PROVIDING A PLATFORM FOR CHOREOGRAPHERS TO PRESENT THEIR WORK ON THE MAJESTIC DETROIT FILM THEATRE STAGE, DDCF’S CHOREOGRAPHERS SHOWCASE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING TOGETHER ARTISTS AND DANCERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD TO SHARE THEIR CURRENT PROJECTS WITH EACH OTHER, AND WITH DDCF AUDIENCES ALIKE. FROM AMONG THE DIVERSE BODY OF WORKS SUBMITTED BY OUR APPLICANTS, PIECES HAVE BEEN THOUGHTFULLY SELECTED TO SHOWCASE AN INCLUSIVE REPRESENTATION OF LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL TALENT.

Read more about our DDCF Choreographers Showcase 2023 artists!

CPR Dance: Inhale Movement

Carolyn Pampalone Rabbers received her MFA at the University of the Arts and graduated as the Presidential Scholar with a BFA from Western Michigan University. Carolyn has danced in NYC, Miami, LA and Michigan dancing and acting both on stage and on camera. Her dance-based works have been featured nationally and internationally, have been a finalist for Maggie Allessee’s Choreography Competition, and awarded support in a KADI grant of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. She can be seen as ‘Abby’ in Moondance (2020) and has performed for Wellspring/Cori Terry & Dancers, Coldplay, Omi, Starbucks, Jockey Bra, Kaplan University, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Diavolo EdCo, Mariana Olivera, Clairobscur, LACDC, Nickerson-Rossi Dance, and Vox Lumiere.

ConteXture Dance Detroit

ConteXture Dance Detroit is a non-profit dance company based in Detroit, that was founded in 2014 by artistic director, Tracy Halloran. It is a contemporary modern dance company that is interested in exploring cultural identity and the relationship between artistic expression and the human condition. Its concert works examine themes within human relationships in order to begin a dialogue on why and how we are connected to each other.

DDC Dances

Barbara Selinger, choreographer, performer and educator, is a co-founder and Artistic Director of DDCdances, a company she co-founded in 1980. She has choreographed and performed since 1973, creating more than 100 major works for DDCdances, other companies, and community groups. Barbara is the only Michigan dance artist awarded six Creative Artist Grants from the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs to create, perform and produce her work. Barbara’s choreography, celebrated for its humanity and ability to stimulate the senses, has been presented throughout Michigan, in Detroit, Chicago, New York City and Toronto. Barbara has more than 30 years of experience in higher education where she mentors students pursuing a career in the arts, and conducts numerous all-inclusive dance/arts classes, in schools and communities. As a Michigan Access Teaching Artist, Barbara’s inclusive classes and workshops focus on the creative process, delve deeply into improvisations guiding individuals to explore and express thoughts and feelings through visual and/or written media. Her academic achievements include M.Ed. in Dance - Wayne State University and B.A. - Anna Maria College. She has been awarded the prestigious Arts Achievement Award from Wayne State University and Teacher of the Year Award from the Michigan Dance Association, selected as one of 3 artists for the Governor’s People’s Choice Award for outstanding Michigan artist, honored by the cities of Farmington and Dearborn for her artistry and commitment to community arts programming, and was the recipient of Michigan Youth Arts Touchstone Award as educator of the year. More information regarding Ms. Selinger may be found at http://www.ddcdances.org/artistic-director.html

Jasmine Powell

Jasmine Powell, MFA, is a creative expressionist from Hillsborough, NC. Her artistry joyfully teaches cultural history, technique, and creative process as an Elon Performing Arts Professor. Jasmine’s career led her to PHILADANCO!, Dianne McIntyre, Milton Myers, Ron Brown, Okwui Okpokwasili, and consistently performs in Durham with COMPANY and KT DANCE COLLECTIVE alongside her largest choreographic premiere, Approximation of a Woman. Performance theaters, international festivals, music videos and recently the North Carolina Dance Festival 2022-23 season makes her smile at the opportunity to share her work rooted in conceptual storytelling and is always relating to others through a creative expressionist lens.

Morgan Walker

Morgan Walker is a dancer, choreographer, teacher, and director. She holds a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from Kent State University. Post-graduation, she extensively trained on scholarship at The Ailey School in New York, NY while concurrently performing on tour with Cardell Dance Theater. Morgan’s performing has reached throughout the U.S., Italy, Dominican Republic, China, and Mexico. Her choreographic work has been commissioned nationally by establishments such as Kent State University, Bellingham Repertory Dance, Dancing Wheels Company, Mark DeGarmo Arts Festival, CDCFest, Trifecta Dance Collective, and the American College Dance Association. Currently, Morgan is the Rehearsal Director and company member of the Dancing Wheels Company in Cleveland, OH.

