The National Choreographers Initiative (NCI), since 2004 pursuing its proclaimed mission “to support and nurture the process of developing new choreography” is kicking off another summer session from its base at the University of California, Irvine campus in Orange County.
Molly Lynch, Associate Professor of Dance in the Claire Trevor School of the Arts at UCI, is founder and director of the program, which runs with the support of the National Endowment for the Arts and Lynch’s relentless passion for moving classical ballet into a strong future.
It’s a hotbed of creativity, and Lynch has been a key player in providing meaty experience and recent credentials to the c.v.s of burgeoning freelance choreographers.
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Sixteen dancers have been honored with entry into the three week workshop, working eight hours a day for three weeks with dance makers Nicolas Blanc, Norbert De La Cruz III, Jimmy Orrante, and Sarah Tallman. The dancer roster includes:
Edilsa Armendariz, Bay Pointe Ballet
Julia Feldman, Sacramento Ballet
Erica Felsch, Smuin Ballet
Keenan McLaren, Nashville Ballet
Allynne Noelle, Los Angeles Ballet
Lauren Pschirrer, Ballet Memphis
Ashley Lynn Sherman, Ballet Austin
Molly Wagner, Kansas City Ballet
Men
Brandon Alexander, Teater Vanemuine Ballet
Allen AJ Abrams, freelance
Thomas Baker, Oregon Ballet Theatre
Jake Casey, Cincinnati Ballet
Zachary Guthier, Los Angeles Ballet
Evan Swenson, freelance
Dustin True, Los Angeles Ballet
Rex Wheeler, Sacramento Ballet
The 2015 project runs from July 7-26 and culminates with a public showing at the Irvine Barclay Theatre. That is a fun performance to experience — and it often spawns the seedlings of major dance works to come.
NCI Discovery 2015 | Irvine Barclay Theatre | July 25, 8 pm
What an informative comment, Gina, many thanks. We strive to support female choreographers, unfortunately a minority group in today’s dance world.
Norbert is a LACHSA Alum and we are thrilled for him. But I write this mainly to thank you for putting Sarah Tallman front and center in this photo. She was a student of mine at Perry-Mansfield in the late 1990’s. She stood out then as a force to be reckoned with and is part of a great dance collective in Denver called Wonderbound. Sarah just completed a guest residency at P-M as faculty member. Life comes full circle.