Dance Place

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Dance Place is an arts organization in the Brookland neighborhood of Northeast Washington, D.C.. "The heart and home of Washington Dance,"[1] Dance Place aims to "transform lives through performing arts and creative education programs that inspire personal growth, professional success, physical wellness and community engagement."[2] It is a National Performance Network Partner Theater.

The nearest metro station is Brookland/CUA on the Red Line.

Contents

[edit] History

Dance Place was founded in 1980 as the home of DC Wheel Productions, Inc, a touring educational and performing arts company run by Carla Perlo. Located in Northwest Washington, D.C., Dance Place was forced to move out of its Adams Morgan neighborhood home as a result of gentrification efforts in 1985. Dance Place was relocated to Northeast Washington, D.C. where it would develop its reputation as "the hub of DC dance."[3] In 1986, Dance Place received a DC Mayors Arts Award for Excellence in Service to the Arts. Mrs. Perlo remains the Artistic Director of the theater today, along with artist Deborah Riley.

[edit] Programs

As a "theater, school, and community resource,"[2] Dance Place's offerings include a wide variety of arts-related and community-building programs.

[edit] Theater

Dance Place's year-long performance season includes performances at their home theater in Brookland, as well as "Dance Place Around Town" performances at other Washington theaters. These performances which occur nearly every weekend of the year include

  • Artist presentations both of touring companies and of local partner companies.
  • Artist co-presentations mostly of local artists
  • Presentations of resident companies: Carla and Company, Deborah Riley Dance Projects, and Coyaba Dance Theater.
  • Festivals, presenting multiple companies, including the annual Dance Africa DC Festival

[edit] School

Dance Place offers a variety of classes for children and adults in styles including modern, african, salsa, and hip hop. Additionally, resident company Coyaba Dance Theater runs the Coyaba Academy, an african dance training program for children.

[edit] Community Resource

Dance Place goes into its community with its outreach performances by resident companies Coyaba Dance Theater and Carla and Company as well as outreach classes in DC schools. During the school year, Dance Place runs the Creative Education Center after school program, and over the summer Dance Place runs a Summer Camp for under-privileged youth. Dance Place also holds inreach performances in its theater for DC schools and has a Family Series of performances appropriate for children.

[edit] Notable Performers who have Appeared on Stage

[edit] References

  1. ^ The Washington Post
  2. ^ a b Dance Place. Retrieved on 2008-04-08.
  3. ^ The Washington Times

[edit] See also

[edit] External links