Welcome to Dance New Jersey! Looking towards our Tenth Anniversary, we stand committed to fulfilling our mission statement by "promoting the energy, excitement, and excellence of dance and dance education in New Jersey." I hope very much that you will join us in this adventure.
As you glance through our website, I believe that the spirit of the New Jersey dance world speaks through its images and words. To live as a dance artist is an exciting and challenging commitment, and you will find that Dance New Jersey has many projects and programs planned for 2007-2008 that encourage, inspire and motivate you as an individual artist, and as part of the local and state arts community.
Our ongoing programs provide our members with many opportunities to create and connect. "Igniting the Imagination" offers choreographic, improvisational and informational workshops for dancers to explore and learn. These professional development workshops are also offered in cooperation with other arts organizations on special topics such as dancers with disabilities, VLA (Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts), dance injury prevention, or emerging technologies. Our Fiscal Sponsorship and Mentorship programs are designed for emerging and individual artists. "Show Up and Dance" our performance series, is open to any and all members as an opportunity to showcase their work in a non-adjudicated environment. Our annual meeting, held every July, is a day-long event of classes, workshops and meetings and a great place for social exchange! I am confident that you will find something of value in our programs and activities, and someone to connect with among our group of dedicated dance artists and enthusiasts.
The Needs Assessment and Inventory of Dance Workers survey, completed in 2006, was designed to identify the population of individual choreographers, performers, folk and traditional artists and educators (public and private schools, colleges/universities and private studios) throughout the state, for the purposes of developing a comprehensive profile of New Jersey's dance workforce, and to better understand the most critical needs confronting this essential community. In 2007-2008, Dance New Jersey is at the second stage of the project which includes both the creation of a New Jersey Dance Worker Database, and offering statewide Dedicated to Dance roundtables for dance educators, choreographers, performers, as well as connecting dance artists with and key leaders in the state. These roundtables have helped to build systems for ongoing networking and provide a forum for discussing issues.
I enthusiastically encourage your membership -- and, just as importantly, your participation and involvement -- in Dance New Jersey. If you are an experienced artist, use Dance New Jersey to stay informed about performance opportunities and to keep a fresh outlook on your own work and that of other artists. If you are new to dance, or new to the area, use Dance New Jersey as a way to improve your skills and build your personal and professional contacts through the many opportunities in the New Jersey dance community. Finally, if you have been a member in the past and have let your membership lapse, I'd like to know how we could earn your future involvement.
I look forward to your involvement in Dance New Jersey and hope to meet you personally at our events and performances.
Please feel free to contact us at
973.222.8844
or if you have any further questions.
