Irvine Barclay Theatre

Event Guide

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A Note From Molly Lynch, Artistic Director

Program for July 26

Molly Lynch, Artistic Director

Choreographers

NCI 2026 Dance Ensemble

Design Team

NCI Advisory Committee

NCI Donors

Past NCI Choreographers

National Choreographers Initiative: NCI Discovery 2026 - The Last Dance!

Sat. Jul 25, 2026 at 8pm

A Note From Molly Lynch, Artistic Director

Welcome to the 22^nd anniversary of the National Choreographers Initiative! We are excited to be sharing the joy and creative process of dance with you. Thank you for joining us and supporting the artists and their collaborations.

We are celebrating all the choreographers and dancers that have participated in the past! Over the 22 years with NCI and 13 years of the Pacifica Choreographic Project/Ballet Pacifica, we have hosted 136 choreographers (53 women), 215 dancers from 61 different companies. We have showcased new works, many of which have been produced by companies throughout the United States and abroad. It has been wonderful to see the careers of the choreographers and dancers develop into roles as directors, choreographers and dancers with many companies.

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.

NCI’s Discovery showing features new work from four returning and innovative choreographers – Emily Adams (2022), Julia Feldman (2019), DaYoung Jung (2024) and Sarah Tallman (2015) – created during a three-week intensive process with 16 professional dancers from 10 different companies and freelance work. I hope you will engage in our creative process and share your thoughts with us at the reception following the performance in the IBT lobby/patio.

I extend my sincere thanks to all of the individual donors who contribute to this project! We could not do NCI without your support and involvement!

Thank you for joining us and for supporting dance!

Program for July 26

NCI DISCOVERY '26
22nd Anniversary

Molly Lynch: Artistic Director
Monique L’Heureux: Production Director/Lighting Designer
Kaity Kistler: Costume Coordinator
Brooke Lester-Lawsin: Assistant & Social Media
Skye Schmidt Varga: Photographer
Aaron Cota: Videographer

Choreographers

Emily Adams, Julia Feldman, DaYoung Jung, Sarah Tallman

Dancers

Iori Araya, Gabrielle Collins, Alyssa Eyster, Amelia Grubb Hillman, Lucia Lorenzo, Alyssa Manguiat, Darcy McLoughlin, Gabrielle Mengden

Nicolas Bierwagen, Julian Goodwin-Ferris, Logan Hillman, Rhys Hudson, Marco Lorenzo-Giguere, Trevor PinterParsons, Ian Rotheroe, Michael Stadtherr

PROGRAM

Moondog

Choreographer: Julia Feldman

Music by: Moondog, with additional works and interpretation by Ghost Train & Kronos Quartet, Stefan Lakatos, Dominique Ponty, and François Mardirossian

Tracks in order: Theme – All; Canon 2, Op. 67; Dragon Scale Pattern; Trees Against the Sky; Mother's Whistler, Chaconne in C Major; Barn Dance; Caribea; Lament I, "Bird's Lament"

Dancers: Iori Araya, Amelia Grubb Hillman, Gabrielle Mengden, Nicolas Bierwagen, Julian Goodwin-Ferris, Rhys Hudson, Marco Lorenzo-Giguere

Movement 1: All

Movement 2: Iori Araya

Movement 3: Nicolas Bierwagen & Gabrielle Mengden

Movement 4: Julian Goodwin-Ferris & Rhys Hudson with all

Movement 5: Amelia Grubb Hillman & Iori Araya

Movement 6: Marco Lorenzo-Giguere & Nicolas Bierwagen

Movement 7: Iori Araya, Rhys Hudson, Julian Goodwin-Ferris

Movement 8: All

Rehearsal Assistant: Gabrielle Collins

untitled

Choreographer: Emily Adams

Original music by: Katy Jarzebowski

Sound mix by: Pete Horner

Dancers

Michael Stadtherr
Trevor PinterParsons
Ian Rotheroe
Logan Hillman

Darcy McLoughlin
Alyssa Manguiat
Alyssa Eyster
Lucia Lorenzo

-INTERMISSION-

Tenacious

Choreographer: DaYoung Jung

Music by: Ezio Bosso: “Rain, in Your Black Eyes” & Christian Svarfvar: Recomposed by Johan Ullén: “Bach, Violin Concerto in G minor BWV 1056R: III. Presto”

Dancers: Iori Araya, Lucia Lorenzo, Darcy McLoughlin, Alyssa Manguiat, Logan Hillman, Rhys Hudson, Marco Lorenzo-Giguere, Michael Stadtherr

So Long, Mr. Selfish

Choreographer: Sarah Tallman

Music by: Jeff Toyne & Ricky Martin: “Baby Shiba,” “Palm Royale Main Title,” “You’re a Liar,” “Path to Personal Glory,” “Back to the Bank,” “Sweet Lovely Linda,” Keep the Lights ON,” “I’m Comin’ Home”

Dancers: Amelia Grubb, Gabrielle Mengden, Alyssa Eyster, Nicolas Bierwagen, Julian Goodwin-Ferris, Trevor PinterParsons, Ian Rotheroe

Rehearsal Assistant: Gabrielle Collins

Molly Lynch, Artistic Director

Choreographers

NCI 2026 Dance Ensemble