Dear Friends, We are quite excited to share Ngoma Center for Dance’s 2013-2014 Annual Report with its community. Our 6th year of operation was a great year of organizational growth, community impact and expanded programming. Our organization received further operational development: better financial infrastructure, board development, gift-in-kind contributions. These new additions provided instrumental assistance that aided day-to-day operations and our ability to continue being a host institution for minority dance activity. In the greater DC community, residents gain further access to Ngoma Center for Dance (Ngoma) through special event performances, workshops, television interviews on public access television, the launch of Ngoma Reader Magazine; DC’s first minority dance magazine. Programs were expanded to accommodate the need of artists. Ngoma launched its artist resource program Next Steps; providing need-based subsidized housing, food and personal item assistance for program dancers. Additionally, our internship program launched with dedicated, ambitious, hard-working personnel helping to get our programs to the community. Dissonance Dance Theatre, our resident company, increased its number of productions mounting a nine-month season calendar. Secondly, our Trainee program launched with students eager to learning for our emerging institution. In addition, we started our after-school program in Montgomery County. Dawn our outreach program for Black male dancers in need, successfully served a new group of aspiring young artists looking for quality, professional training from responsible African-American instructors. From students, parents, company dancers to energetic patrons, Ngoma is touching the lives of many throughout the Washington, DC area; providing a listening ear to the changes effecting the minority arts community. Thank YOU, our supporters, for all you do for us throughout the year. Because of you, we continue to develop and help artists young and old. Humbly Yours,
Shawn Short Founding Director
Dissonance Dance Theatre’s Damon Foster in Assadata Dafora’s Ostrich Dance. Restaged by Shawn Short. (c) Paul Emerson Our Mission: Ngoma Center for Dance (Ngoma) is a 501(c)3 arts organization that provides minority youth, adults, and their enthusiasts, with a deeper understanding of dance as an art form and a discipline. Its mission is to produce and refine competitive level dance artists in a multicultural environment through its resident dance company Dissonance Dance Theatre, Africanistic influenced dance training, in house professional career coaching, and artists professional development.
Table of Content
Program Highlights Pg. 3 Dance Presentation Pg. 4 Company Impact Pg. 5 Artist Training and Assistance Pg. 6 Financials Pg. 7
Program Highlights:
Trainee Program
* Launched Trainee program with 10 students ages 15 - 21 years old. students residing in Washington, DC (Wards 1, 6, and 7), Baltimore and Prince George’s County, Maryland. Racial demographics: 80% Black, 10% White and 10% Hispanic; 90% Male, 10% Female. *Trainees received summer scholarships to attend Dance Theatre of Harlem Summer Intensive; placed in intermediate and advance levels. *Selected Trainees perfromed in across Washington, DC (Wards 1, 2, 3 and 5). *With our focus on an acceptable teacher to student ratio, 90% of trainee are currently enrolled college students. Fun & Learn After-School Program *Partnered with arts partner Adventure Theatre-MTC and afterschool actitvities Flex Academies to provide program in Montgomery County. *Conducted summer enrichment at Nationhouse, DC’s independent Afrikan-centered School in (Ward 7).
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Pictures (T to B): Trainees Mitchell Rubin, Darin Turner. Briana Watson, Daniel Artis, Juan Vargas-Amaya, Hasani Allen
Dance Presentation: Dissonance Dance Theatre:
Dominique, Ashley, Lara, Kelly and Kelsey before concert.
* 5 Dance Productions Annually * Nominated for 3 2013 D.C. Dance Awards: - Excellance in Choreography - Outstanding Group Performance - Outstanding Overall Production * Washington Post Express’ Best of 2013 Theater Nominee. * Performed for 2,000 local audience members. * Cultivated interstate-cultural collaborations through guest choreographer imports. * 18 Local dance artists employed *Only D.C. Contemporary Ballet company with office headquarters “East of the River”.
(l-r) Trainee Daniel Artis, Company members Kelly Trevlyn and Daniel Moore in Short’s Big Band Suite.
“DDT’s show was just amazing as always!!! Every single piece, dancer, and expression of emotion and feeling really moved me all the time not to mentin their superb technique.” Misako Iwamoto, DMV Dance Network Pg. 4
Community Impact: * Engaged 1,000 D.C. residents through community engagments in Wards 1, 2, 3, 5, 7. * Performed at various community events, DC goverernment wellness events, college scholarship fundaraisers, commercial holiday parties, church performances, and fundraisers.
Short helping Dawn dancer Adam Morris-Butler
* Provided initial dance training to 10 young Black male dancers through our Dawn program. * Decemeber 28th, 2013, Ngoma launched Ngoma Reader Magazine to showcase, celebrate and archive minority dance activity in the Washington, D.C. area. * Since inception, NR Magazine has featured over 20 artists, 40 dance entities and support businesses featured.
Dawn dancers in class Trainee Daniel Artis showing Dawn dancers his jumping skills
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Artist Training and Assistance Next Steps Program
Community Partners
* Provided room and board for 4 dancers annualy.
Us Helping Us Metropolitan Community Church SageDC THE DC Center MandateDC CulturalDC CapitalOne Bank Catholic University of America University of the District of Columbia
* Dancers participated in in-house training sessions in marketing, communication, design. * Dancer 50% of participants became members of Ngoma’s Internship program. *Participants hold an administrative position in the organization.
“If you’re a dancer looking for a life change or direction. Ngoma’s Next Step program is for you.” -Damon Foster, Next Steps Participant
Artistic Partners Alliance for New Music-Theatre Atlas Performing Arts Center DC Commision on Arts & Humanities Intersection Festival Adventure Theatre-MTC Joy Of Motion Dance Center New York Foundation for the Arts Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
Damon on the Cosey’s Lounge Show as Ngoma’s PR Coordinator
Damon Foster performing in Ostrich Dance The mission of Next Steps is to assist Ngoma dancers and administrators by refining their professional business skills in addition to providing basic living conditions during their time in the organization.
Alum of Next Step: Taurus Broadhurst’ 13 Roscoe Boyd ’12, Dancer/Admin Choreographer, Harris Nutrituion Group Founder/TB Dance Company Victor Lewis Jr ‘12, Dancer Philadanco Dance Company Kamali Hill ‘13, Dancer Freelance Choreographer/Artist
Moyston Henry ‘13, Dancer, Dissonance Dance Theatre Marketing Associate Intern MCC Graduate
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Financials
Expenses
Programs: $30,823.84 General Operations: $5,927.70 Outreach $2,000.00 Total Expenses $38,751.54
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Board of Directors Corey McDougle, Chair Tyler Lewis, Vice Chair Sean Nohelty Josie Hoover Shawn Short, President
Income Earned Income: Individual Income: Board Contributions: Total Income:
$19,879.65 $22,366.25 $ 1,043.41 $43,289.31
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