Winifred Haun & Dancers

Winifred Haun & Dancers was founded in Chicago in the 1990’s by award winning choreographer and dancer, Winifred Haun. In the two and a half decades since its founding, the Company has won a MacArthur Foundation Award, been chosen by the Martha Graham Dance Company to participate in their Lamentation Variation Project, been presented at Danspace Project in New York City, and twice received the Oak Park Area Arts Council’s “Best in Class” Award. The Company performs locally, nationally, and internationally. The mission of Winifred Haun & Dancers is to create and present original, contemporary, innovative dance works that illuminate and elevate diverse artists, audiences, and global themes. Part of the Company’s artistic vision is to have dance viewed not only in the context of professional presentation, but also at the community level and in non-traditional performance venues. The Company has a deep, long time commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, as evidenced by its artists, staff, and Board, and its programming priorities. Artistic Director, Winifred Haun, is a veteran choreographer and dancer. In 2022, she won the prestigious 3Arts Award for individual artists. She was a soloist with the critically acclaimed Joseph Holmes Chicago Dance Theater from 1985 to 1993, where she studied and performed modern, contemporary, and West African dance with Joseph Holmes, Randy Duncan, and Harriet Ross.

ARK Initiative Ballet

Under the Artistic Direction of Steve Rooks and Lauren Anderson. The ARK Initiative is a faith-based collaborative of professional dancers that perform works by world class choreographers and dancers. It is the professional arm of The Link School of the Arts whose mission is to encourages and impact lives through the performing arts. Mr. Rooks is currently Chair of Dance and Resident Choreographer at Vassar College in New York. He is the 2004 winner of the National Choreographic Competition at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. He has been awarded Research Grants to travel to Latvia, Zambia, and in 2014 to Finland, where he choreographed “Plate Tectonics” on 24 international dancers. Mr. Rooks was commissioned by the Masterworks Festival to create ballets for a number of contemporary composers including Clarice Assad, Piet Swerts, and David Skidmore—all to live orchestra. Mr. Rooks has served as an adjudicator for the American College Dance Festival, and a solo “Vista” was created for Aran Bell (ABT) for the 2014 International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi. Four contemporary solos were recently submitted to the 2016 Youth American Grand Prix Ballet Competition.

Smutek Dance

Smutek Dance is a Detroit based freelance dance company, directed by Christa Smutek. Smutek Dance has performed at various festivals throughout the country, including WhiteWave SoloDuo Festival NYC, CDCFest Orlando, World of Dance, and DDCF. Smutek Dance was the Detroit Dance City Festival, Best Choreography winner 2021. Her film, Unchained, was awarded Festival Favorite, Newbie Filmmaker, in Opine Dance Film Festival 2020. Her films have been selected finalists in Screendance International, Dancentric Film Festival, and Cinedanza. Christa is the Artistic Director of the pre-professional company, Artistic Edge Dance Centre in Hartland, WI and the Director of the in-studio dance intensive, The Collective Movement.

Gabrielle McNeillie

Gabrielle McNeillie, originally from Rochester, NY, received her early training at Brockport School of Dance and Performing Arts and the Rochester City Ballet. After graduating with a BFA in Dance Performance from The University of Akron, she worked for almsot a decade as a Dancer and Dance Captain for Carnival Cruise Lines Entertainment. Gabrielle then earned her MFA in Dance/Choreography from The University of Arizona and became a Licensed Fletcher Pilates Teacher while living in Tucson. She is an Assistant Professor in the Dance Program at CWU where she teaches a wide variety of Dance technique and theory courses.

Norberto Collazo

Norberto Collazo Ortiz– Aibonito, Puerto Rico. His interest in dance began at age 10 when he joined Ballet Jatibonuko in his hometown. Five years later he joined the Ballet Juvenil Puertorriqueño, receiving training in folk dance. His training includes various genres such as: street jazz, hip-hop, contemporary, modern, Afro-Caribbean, contact improvisation, fighting monkey, and improvisation. By 2003 Collazo joined Hincapié, being both dancer and choreographer directed by Petra Bravo. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Individualized Studies in Contemporary Dance and Body Expression in Pedagogy, from the University of Puerto Rico. Collazo joined the cast of Andanza Contemporary Dance Company in August 2009 where he also choreographed. In 2014 Collazo was the first resident artist of the Arts Residency Program of the Center Of Fine Arts Luis A. Ferré. He also worked as a guest soloist for Ballet Concierto de Puerto Rico in productions like Carmina Burana (2014), Giselle (2008) and El Festival de Coreógrafos (2012). Norberto Collazo also has imparted workshops in various communities in Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and Guatemala. Collazo have staged his work in international venues like Costa Rica, Guatemala, Chile, New Jersey, Orlando, New York, Spain, and Prague. Among the independent dance events he has directed and produced are: Inventario (2010), Físico Relativo (2011), Disparejas (2011), Físico Relativo 100 x 35 (2012) Warning on the move (Quadrennial in Prague), SóloDos en Danza Rumbo a Costa Rica (2015), Conocidos Pasajeros (2016). He completed a Dance MFA at Tisch School for the Performing Arts at NYU. Collazo is co-director and choreographer of NA2, where he works with contemporary dance and movement related arts.

