Community Connections: Dance Canvas

"Wink" by Jessica Bertram; Photo by Richard Calmes

By Raven Crosby, Emory Dance Program Office Assistant

Dance Canvas is a non-profit organization created by Emory dance faculty member Angela Harris. Dance Canvas' mission is to provide opportunities and venues to increase the awareness of professional dance in the metro Atlanta area. This is achieved through three tiers of engagement:

· They support emerging professional choreographers through their Choreographer Career Development Initiative, providing resources for choreographers to develop, create, and produce new work.

· They engage the community in dance-related workshops and experiences. Through their Artist-to-Artist (FREE Series), annual Performance Series, and FREE community events, they interact with audiences and present world premiere dance in Atlanta.

· They expose students and young adults to the world of professional dance through outreach programs, national partnerships, and the four-week DC NEXT program. 

Jessica Bertram in rehearsal

Dance Canvas has had considerable involvement within the Emory Dance community. Alumnae Jessica Bertram 17C and Catherine Messina 18C have both been featured choreographers for the annual Performance Series. Emory Dance Program’s stage manager Angelina Pellini completed an internship with Dance Canvas, and currently, office assistant Raven Crosby is serving as the administrative assistant for the organization. Dance Canvas offers many opportunities for students, staff, and community members to become involved with the organization.

Dance Canvas currently has four interns from Kennesaw State, Georgia State, Georgia Connections Academy, and a recent Alabama State University graduate. Interns focus their efforts on a specific sector (i.e., social media) and delve into exploration from day one. They are able to learn all the components that it takes to successfully run a dance organization.

Dance Canvas has two upcoming performances. The Science Art Wonder exhibition will take place during the Atlanta Science Festival March 24-26 at Georgia Tech. A collaborative dance film between Dance Canvas choreographer Thulani Vereen and Georgia Tech professor Francesco Fedele will premiere. The "Skyline Series" will present pieces from Dance Canvas' 2020-21 choreographers on stage, since they were postponed last March due to COVID-19. The "Skyline Series" will take place May 15-16. A limited number of $10 student tickets for the Skyline Series are available through the Ferst Center Box Office, using code DCCOLLEGE.

Each summer, Dance Canvas offers a program geared towards high school students interested in choreography. This summer, they are offering two programs. The DC NEXT Summer Choreographic Intensive will take place in person from July 6-30. This program gives students essential career-building skills by immersing them in the world of professional dance, both onstage and backstage. From June 7-18, DC NEXT will present its Virtual Dance on Film Program, which is designed to provide students with a platform to learn dance film making, while still training at home.

To learn more information about Dance Canvas, click here

Stay up to date with Dance Canvas events by following them on social media:

Facebook 

Instagram @dancecanvas

Twitter @dancecanvas

Blog post 

"Wink" by Jessica Bertram; Photo by Richard Calmes