Artist programs

Dancing Grounds supports New Orleans-based dance artists with promotional support, rehearsal space, and residency opportunities.

To inquire about our Artist Support program:
reach out at info@dancingrounds.org

Email Us
Logo of the New Orleans Dance Network with stylized blue and purple brush strokes and text 'NODN' and 'New Orleans Dance Network'.

New Orleans Dance Network & #dancearoundnola

Dancing Grounds supports the local dance community as a founding member and leader in the New Orleans Dance Network, an emerging organization that promotes the visibility and viability of dance in the greater New Orleans area. We also encourage audiences to #dancearoundnola by promoting local dance events through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and a biweekly e-newsletter, reaching 8,000+ followers. 

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Presenting Partnerships

Dancing Grounds collaborates with local dance presenting organizations such as the Junebug Productions, Contemporary Arts Center New Orleans, Marigny Opera House, and Catapult to connect local choreographers with performance opportunities and promote upcoming performances. In the past, Dancing Grounds has produced its own performances including the eDGe Dance Festival, Pop-Up Salons, and Dances in the Rough. 

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Master Classes & Training Opportunities

Dancing Grounds offers professional-level classes and workshops with local and visiting artist to create more opportunities for locals to continue their training.  We have worked with companies including Kyle Abraham Dance Company, Sidra Bell Dance Company and Trisha Brown Dance Company and have worked with teachers from NYC, Brazil, Atlanta and Los Angeles. Visit our Adult Classes page for schedules and rates.  

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Artists-in-Residence

Dancing Grounds is committed to supporting New Orleans-based dance artists that work at the intersection of arts and social justice and break from the typical conceptions of what dance can be. Through our Artist-In-Residence (AIR) program, Dancing Grounds serves as an incubation space, giving local artists the time, space and resources they need to create new work, raise the visibility of their art, and reach new audiences.

Past AIR participants include Narcisse | Movement Project's Maritza Mercado-Narcisse, FLOCK's Meryl Murman, and #DignityInProcess Artistic Director, ChÉ. Artists are selected by invitation-only. We thank Emerging Philanthropists of New Orleans for their support of the 2020 artists-in-residence. Former artists-in-residence include Cat Dorvilus, Chanice Holmes, ChE, Kei Slaughter, Jamell Tate, Jasmin Fancii, Jasmine Johnson, Kai Knight, and Kristal “M2daE” Jones.

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Free and Subsidized Support for Artists

Dancing Grounds supports local artists with discounted rehearsal space for solo explorations and company rehearsals, workshops, and promotional support. Current and previous collaborations include: Shannon Stewart, Ryuta Iwashita’s monthly Contact Improvisation Jams, Snapdragon Medicine’s bi-monthly Community Acupuncture, Healing-Focused Yoga with DG Board Member Tiye Jones, Artivism Dance Theatre, Melange Dance Company, and Kai Knight’s Silhouette Dance Ensemble.

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Visiting Artist Support

Dancing Grounds provides visiting artists with resources to produce work in New Orleans including: free/discounted housing, teaching opportunities at Dancing Grounds, promotional support, connections to other teaching and presenting opportunities. Artists have included Onye Ozuzu/Project Tool (Chicago/Florida), Maleek Washington (NYC), Sanchel Brown (Baltimore/Philadelphia), Marion Spencer (NYC), and Dubois Akeen (NYC). The visiting artist program does not have dedicated funding at this time. We prioritize supporting artists with a history of relationships with DG community members and alignment with our values.

The image features text about dancing grounds, with the words 'Dancing Grounds Showdown' in bold, stylized red and purple font, and the phrase 'Show us what you got' in handwritten style.

dg showdown

Dancers compete, community wins! In 2018, Dancing Grounds debuted the Dancing Grounds Showdown, a mission-driven fundraiser that invests in local dance talent and our transformative youth programs. The DG Showdown is a city-wide, multigenerational, and multi-genre dance competition. The inaugural event took place on October 13, 2018 and featured 55 dancers and Big Freedia and Michelle Gibson as celebrity judges.