PAST DDCF PROGRAMS
DDCF is a community building event that celebrates dance in its various forms and disciplines. This includes performances, master classes and networking opportunities. Our mission is to educate audiences about the impact of dance, provide opportunities for artists to share their work, and create an artistic network between Michigan, the United States and the world.
2013-2023 IN REVIEW
5,000+ ARTISTS PRESENTED THEIR WORKS ON STAGE IN DETROIT FROM MICHIGAN, NEW YORK, CHICAGO, CHINA, S. KOREA, POLAND, SPAIN AND MORE.
51K+ AUDIENCES HAVE EXPERIENCED THE POWERFUL ART OF DANCE THROUGH THE FESTIVAL
Performance Opportunities
Past guest artists:
National: Camille A. Brown, Sidra Bell, Lauren Anderson, Caleb Mitchell, Steven Rooks, Peter Sparling, White Wave Young Soon Kim Dance Company, Jesse Obremski -Brigham Young Contemporary Dance Theatre, Carolyn Dorfman Dance, Amy Morrow and more.
International: SeongJeong Kim (South Korea), Kyunghwa Hong (South Korea), Lee Jung In Creation (Austria), R.E Dance(South Korea), Ferenc Feher(Hungary), Marcat Dance(Spain), Kwang Min Kim(South Korea), Carmelo Segura(Spain), Modern Table(South Korea), Teatr Tańca Zawirowania(Poland), Ziomara Hormaetxe(Basque Country), Breanna O'Mara(Austria), Momuro Movement Lab(South Korea), Project Refinery(South Korea) and more.
Dance and Celebration https://youtu.be/Ut28l95AR9c
Detroit Film Theatre
A culminating gathering and special guest performance to close out the festival.
Past guest artists:
2023: SeongJeong Kim (South Korea), Grand Rapids Ballet, Kelsey Lewinski, Xing Dance Theater Student Company
2022: Kyunghwa Hong (South Korea), Lee Jung In Creation (Austria), Smutek Dance (MI)
2021: Feng Dance Company (Taiwan), Jeonghonng Choi (South Korea), Murata Masaki (Japan)
2019: Carmelo Segura Companhia (Spain), One Dance Project Group (South Korea), Alexander Quetell (MI), ArtLab J (MI), Byoung Sug Kim (IL)
2018: Modern Table (South Korea), Marcat Dance (Spain), Contempus (MI)
2017: Cia Danza Ziomara Hormaetxe (Basque Country), Amy Diane Morrow (TX), ArtLab J (MI)
2016: Ferenc Feher (Hungary), Kwangmin Kim (South Korea), ArtLab J (MI), White Wave Dance Young Soon Kim Company (NY)
2015: R.SE Dance Company (South Korea), Camille A. Brown and Dancers (NY), Eisenhower Dance (MI)
2014: Carolyn Dorfman Dance (NY)
2013: Sidra Bell Dance (NY)
Festival Exchange Program
*Chosen from the Choreographers Showcase
International Opportunity: New Dance Festiva (South Korea)
National Opportunity: Detroit Dance City Festival, Midwest RAD Fest (Kalamazoo, MI)
Choreographers Showcase https://youtu.be/c6oid8lEB1o
Detroit Film Theatre
Providing a platform for choreographers to present their work on the majestic Detroit Film Theatre stage, the Choreographer’s Showcase is an opportunity to bring together artists and dancers from around the world to share their current projects with each other. From among the diverse body of works submitted by our applicants, pieces will be thoughtfully selected to showcase an inclusive representation of local, national, and international talent.
Choreographers will be chosen for the Festival Exchange Program.
Rivera Court Stage/Summer Stage https://youtu.be/sFCiZEj-n_c
Called Rivera Court Stage if held inside of the museum and Summer Stage if held on the outdoor lawn. Emerging artists, professional dance companies, local studios, and individual performers have the opportunity to share their work in various locations at DDCF. This unique showcase is designed to highlight local, national, and international talent, sharing diverse styles of dance with DDCF audiences in an inspiring museum setting.
Master Classes
Designed to give students opportunities to train in a variety of dance styles with industry professionals.
