NEWS AND EVENTS
Educational Programs:
Marie-Christine Giordano Dance (MCGD) outreach dance program for the children of P.S. 24 in Sunset Park, Brooklyn has been running for three years now and is going strong. We are pleased to announce that we have expanded our program from 4 to 7 weekly classes. We presently mentor about 105 children every week. These endeavors clearly embody the educational part of our company’s mission. The children’s enthusiasm and joy are truly heartwarming and make all of our efforts worthwhile! It is important for Ms. Giordano that children of underserved neighborhoods and low-income families be given the chance to study dance with the best teachers.
MCGD is proud and eager to be involved in important community outreach activities such as these. If you are interested in a partnership with MCGD to develop similar programs, please contact us at:info@mcgiordanodance.org
Organizational Notes:
Board of Directors:
We are very happy to welcome DJ McDonald to our Board of Directors. Mr. McDonald works as a New York based critic / writer, dancer, choreographer and stage director. As playwright, director and choreographer, he has been the creator of three full-length music theater works. He has directed and /or choreographed more than a dozen book musicals, a half dozen straight plays, and two operas; served as co-producer, and choreographer for 15 original dinner theatre reviews, 4 seasons of professional cabaret, and 2 seasons of stand-up comedy. He headed his own professional modern dance and theater company for 15 years and was one of seven American choreographers chosen by the American Dance Festival to tour France, as part of the first Franco?American young choreographers exchange. In addition to performing with his own troupe, he has appeared with the dance companies of Andrew DeGroat, Jeannie Hutchins, Yoshiko Chuma, Pina Bausch, David Dorfman, and Mikhail Baryshnikov (White Oak), and currently with Anne Hammel and Dean Moss. He has taught dance to young people as a faculty member at the high school and college level, and created or collaborated in several innovative dance and theater projects in middle and elementary schools. Having contributed as a writer for the Village Voice and other publications, he now hosts and creates arts and culture commentary on blogs. He also serves as Volunteer & Staff Committee chair for Dance Parade, Inc., which will produce its 4th annual Parade and Festival in NYC on May 22.
Intern:
Amelia Munro: Amelia is currently completing her final year at NYU in the Tish School of the Arts Dance program :“I am very exited to work with Marie-Christine Giordano Dance not only because of the passion and artistic voice of the Director, but for the opportunity to learn tthe behind the scenes aspects of a non for profit organization. My hope is that this will enable the new dance generation to move forward not only artistically, but to also acquire the necessary tools to support the arts; be it development and advocacy of the companies we belong to. I believe it is an integral part to the success of the arts in the future.”
Any amount counts and will make a difference!
Thank you!
Calendar of Events
Saturday, October 24, 2009 at 4:00PM
Open Studio
MCGDC’s Studio
Saturday, December 12, 2009 at 5:30PM
Works in Progress @ DNA (Dance New Amsterdam), 280 Broadway, 2nd Floor (entrance on Chambers)
New York, NY 10007
Saturday, January 9, 2010 at 4:00PM
Open Studio
MCGDC’s Studio
Sunday, February 28, 2010 - approximate time of MCGD performance - 4:00PM
Quarterly Arts Soiree @ Webster Hall takes place the whole day.
The QAS mission is to exhibit, expose and promote talent in painting, music, film, fashion, theater, graphic design and performance, installation and video art while celebrating the rich cultural history of the Webster Hall venue and of New York City dynamic East Village.
Saturday, March 6 at 4:00PM
Open Studio - Get acquainted with MCGD technique and meet our new apprentices -
MCGDC’s Studio
Saturday, April 10 at 4:00PM
Open Rehearsal
MCGDC’s Studio
Saturday, May 22
At Thompkins Square in Lower Manhattan, between 3PM to 7PM. Shared program.
Dance Parade www.danceparade.org
Saturday, June 5 at 4:00PM
This event is part of National Dance Week-NYC: Open Rehearsal immediately followed by wine and chat
MCGDC’s Studio