The Dance Gallery Festival Announces 10th Anniversary Lineup

Returning for it's 10th anniversary Season, The Dance Gallery Festival, mentor and launchpad for new choreographic talent since 2007, will return to NYC this fall with more than 30 artists presenting all new work in three distinct and separate programs.

Alvin Ailey dancer/choreographer Sean Aaron Carmon, Andy Noble, Joshua L. Peugh, Gabrielle Lamb and Rohan Bhargava are among the national and international choreographers participating in the weekend event, Friday, November 11 through Sunday, November 13 at Manhattan Movement and Arts Center, 248 West 60th Street.

Under the guidance of Astrid von Ussar, co-founder and artistic director, the Dance Gallery Festival aims to cultivate artistry by creating a performance vehicle which helps support the growth of dance companies. By providing increased exposure and new performance opportunities, The Dance Gallery Festival serves to mentor hundreds of artists seeking to establish a foothold in a business with few resources and much competition.

Over 300 emerging and established choreographers have participated in the Dance Gallery Festival since its founding in 2007, with more than 25 works commissioned. Many Festival alumni have gone on to perform at Jacob's Pillow, The Joyce Theater, international venues and national television. Video.

According to Ms. von Ussar, "No one today takes a chance on new talent. How are artists from out-of-town able to present on a NYC stage and be seen? Our 'no performance fee' Dance Gallery Festival offers choreographers an affordable platform to showcase their work, giving them an opportunity to shine. Our mission is to not only feature the next up-and-coming talent, but to give artists the ability to network and establish a sense of community," she said.

In 2009, The Dance Gallery partnered with Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, offering paid guest artist residencies to select participating companies. The University's one-week residencies include the opportunity to choreograph new work on Sam Houston's upper-level students, as well as teach classes in technique and choreography. A juried panel comprised of Sam Houston faculty and area artists select the resident artists.

Two artists from The Dance Gallery Festival '15 will participate this year's Houston State residency program, setting a new work with students, while twelve artists from this year's Festival will teach master classes. The Dance Gallery will present the 2016 Festival in full at the University's Gaertner Performing Arts Center, Nov. 3-5, before moving on to New York City for the Manhattan Movement Center performances, Nov. 11-13. Looking ahead, Ms. von Ussar hopes to establish similar teaching and performance partnerships with satellite universities nationwide.

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10TH Anniversary Festival Program:

Friday, November 11 - 7pm - "Best of Festival" - This year's Dance Gallery Festival will open with a "Best Of " program, featuring eight artists, top talent from Dance Gallery Festival performances presenting both new and repertory work. Gala reception and site specific performances to follow.

Saturday, November 12 -7:30pm - "Level UP" - Level UP serves as a performance showcase for three dance companies/choreographers ready to advance to the next level in development and promotion of their work. Each company will receive 25 minutes of performance time and a commission fee. "Level UP" artists are judged qualified by the selection committee to present at the national level.

Sunday, November 13 - 3pm and 7:30pm - Dance Gallery - Twenty-two artists, selected by the Festival committee from more than 250 applications, will present work pushing the boundaries of modern and contemporary dance. The program will include the AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD, in which audience members get to choose the ONE choreographer they would like to see in The Dance Gallery Festival Level UP program next year. Different casts at each performance.

Festival Line-up
More about The Dance Gallery Festival
The Dance Gallery Festival Mission Statement