2023: James Sofranko (Ballet), Jeremy Blair (Jazz), Steve Rooks (Modern), Gloria Alijah (West African), Norberto Collazo (Contemporary Fusion), Kyung Hwa Hong & Kwangmin Kim (Partnering)
2022: Brandon Koepsell (Ballet), Kelsey Paschich (Countertechnique), Haleem “Stringz” Rasul (Detroit JIT), Lee Jung IN (Infinity Movement with Multiple Web), Penny Goldboldo (Dunham Technique), Christa Smutek (Jazz Fusion)
2021: Sidra Bell (Contemporary Systems), Shannon Gillen (Vim Vigor Physical Dance), James Wilton (Contemporary Floorwork), Kelsey Paschich (Contemporary Ballet), Joanne Zheng (Chinese Classical Dance), Wanjiru Kimuyu (Contemporary), Anuradha Murali (Classical Dance Styles of India: Bharathanatyam & Kuchipudi), BMBO Creations (Screen Dance Tutorial), Allen Xing (Modern), Queen Gabby (Detroit Jit), Denise Caston Clark (Tap).
2020: Modern with Steven Rooks, Ballet with Lauren Anderson, and Ballet with Caleb Mitchell.
2019: Contemporary with Alexander Dones, Improvisation with Amy Chavasse, Ballet/Laban MA with Seyong Kim, Contemporary with Carmelo Segura, Partnering with Dong-Won Lee, and Double Skin/Double Mind with Kelly Hirina.
2018: Contemporary Jazz with Brandon Harneck, Contemporary with Biba Bell, Marcat Research/Guided Improvisation with Mario Bermdez Gil, Contemporary/Modern with Sylvia Suttle, Contemporary Improvisation with Kang Seok Lee, ModHop Jazz with Cat Manturuk, Contemporary movement & Improvisation with Alexander Dones, Breathing Attack with JaeDuck Kim Contemporary with Alexander Quetell, Contemporary with Jiyoung Hqang, and Contemporary Jazz with Tracy Halloran.
2017: Indian Classical Dance with Anuradga Murali, Contemporary with Autumn Eckman, Zibolo with Chris Babingui, Modern with RE|dance group, Contemporary with Nick Neagle, ModHop Jazz with Cat Manturuk, Ballet with Valerie Alpert, Gaga with Amy Morrow, Contemporary with Amy Cova, Double Skin/Double Mind with Kelly Hirina, and JIT with Mikemansontht
2016: Improvisation with Patty Solorzano, Breakdance with Keegan ‘Seoul’ Loye, African Fusion with Erika ‘Red’ Stowall, Contemporary with Alexander Dones, Contemporary with Bree McCormack, Lyrical with Jill Cassidy, Authentic Jazz with Paulette Brockington, Somatics Lab with Elizabeth Shea, Contemporary with Jessica Post, ModHop Jazz with Cat Manturuk, Musical dance with Adriel Ruben, Modern with White Wave, Contemporary with Joori Jung, Tap with Lisa Allai, Ballet with Kathy Cooke, Partnering with Darby Wilde, Contemporary with Tracy Halloran, Tap with Kelsey Rose, Ballet with Paul O. Campo, Contemporary with Kwang Min Kim, Partnering with Take Root, Physical Dance with Ferenc Feher, and Contemporary Jazz with Jodie Randolph
2015: Social Dance with Camille A. Brown, Jazz with Michael Lemanski, Limon with Barbara Sellinger, Jazz with Jill Zmijewski, Partnering with Take Root, Modern with Teatr Tanca Zawiowania, Pro Bono with Hardcore Detroit, Contemporary Modern with Jennifer Harge, Partnering and Performance Skills with Young Soon Kim Dance Company, Ballet with Sheena Annalise, Contemporary with Stephanie Pizzo, Improvisation with Patty Solorzano Seward, African Dance with Erika ‘Red’ Wall, Contemporary with Rodney A. Brown, Ballet with Sergey Rayevskiy, Contemporary with Tracy Pearson, Improvisation with ArtLab J Dance, Contemporary Jazz with Jodie Randolph, Ballet with Issac Jones, Modern with R.se Dance, Contemporary Jazz with Teresa Muller, ModHopJazz with Cat Manturuk, and Hip Hop with Heidi Williams
2014: Adesola Akinleye, Adriel Ruben, Alicia Cutaia, Amy Chavasse, Barbara Selinger, Biba Bell, Carolyn Dorfman, Christa Smutek, Crystal Frazier, Denise Caston, Devon Campbell, Jodie Randolph, Joori Jung, Louie Marin, Marcus White, Christina Kammuller, Penny Godboldo, Rachel Ahn Harbert, Sean Hoskins, Sheena Annalise, Take Root (Ali Woerner and Thayer Jonutz), Tracy Pearson, Yessa
2013: Contemporary with Joori Jung, Ballet with Meg Paul, Modern with Sidra Bell, Contemporary Jazz with Liz Schmidt, Improvisation with Amy Chavasse, Modern Technique with Barbara Selinger, Tap with Denise Caston, Jit with Haleem, Central African (Congolese style) with Karen Prall
Special events
Yoga & Mimosas (2023)
Enjoy a yoga class taught by Western Michigan University Assistant Professor, Jeremy Blair, with live music by Cameron Wilson, and mimosas!
