Welcome to the 20th anniversary of the National Choreographers Initiative! We are excited to be here sharing the joy and creative process of dance with you. Thank you for joining us and supporting the artists and their collaborations.
Over these 20 years, NCI has hosted 80 choreographers (34 women), 177 dancers from 58 different companies, and showcased new works – 35 of which have been produced by companies throughout the United States. We have raised $2.5m in support of the creative process.
When I first began the initiative, I wanted to create a laboratory that would foster the development of new works without the strict deadlines and expectations of a premiere.
This project is made possible through the vision and commitment of the NCI Advisory Committee. The partnership with Irvine Barclay Theatre has been central to the success of NCI, as they act as our fiscal agent and present the Discovery showing. We are also grateful to UC Irvine’s Claire Trevor School of the Arts - Dance Department, which provides the studio space for our rehearsals.
The NCI Discovery showing features new work from four innovative choreographers – Charles Askegard, Cherice Barton, DaYoung Jung, and Donna Salgado – created during a three-week intensive process with 16 professional dancers from12 different companies. I hope you will engage in the creative process and join our discussion at the conclusion of the showing.
I extend my sincerest thanks to all of the individual donors who contribute to this project! We could not do NCI without your continued support and involvement!
Thank you for joining us and for supporting dance!
NCI DISCOVERY '24
Molly Lynch: Artistic Director
Monique L’Heureux: Production Director/Lighting Designer
Hannah Andersen: Costume Coordinator
Brooke Lester: Assistant & Social Media
Dave Friedman: Photographer
Terry Gordon: Video & Live Streaming
PROGRAM
Fleeting
Choreographer
DaYoung Jung
Music
Davidson Jaconello: “Buoyancy”
Ezio Bosso: “Emily’s Room: Sweet and Bitter” & Six Breaths: "VI Breath, the Last Breath”
Dancers
Celeste Gaiera, Brooke Gilliam, Anwen Brown, Emily Speed
Joseph Hetzer, Robert Fulton, Hunter Solomon, Daniel Kubr
Aurora Movement Spells
Choreographer
Donna Salgado
Music
Oliver Davis
Dancers
Iori Araya, Colin Canavan, Amelia Grubb, Lizzie Kanning, Ahna Lipchik
Wyatt Pendleton, Sean Sessions, Nathan Young
Estrellitas y Rosas
Choreographer
Donna Salgado
Music
Juan Luis Guerra
Dancers
Iori Araya, Colin Canavan, Amelia Grubb, Lizzie Kanning, Ahna Lipchik
Wyatt Pendleton, Sean Sessions, Nathan Young
-Intermission-
SWIPE
Choreographer
Cherice Barton
Music
Guillaume Perret, Antonin Dvorak, Ben Frost, Robert Schumann
Poetry
John Elkin
Dancers
Celeste Gaiera Joseph Hetzer
Amelia Grubb Daniel Kubr
Lizzie Kanning Wyatt Pendleton
Ahna Lipchik Sean Sessions
Violin Sonata No. 1
Choreographer
Charles Askegard
Music
Germaine Tailleferre, “Sonata for Piano and Violin No.1”
Dancers
1st movement – Company
First duet – Brooke Gilliam, Robert Fulton
Second duet – Anwen Brown, Hunter Solomon
2nd movement – Emily Speed, Colin Canavan, Robert Fulton
3rd movement – Iori Araya, Nathan Young
4th movement – Company
Q & A with Molly Lynch, DaYoung Jung, Donna Salgado, Cherice Barton, Charles Askegard
Bobbi Cox
Sophie Cripe
Diane Diefenderfer
Gale Edelberg
Joanne Keith
Sally Anne Sheridan
Jenny Szabo
Lynn Weiser
National Choreographers Initiative 2024
Molly Lynch, Artistic Director
The National Choreographers Initiative would like to thank the following individuals for their support of the 2024 project:
Honorary Producer
Terry Causey
Bobbi Cox
Michelle Rohé
