Opening night was a success, three more shows to go. Don’t miss this inspiring event!

Cosmo and Lev performing “Switch” at Dance New Amsterdam

Young Dance Collective is

“A rigorous, thought-provoking and beautifully inventive movement from these insightful New York City kids- they are our leaders in this new century. Do NOT miss it, you will leave with tears in your eyes and quite a few ‘aha’ moments lodged in your heart and brain.” —Elizabeth Streb

“There is a time when the imagination is so rich and fear is so far away. These teens create fearless beauty and it’s such a joy to watch.” —Larry Keigwin, Artistic Director, Keigwin+Company

Ten years ago, a group of eight year olds formed the Young Dance Collective. Every Sunday, they met to explore their emotions, dreams, hopes and struggles through dance. Collaboration, self expression, transformation, and friendship—YDC was built on these cornerstones, and the result has been unlike any other in dance. On Friday, April 20th through Sunday April 22nd, these seven teen choreographers and dancers present their farewell show—Sunday. Please help them celebrate a decade of dance and their final body of work.

Who we are

We are a socially conscious modern dance group of seven teen choreographers and dancers. Dance is our art form, and our mission is to express who we are, and where we are in our lives, through dance.

Our works are entirely collaborative. Together, we create something very powerful.  Our movement expresses our thoughts about communication (or the loss and absence of it); about love, and how love manifests itself in friends, relationships, and the world around us; about loss—individually, and as a society; peer pressure; death; loneliness; and self definition.

Our discussions — every Sunday for the past decade —transform into our art.  As we dance, we continually react to, and interact with the world around us—all while supporting one other, existing in the moment, sharing a common identity and purpose, and diving into the core of the struggles and pressures we face and the joys we share. Our shared experience and expression has been a catalyst for our growth as individuals.  We hope our programs provoke thought in our audiences, especially teenagers, as we explore our daily reality in a post 9/11 world.

We have grown from performing in one-room spaces—altering our movements so we don’t run into the audience!—to performing at the Citigroup Theater Joan Weill Center for Dance.  As an independent, nonprofit company, we work diligently to produce our work and no creative endeavor has ever been compromised.

Sunday—The Farewell Show!

We believe our final program will be a powerful forum for sharing our message with other teens—teens who may be inspired to deal with their own struggles in a more productive way as a result, and possibly to choose a path that allows for their own expression and healing. We will be drawing from the pieces we’ve performed in the last decade, including Breathe Me, Stay with Me, and Right Here, Right Now, through to our final body of work. We have planned a special outreach campaign for New York City public schools in order to celebrate our retrospective.

Please help us fulfill our dream!

In total we need to raise $6,000 for the performance and expenses. By funding this project on Kickstarter, you enable us to secure our performance space at the 3-Legged Dog, and fund our our rehearsals, sets and costumes, promotional materials (posters and postcards), and special invitations to New York City high schools. If we raise more that $6,000 the remainder of the money raised will go to the next generation of young dancers.

Each backer will receive a reward as listed on this page. Please make sure to include with your donation the performance date and time you request.

Performance Dates and Times

Friday, April 20, 2012 (8pm)
Saturday, April, 21, 2012 (8pm)
Sunday. April 22, 2012 (2pm and 6pm)
Three Legged Dog
80 Greenwich Street (corner of Rector Street)

Because the Young Dance Collective is a 501 (c) 3 non profit, your donation will be tax-deductible (minus the $25 ticket cost) unless you donate anonymously.

Other ways you can help

Please spread the word about our project. You can view rehearsals photos and keep up with our progress on our Facebook page. The more people know about the Young Dance Collective and our Retrospect “Sunday” the more effective our performance will be in using dance to educate teens.

The Young Dance Collective

Hannah Cullen
Sophia Orlow
Lev Ratnofsky
Isa Reisner
Cosmo Scharf
Kassandra Thatcher
Kalei Tooman

Kim Cullen Artistic Advisor

What people are saying about The Young Dance Collective

When you see their work, because they are not only professional dancers but also choreographers, you see their minds at work. They have a deep intention to communicate ideas through movement and their work is speaking to you. It will make you feel like the future is wide and large full of unexpected potential. —Noemie LaFrance

“I thought I would be mentoring these kids and they ended up mentoring me.” —Brian Brooks

“This group of young choreographers and dancers are remarkably advanced for their age, and they defy expectations.” — Misnomer

Seven kids, four schools – and one story that brings them together.

It’s 2001, and you are one of thousands of seven year-olds watching the Towers fall  – in fact, your school has been turned into a triage center.

New York City students are relocated to public schools all over the city – and soon you’re either a terrified transplant, or a startled host to a group of new faces. Practically overnight, your entire world is turned upside down.

But somehow, in the midst of all the chaos, you’re connected with a small group of kids with similar interests to your own — and those bonds deepen further when you turn to movement as way to cope with this frightening new world.

Death, fear, love, hate and loneliness all find a voice in your first body of work together as The Young Dance Collective: “Be There for Me.” Together, you begin an intimate journey that will span the next nine years  — nine years of collaboratively (unheard of in the dance community) choreographing your shared stories. Your art is part social commentary, part raw emotion… all expressed through passionate movement.

This is a powerful representation of what New York teens have to say, and what’s important to them. Sometimes it’s dark, sometimes it’s challenging – it’s always beautiful. All we ask is that you open your eyes and take in our truth. Watch. And Listen.

Showtimes
Saturday November 20th at 8pm
Sunday November 21st at 6pm

Location
Ailey Citigroup Theater
The Joan Weill Center for Dance
405 West 55th Street at 9th Ave
New York, NY 10019

Tickets
$25 Adults
$10 Students
$125 LPRS
Limited Premium Reserved Seating (includes $100 tax deductible donation and a special gift)

Buy Tickets Online Now!

or Call 866-811-4111

The Company
Hannah Cullen
Sophia Orlow
Lev Ratnofsky
Isa Reisner
Cosmo Scharf
Kassandra Thatcher
Kalei Tooman
Kim Cullen, Artistic Director

What people are saying about The Young Dance Collective

“A rigorous, thought-provoking and beautifully inventive movement from these insightful New York City kids- they are our leaders in this new century. Do NOT miss it, you will leave with tears in your eyes and quite a few ‘aha’ moments lodged in your heart and brain.” —Elizabeth Streb

“There is a time when the imagination is so rich and fear is so far away. These teens create fearless beauty and it’s such a joy to watch.” —Larry Keigwin

When you see their work, because they are not only professional dancers but also choreographers, you see their minds at work. They have a deep intention to communicate ideas through movement and their work is speaking to you. It will make you feel like the future is wide and large full of unexpected potential. —Noemie LaFrance

“I thought I would be mentoring these kids and they ended up mentoring me.” Brian Brooks

YoungDanceCollective from CuttingMoves on Vimeo.

Isa has started some choreography for a trio she plans to put in the upcoming show.  Take a look here!

Choreography for Isa’s Trio from Young Dance Collective on Vimeo.

View the Rehearsal Footage

www.PeridanceYouthEnsemble.Org

Map