Simone Knowelle Dance Theater

Simone Knowelle is trained in classically trained dancer with over 8 years of performance and choreographic experience. She was a senior member of PHILADANCO!’s second company and performed lead roles in their repertory (2020-2022). She trained under master instructors at PHILADANCO! and Dallas Black Dance Theater summer intensives. Simone was also a scholarship recipient of The International Association of Blacks in Dance (2020). Simone Knowelle’s work has been showcased in Philadelphia and Los Angeles including PHILADANCO!’s “Danco on Danco” (2022), D/2 showcase (2022), Koresh Dance Showcase (2022), Kun Yang Lin's "Inhale" Showcase(2022), Los Angeles Raw Choreographers Festival (2019), and the Whiskey A Go Go on Sunset Blvd in Hollywood, CA (2019). Her company Simone Knowelle Dance Theater was formed in Philadelphia in 2022 in response to the need for a more holistic approach to dance. SKDT focuses on healing dancers, students and audiences through movement and story telling.

Yukina Sato

Yukina Sato is a dancer, choreographer, and filmmaker. She is originally from Tokyo Japan and completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance at the University of Central Oklahoma. She is currently working on her Master of Fine Arts at Ohio State University. Her research is rooted in making a third space, where two different cultures meets in between. She offers a new space through her art-making to free up sociopolitical labels and cultivate mutual understanding and respect. She was awarded Anna Shanks ”Best Performer” award in 2017 and her choreography was selected as an official ACDA(American College Dance Association) selection in 2020. She has worked with many artists such as Bebe Miller, Abby Zbikowski, Lea Cox, Larry Keigwin, and many more. Her passion for dance never stops growing and hoping to connect with Japanese immigrant performing artists in the U.S. to make space for sharing their knowledge and creativity.

Wellspring/Cori Terry & Dancers

Marisa Bianan obtained her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Western Michigan University in April 2018. Through her studies, Marisa had the privilege to work with choreographers including Jeremy Blair, Monique Haley, Carolyn Pavlik, and Brendan Duggan. While at Western Michigan University, Marisa also performed with the Western Dance Project, a pre-professional dance company, from the years of 2015-2016 under the direction of Whitney Moncrief. Since graduating, Marisa has presented various choreographic works in the Midwest including at the 2019 Midwest RAD Fest and Inaside’s Summer 2022 in-person/virtual hybrid concert. Recent accolades include becoming a finalist for the 2021 Maggie Allesee Choreography Competition, and being commissioned to create a new work for Western Michigan University’s First Year Performance class, which premiered in February 2022. Most recently, Marisa has stepped into the role of Associate Artistic Director with Wellspring/Cori Terry & Dancers.

ARK Initiative Ballet

The ARK Initiative is a faith based collaborative and professional arm of The Link School of the Arts. Ben Stevenson O.B.E is a world renowned choreographer and was Artistic Director of Houston Ballet for 30 years. He is currently Artistic Director Laureate at Texas Ballet Theatre. Lauren Anderson rose to Prima Ballerina at Houston Ballet and retired in 2008 after performing for 25 years. She currently is Associate Director Education & Community Engagement at Houston Ballet.She also serves as Board President at the Link School of the Arts and Artistic Director of the ARK Initiative Ballet.

Aimee McDonald

Aimee McDonald is a Dancer and Choreographer based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She headed Terpsichore’s Kitchen from 1998-2009, producing the annual showcase Dancing in Summer, and contributing as a choreographer and dancer. She has danced for numerous independent choreographers. In moving into the area of Screendance/Dance for Camera, she has worked with peter Sparling, Cara Hagan, and Mitchell Rose. Currently she is Artistic Director of Terpsichore Collective and is co-founder of Ann Arbor Dance Network.

