Rhode Island Women's Choreography Project Rebrands As Choreography Project

Rhode Island Women's Choreography Project will be known going forward as Choreography Project, following the successful run of its performance series Here & Now in Providence this weekend. The rebrand marks a new chapter for the organization and reaffirms its mission to bring gender equity to concert dance stages, creating a greater sense of inclusion for trans and nonbinary artists. The decision also aims to make clear that the organization welcomes artists from both within and beyond the state of Rhode Island.

Choreography Project continues the spirit of the mission set out by founders Hannah Klinkman and Lousia Mejeur in 2018 to nurture, elevate, and empower artists whose voices are not traditionally heard in concert dance choreography and address the massive gender imbalance that persists in the field. In the 2022-2023 season, Dance Dance Project reported that only 20% of the largest ballet works in the US were choreographed by women and just 2% by people of other/mixed gender.

Over the past six years, Rhode Island Women's Choreography Project has served over 34 female and nonbinary choreographers and over 90 dancers through its annual residency and performance series. Choreography Project will continue to host an annual paid residency and performance series that is open to all choreographers who feel their identity is underrepresented, as well as dancers of all identities to participate. As the only residency in Rhode Island with a dedicated focus on gender equity in dance spaces, Choreography Project will continue to have a significant impact on the state's arts community and propel the careers of the artists it serves.

"This is an exciting moment for us, as we launch our next chapter as Choreography Project. We've grown tremendously over the last six years and our new brand expresses our expansive vision and our commitment to inclusion. We believe that by championing true gender diversity and representation for choreographers we can create a lasting impact that strengthens and advances the field," said Executive Director Kristy DuBois.

"We know how important representation is to shifting the status quo and through this rebrand, Choreography Project is recommitting itself to breaking down gender barriers so that we can all experience more equitable and authentic artistic spaces whether on stage, backstage or in the audience," said Board Member Marissa Parmenter.

"The rebranding shows a commitment to inclusivity, making it comfortable for all artists to participate. This opens the door to a more diverse group of artists in the future.There is space for women, trans, and nonbinary folks to exist and create work in peace and safety," said 2024 Choreography Resident Mira Goksel.

Choreography Project's rebrand was undertaken by the leadership, board, and advisors to set the stage for the organization's future and growth in the years to come. The announcement follows the successful 2024 residency and performance series Here & Now, presented at Ballet Rhode Island's Black Box Theater on August 24 and 25. Here & Now featured six new works by emerging choreographers Margot Aknin, Dara Capley, Ana G. Delgado Cruz, Morgan Dubay, Mira Goksel, and Minami Kikuchi.

About Choreography Project

Founded in 2018, Choreography Project (501(c)3), formerly known as Rhode Island Women's Choreography Project, addresses the massive gender imbalance in ballet and contemporary dance choreography by supplying female and nonbinary choreographers with the support and resources they need to create new work. Choreography Project hosts an annual three-week paid summer residency for selected choreographers, culminating in a program of all new work in Providence, RI. choreographyproject.org