Building Community beyond the stage

Company members Brandon Cournay and Domingo Estrada, Jr. talk about our Community Engagement programs on tour.

Domingo Estrada, Jr. (center, gray t-shirt) teaches a modern dance technique class to students at Urbana Fine Arts Center. 

Community Engagement is central to our mission, and throughout our touring season, we collaborate with our presenters to offer a variety of classes at public and private schools and universities, local community organizations, and senior centers. During our recent weeklong residency at The Krannert Center, we hosted nearly a dozen classes for children, college students, seniors, and community members of all ages, with and without disabilities.

Company members Brandon Cournay and Domingo Estrada, Jr. led our community classes in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois last week, and shared some highlights from their experiences.

READ Highlights from Brandon and Domingo

 

“I am always honored to share and connect with all communities.”
– Domingo Estrada, Jr. 

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Living our values: Access

Dance for PD prepares to premiere a new work by the inaugural recipient of the Lucy Bowen Award for Inclusive Choreography

Dance for PD participants rehearse inaugural Bowen Award winner Valeria Solomonoff’s new work, to premiere June 9, 2023 at the Mark Morris Dance Center Showcase.

In 2021, NYC-based Argentinian choreographer, dancer, and teaching artist Valeria Solomonoff became the inaugural recipient of the Lucy Bowen Award for Inclusive Choreography — an annual award of up to $10,000 towards the creation and performance of an original work of choreography developed in collaboration with and publicly performed by people living with Parkinson’s Disease.

Solomonoff is an NYU Tisch Tango instructor and research associate at Harvard’s Partnering Lab, who uses her tango roots to reimagine new possibilities of partnering for dancers with and without disabilities. Beginning in December 2022, exploratory workshops for her new work began at two separate locations: the Center for Ballet and the Arts at New York University and the Mark Morris Dance Center. The full cast of 17 dancers – including people living with Parkinson’s Disease, care partners, and Dance for PD staff – will begin rehearsing together in May to prepare for the world premiere, June 9-11, 2023, as part of our Dance Center Showcase