Mark Gonzalez

Mark Gonzalez is a multi-disciplinary dance artist born and raised in Edinburg, Texas. He received a BFA in Dance with an emphasis in Performance and Choreography and a minor in Theatre from Texas State University. Mark was a three year member of Merge Dance Company, the pre-professional touring ensemble of Texas State University. Mark's had the privilege to present his work regionally, nationally and internationally. Gonzalez has also had the privilege to train with a variety of national and international dance artists. Notable artists include but are not limited to: Alice Klock and Florian Lochner (Flockworks), Mike Esperanza (BARE Dance, NYC), Joshua L. Peugh (DCCDUSA), Andy and Dionne Noble (Noble Motion Dance), Christa Oliver (Austin, TX), and Shonna Hickman Matlock (Dayton Contemporary Dance Company). Mark recently finished performing with The Dayton Contemporary Dance Company 2 under the direction of Shonna Hickman Matlock and was a scholarship recipient for the 2022 Giordano Dance Chicago workshop and Flockworks. Gonzalez is currently living in Chicago, Illinois where he is freelancing and is a dance artist with Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre.

Rowan Janusiak

Currently based in Ann Arbor, MI, Rowan Janusiak (they/them) is a queer, interdisciplinary artist creating work that stimulates audiences to question societal standards imposed around pleasure and play. They are a recent graduate of the University of Michigan with a dual degree in Dance and Applied Exercise Science. Over their time at the university, Rowan produced 10+ choreographic works ranging in style from hip-hop to dance theater and in presentation from film to live concert dance. Today, Rowan works predominantly as a drag performer, creating otherworldly makeup and fashion looks while exercising their dance training and raw performance quality on the stage.

Zehnder Dance

Zehnder is a NY & MA-based artist whose work has been produced internationally, in such prestigious festivals as Jacob’s Pillow Inside/Out, Reverb International Dance Festival, Florence Summer Dance (Florence, Italy), Pasadena Dance Festival, DUMBO Dance Festival, Solo/Duo Festival, MAD Festival, Midwest RAD Festival, the Women in Dance Project (NYC and Chicago), the Evening of Contemporary Dance Performance Series (NYC), Utica Dance Festival, and Buffalo Dance festival. Her work has been presented at Dixon Place, Ailey Citigroup Theatre, Manhattan Movement and Arts Center, Gowanus Arts, Triskelion Arts, 92nd Y, Greenspace, and CPR. Subsequently, she was awarded the Bossak/Heibron Charitable Foundation grant to support her research as well as a space residency at Chen Dance Center. Zehnder was also awarded the Appleton Grant as well as a Choreographic Fellowship from Mass Cultural Council to support the creation of her newest work, Permeating Voices that Linger, in collaboration with composer/vocalist Alexandra Ludwig. Furthermore, she has shared her choreographic vision as a Guest Artist at Dance New Amsterdam, Gibney Dance Center, Steps on Broadway, Santa Monica College, Grand Canyon University, Scottsdale Community College, SUNY Brockport, Glendale Community College and Queens College. Zehnder received her BS in Dance from Bowling Green State University and her MFA from SUNY Brockport. For more information follow us on Instagram @zehnder_dance or visit www.zehnderdance.org

CHOREOGRAPHERS SHOWCASE MEMORIES

DDCF FESTIVAL EXCHANGE PROGRAM

This unique initiative provides all presenters in DDCF’s annual Choreographers Showcase the opportunity to be considered for an invitation to perform again at participating partner festivals.

NATIONAL FESTIVAL EXCHANGE OPPORTUNITIES:

  • Detroit Dance City Festival Best Choreographer: One choreographer who presents their work at DDCF 2023 will be selected for the opportunity to return as a guest performer at DDCF 2024.

  • National Exchange Award: DDCF and Kalamazoo, Michigan based Midwest RAD Fest have recently partnered to create a national exchange to give artists more performance opportunities. One choreographer presenting their work at DDCF 2023 will be selected for the opportunity to showcase their work again as a part of the 2024 Midwest RAD Fest in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

  • Michigan Residency Award: One choreographer from the 2023 Choreographers Showcase will be chosen. This award grants access to 15 hours of free studio space leading up to Detroit Dance Race to create a new work in 2024. 

  • Rising Choreographer Award: One choreographer from the 2023 Rivera Court Stage will be chosen to create a new work for the 2024 DDCF Choreographers Showcase.

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL EXCHANGE OPPORTUNITY:

  • One Choreographer will be selected for the opportunity to perform at the 2024 New Dance Festival in Daejeon, South Korea.

IMG_7749.jpg