Choreographer Sponsor
Judi Gorski
Joanne and Dennis Keith
Mrs. William Roberts
Richard and Elizabeth Steele Endowment Fund
Dancer Sponsor
James Carter
Croul Family Foundation
Janet and Henry Eggers
Diana M. Navarre
Michael D. Ray
Andrew Rose
Artistic Sponsor
Alan Andrews and Molly Lynch
Laurie and Bart Brown
Hillary Caston
Sophie and Larry Cripe
Diane Diefenderfer and David Hanlon
Gale Edelberg and Bob Butnik
Mary and Andrew Franklin*
Douglas Freeman, Orange County Music and Dance
Janice Hobbs
Nancy and Ned Kriz
Marica Pendjer and John Miller
Sally Anne and Don Sheridan
Diane Silber
Jenny Szabo
Paula Tomei and David Emmes
Elizabeth Stahr
Lynn Weiser and Mike Tompkins
Patron Sponsor
Betsy Andrews and Alex Moad*
Dr. Michael Bear
Stacie Brandt
Ellen Breitman and Brien Amspoker
Beverly and David Carmichael
Gillian Finley and Robert Labaree
Chuck Johnston
Dr. Burton Karson
Rosalyn Laudati and James Pick
Kathryn Lynch and Robert McDonnell
Sharon McNalley*
Diana Putz
Kim Smith
Karen and Gary Thorne*
Dance Shoe Sponsor
Tom Alexander, DDS
Diane and Dennis Baker
Victoria Barrett
Bronny Daniels
Laurie Lewis
Rachelle Menaker
Michele and Emil Monda
Margi and John Murray
Dr. Janice Plastino
Dolly Platt
Ivar Roth
Katy and Jack Schoellerman
Joseph Sheridan
Ann and Richard Sim
Linda and Steve Weitz
Laurence and Sharyn Woodhouse
Dance Partner
William Bardens
Joy Dittberner
Frances Farrer*
Roberta L. Fox
Barbara Granger
Mrs. Denis Gray
Carol Hamilton
Bette Kain
Mike Kerr and Jenny Backhaus
Karen and Lorenzo Knapp
Don Laffoon and Grace Songolo
Kitty McNamee
Edward McPherson
Mitsuhiko and Reiko Nakano
Cyrus Parker-Jeannette
Robbie Prepas
Paula Reiter
Wendy Seyb
Robert Strang*
Barbara Tingley
Max Weismair
Mary Vensel White
*Donations in Memory of Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Andrews
Update as of 7/10/24
DONATE TODAY
Please consider making a donation to support the work of the National Choreographers Initiative. We need your contributions to support the dancers and choreographers involved in the project. Be an angel to the arts-dance! Thank you!
Send your donation to: NCI 3334 E. Coast Hwy #276, Corona del Mar CA 92625
2023 Choreographers
Kristopher Estes-Brown
Ye Li
Ian Schwaner
Carrie Ruth Trumbo
2022 Choreographers
Emily Adams
Leiland Charles
Jennifer Hart
Gina Patterson
2021 Choreographers
Sean Aaron Carmon
Mari Meade
Katarzyna Skarpetowska
Eva Stone
2019 Choreographers
Julia Feldman
Alan Hineline
Alex Ketley
Tom Mattingly
2018 Choreographers
Kevin Jenkins
David Justine
Ilya Kozadayev
Mariana Oliveira
2017 Choreographers
Suzanne Haag
Robert Mills
Penny Saunders
Christopher Stuart
2016 Choreographers
Tom Gold
Nicole Haskins
Stepanie Martinez
Ben Needham-Wood
2015 Choreographers
Nicolas Blanc
Norberto De La Cruz
Jimmy Orrante
Sarah Tallman
2014 Choreographers
Barry Kerollis
Gabrielle Lamb
Philip Neal
Garrett Smith
2013 Choreographers
David Fernandez
Susan McCullough
Kitty McNamee
Petr Zahradnicek
2012 Choreographers
Melissa Barak
Thang Dao
Darrell Grand Moultrie
Wendy Seyb
2011 Choreographers
Brian Enos
Heather Maloy
Peter Pucci
Paula Weber
2010 Choreographers
Anne Marie DeAngelo
Helen Heineman
Peter Quanz
2009 Choreographers
Sidra Bell
Deanna Carter
Rick McCullough
Olivier Wevers
2008 Choreographers
Amy Seiwert
Edmund Stripe
Emery LeCrone
Ma Cong
2007 Choreographers
Melissa Barak
Frank Chaves
Edwaard Liang
Jerry Opdenaker
2006 Choreographers
Ron De Jesus
Graham Lustig
Charles Moulton
Gina Patterson
2005 Choreographers
Val Caniparoli
Christopher d'Amboise
William Soleau
Luca Veggetti
2004 Choreographers
Ann Marie DeAngelo
Peter Pucci
James Sewell
Lynne Taylor-Corbett