The Importance of Dance/Art and Its Future (2023)
Please join our shared discussion on the importance of dance and art in our cities, its current state, and our hopes for its future. We are excited to welcome Nathan Trice as the Discussion Moderator and co-host for this event.
Brunch and Networking (2022)
Join us for brunch and networking with the other DDCF artists!
Friday Dance Battle (2020) https://youtu.be/WoqAvVC8PI8
A late night event that brings people together to celebrate dance through a nighttime dance party featuring electric performances by dance crews from Detroit and beyond. New to 2020, hosted dancers specializing in a variety of styles to compete in a dance battle. The audience was able to watch and vote for their favorite dancer.
Q&A with Prominent BIPOC Dance Artists (2020) https://youtu.be/onx5idropuI
New to 2020, festival participants were able to submit questions to ask three virtual guest artists. Guests included Steven Rooks (former principal dancer with Martha Graham), Lauren Anderson (former Houston Ballet ballerina) and Caleb Mitchell (former Houston Ballet danseur).
You can Dance, Dancing for Peace (2019) https://youtu.be/3vK0jy7zsS8
Bogyeol Choi, head of the BogyeolChum Center, engaged participants in a unique retreat-style dance experience inviting them to discover how, through the body’s movement, we can collectively seek expansion of consciousness and the peaceful recovery of human nature. Freestyle, improvisational celebration of movement.
Dance Photography Exhibit (2019)
Detroit photographer John Sobczak presents an exhibit showcasing Detroit’s diverse dance scene.
Detroit Revival Project (2018)
Bringing together local artists to collaborate in a shared performance space in order to build a strong arts community.
Movers and Shakers Lunch (2016, 2017)
A space for dance industry professionals and audience members to engage with each other on the subject of dance in Metro-Detroit. These interactive lunches feature artist talks and guest speakers.
Screen Dance International Collaborations
Screen Dance International (SDI) brings screen dance shorts and artists from around the globe to DDCF. Through showcases, a wide range of dance genres is highlighted including Urban Street Dance, Postmodern Dance, Contemporary, World Dance, Ballet, Dance Theatre, Jazz, Experimental dance, Animation, and Tap. https://www.screendanceinternational.com/
SDI offers workshops in developing dance films, most recently hosted by Peter Sparling
2016, 2017 (Dance Films), 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 (SDI Collaboration)
Family-Friendly Events
Dancing in the Park https://youtu.be/eqqmUH6vBuk
Audiences enjoy creative movement activities, games, and an outdoor performance series through showcasing the diverse work of local, national, and international talent
Family Dancing Yoga Welcome
Drum and Dance Troop that explores dances and Music of the African and Caribbean Diaspora
Traditional Korean Cultural and performing arts, especially Korean drumming called pungmul
Kids Dance Camp (2017, 2018) https://youtu.be/NXO1s4GLt4w
A program for children that emphasizes the belief that dance is for everyone. Participants take three days of classes and present in a cumulative showcase.
