Welcome to the 18th annual National Choreographers Initiative! We are jumping for joy to be back this year and excited to be collaborating and creating new works. Thank you all for your continued support and involvement with NCI!
When I first dreamt of this 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 was 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. I extend my sincerest thanks to all of the individuals who contribute to this project!
NCI’s Discovery features new work from four innovative choreographers — Emily Adams, Leiland Charles, Jennifer Hart, and Gina Patterson — created during a three-week intensive process with 16 professional dancers from 12 different companies. I hope you will engage in the creative process and join our discussion at the conclusion of the showing.
Since 2004, NCI has hosted 68 choreographers (27 women), 145 dancers from 49 different companies, and showcased new works — 32 of which have been produced by companies throughout the United States. As the national scope of NCI continues to expand, I look forward to many more artistic achievements in the years to come!
Thank you for joining us and for supporting dance!
NCI DISCOVERY '22
artistic director
Molly Lynch
lighting design/stage manager
Monique L’Heureux
costume coordination
Kaylynn Sutton
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PROJECT I
choreography by
Jennifer Hart
The Green Age
music by
Luca D’Alberto
“Exile”
“Like We Were”
“Consequences”
“Grace”
dancers
Heather Nichols Christopher Kaiser
Ava Chatterson Rees Launer
Michelle Katcher, Taylor Lim, Anna Mains
Ricardo Dyer, Nicholas Sakai, Ken Shiozawa
*******************
PROJECT II
choreography by
Gina Patterson
and yet. and still.
music by
Ludovico Einaudi
dancers
Anwen Brown, Celeste Gaiera, Joseph Hetzer
Wyatt Pendleton, Sophie Williams, Ben Youngstone
INTERMISSION
*****************
PROJECT III
choreography by
Emily Adams
Mass Hysterical
music by
Original Score by Katy Jarzebowski
Score Mix by Pete Horner
Birds & Whistles by Eric Bertoni
dancers
Anna Mains Joseph Hetzer
Anwen Brown Ricardo Dyer
Celeste Gaiera Nicholas Sakai
Heather Nichols Ken Shiozawa
********************
PROJECT IV
choreography by
Leiland Charles
The Tides
music by
Adrián Berenguer
Immaterial
“Skin”
“Rain”
“Stream”
“Deer”
“Tree”
dancers
Ava Chatterson
Christopher Kaiser
Michelle Katcher
Rees Launer
Taylor Lim
Wyatt Pendleton
Sophie Williams
Ben Youngstone
Followed by a discussion with:
Molly Lynch
Emily Adams
Leiland Charles
Jennifer Hart
Gina Patterson
Bobbi Cox
Sophie Cripe
Diane Diefenderfer
Gale Edelberg
Joanne Keith
Sally Anne Sheridan
Jenny Szabo
Lynn Weiser
Special Thanks to:
Brooke Lester, assistant to the artistic director
Emma Andres & Emma Mertens, interns
Dave Friedman, photographer
Terry Gordon, videographer & live streaming
The National Choreographers Initiative would like to thank the following individuals for their support of the 2022 project:
Producer
Bobbi Cox
Mrs. William Roberts
Choreographer
Mrs. Alan V. Andrews
William J. Gillespie Foundation
Michelle Rohé
Richard and Elizabeth Steele Endowment Fund
Dancer
James Carter
Sophie and Larry Cripe
Janet and Henry Eggers
Joanne and Dennis Keith
Diane and Igal Silber
Designer
Alan Andrews and Molly Lynch
Diane Diefenderfer and David Hanlon
Gale Edelberg and Bob Butnik
Judi Gorski
Kathryn Lynch and Robert McDonnell
Marica Pendjer and John Miller
Andrew Rose
Sally Anne and Don Sheridan
Paula Tomei and David Emmes
Lynn Weiser and Mike Tompkins
Dance Contributor
Dr. Michael Bear
Laurie and Bart Brown
Beverly and David Carmichael
Dr. Burton Karson
Gillian Finley and Robert Labaree
Mary and Andrew Franklin
Chuck Johnston
Rosalyn Laudati and James Pick
Tom Nielsen
Charlene and John Pasko
Debbie and Geoffrey Sampson
Kim Smith
Elizabeth Stahr
Jenny Szabo
Karen and Gary Thorne
Partner
Betsy Andrews and Alex Moad
Diane and Dennis Baker
Stacie Brandt
Bronny Daniels
Joy Dittberner
Deborah and Cody Engle
Dana and Deanna Huff
Yvonne and Damien Jordan
Judi Lapin
Jack Lyons
John and Margi Murray
Carl Neisser
Dolly Platt
Edward and Diana Putz
Katy and Jack Schoellerman
Linda and Steve Weitz
Laurence and Sharyn Woodhouse
Friends
William Bardens
Jeannie Berryman
Frances Farrer
Roberta Fox
Rachel Gamby
Dr. and Mrs. Denis Gray
Bette Kain
Mike Kerr and Jenny Backhaus
Karen and Lorenzo Knapp
Don Laffoon and Grace Songolo
Mitsu and Reiko Nakano
Cyrus Parker-Jeannette
Dr. Janice Plastino
Ivar Roth
Ann and Richard Sim
Barbara Tingley
Max Weismair
Mary Vensel White
2021 Choreographers
Sean Aaron Carmon
Mari Meade
Katarzyna Skarpetowska
Tom Mattingly
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