas State University. During his time in Texas, Mark had the privilege to work with artists such as Andy and Dionne Noble, Mike Esperanza and Erica Gionfriddo. After leaving Texas, Mark trained and performed with The Dayton Contemporary Dance Company 2 under the direction of Shonna Matlock. He was a scholarship recipient for the Giordano Dance Chicago workshop and Flockworks. Gonzalez recently finished his first season with Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre where he had the privilege to perform the works of Monique Haley and Katlin Bourgeois. Mark is currently a freelance artist based in Chicago and is currently a Company Artist with Identity Performing Arts and Still Inspired.

NA2 Dance Theater

Abraham Texidor and Norberto Collazo, co-founders of NA2 Dance Theater Corp., are visionary choreographers and artists dedicated to pushing boundaries in movement and performance. Based in Puerto Rico, they bring a multidisciplinary approach to their work, drawing from backgrounds in dance, theater, psychology, and film. Both Texidor and Collazo hold MFAs from NYU Tisch School of the Arts and serve as professors, offering composition, contemporary dance, classical technique, and movement for actors at the college level. Their commitment to using the body as a tool for communication and expression extends to their teaching, embodying NA2 Dance Theater's ethos of innovation and collaboration within the vibrant cultural landscape of Puerto Rico.

sarAika movement collective

Founded by immigrants and queer women Aika Takeshima (Japan) and Sara Pizzi (Italy), sarAika movement collective is committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the dance ecosystem. The collective is known for creating multidisciplinary collaborative performances that highlight topical issues and personal insights. Founded in 2021, sarAika movement collective had a significant impact in 2022 with over 50 performances, including our debut evening-length show, "Stella, Come Home," commissioned by Et Alia Theater, and a performance at The Museum of NYC.In 2023, sarAika was honored with a Spoke The Hub award, which gave them the opportunity to create our first solo production, received a RedTail residency at JCAL, and toured Japan. Recently, they were commissioned by IATI Theater to create an evening-length show and were selected as resident artists for 2025 by University Settlement.

CHOREOGRAPHERS SHOWCASE MEMORIES

DCF FESTIVAL EXCHANGE PROGRAM

This unique initiative provides all presenters in DCF’s annual Choreographers Showcase the opportunity to be considered for an invitation to perform again at participating partner festivals.

NATIONAL FESTIVAL EXCHANGE OPPORTUNITIES:

  • Dance City Festival New York Best Choreographer Award: One choreographer who presents their work at the 2025 Dance City Festival New York Choreographers Showcase will be selected to return and perform at the DCF Detroit 2025 Dance and Celebration program.

  • Dance City Festival Chicago Best Choreographer Award: One choreographer who presents their work at the 2025 Dance City Festival Chicago Choreographers Showcase will be selected to return and perform at the DCF Detroit 2025 Dance and Celebration program.

  • Dance City Festival Detroit Best Choreographer Award: One choreographer who presents their work at the 2025 Dance City Festival Detroit Choreographers Showcase will be selected to return and perform at the DCF Detroit 2025 Dance and Celebration program.

  • National Exchange Award: DCF and ATLAS Contemporary Dance Congress have kick-started a new partnership to expand our exchange efforts. One choreographer who presents their work at the 2025 Dance City Festival Detroit Choreographers Showcase will be selected for the opportunity to perform at the 2026 ATLAS in Puerto Rico.

  • Rising Choreographer Award: One choreographer from the 2025 Rivera Court Stage will be chosen to create a new work for the 2026 DCF Detroit Choreographers Showcase.

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