Ngoma Center for Dance 2023 Annual Report

Table of Contents

Letter To Our Community Pg 1

Community Pg 3 – Pg 13

IABD/Ngoma In Canada Pg 4

National Portrait Gallery Pg 5

DDT @ JOMDC Pg 5

Live Garra Theatre Musical Pg 5

IABD Receives Medal of Arts Pg 6 – Pg 7

DDT Company Auditions Pg 8 – Pg 9

SBC Artist Acquisition Pg 10

Dance & Architecture Pg 10

Ngoma’s 9 Years @ UMD Pg 11

Fused Community Collective Pg 11

The New School of Dance Pg 12

The Creative Space Pg 13

Production Pg 14 – Pg 29

DDT in Photoshoot Pg 15

DDT’s Season 16 Pg 16

Dancers – Pg 17

Expansion of Staff & Faculty Pg 18

World Ballet Day Pg 20

Up Jump The Boogie Pg 22 – Pg 23

Show BTS Pg 24 – Pg 25

Commissioned Music Pg 26

Podcasts Pg 27

Film: Company D Pg 28 – Pg 29

Education Pg 30 – Pg 37

Faculty Pg 31

Job Training Staff Pg 31

The Ngoma School Pg 32

Summer DanceLab Pg 33

Staff Transition Anthony Spivey Pg 34

Staff Transition Tisa Huff Pg 35

Prairie View A&M U Students in DC Pg 36

The Next Gen @ Ngoma School Pg 37

Organizational Growth Pg 38 – Pg 46

Artist Housing Assistance Pg 39

Increase in Artist Funding Pg 39

International Dancer @ DDT Pg 39

New Grant Received Pg 39

Dance Medicine Program Pg 40 – Pg 43

Space Planning @ Ngoma Pg 44 – Pg 45

DDT Ranks #137 in Ballet Industry Pg 46

Finance Pg 47 – Pg 49

From The Chairman of the Board

Ngoma Center for Dance achieved a momentous year of accomplishments. I want to thank our funders, The DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities, Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, donors, supporters, and fellow board members.

Ngoma provides the Greater Washington, DC area with a host of services, that are unique especially to dance artists, students, creative professionals, and now smaller minority dance organizations and entities. The question becomes, what does DC’s dance industry need? Shawn’s vision of developing artists and furthering diverse communities – through their dance expression and storytelling – provides the DC creative industry with an increase of cultural and economic value – adding to the offerings DC residents come to love from Washington, DC’s social and cultural scene.

Together we can achieve great things. Please continue to support and grow with us. I look forward to seeing you in the theatre, studio, or virtually enjoying our programming.

Yours in Community,

Dave Domzalski Chairman, Board of Directors

Dave Domzalski

Support & Growing Our Community

COVID-19 provided a new day and cultural landscape. The amount of professional dancers working in the Washington, DC area was diminished. Fewer access points for professional dance development and job opportunities. Moreover, many Black arts organizations are still facing operation and programmatic challenges as they continue to serve their communities.

2023 provided Ngoma Center for Dance (Ngoma) the opportunity to meet the abovementioned challenges head-on with determination and vision. Our focus was on community, production, education, and organizational growth.

First, Ngoma provided hours of pro bono consultation to newer and more established DC Black dance organizations. Next, Fused Community Collective became Ngoma’s newest community engagement partners. Like many nonprofits, public support is crucial. We were humbled, honored, and excited to be able to assist our fellow organizations in stabilizing their operations - one received their first grant from DC government their first grant ever. Additionally, Ngoma created new relations with the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, attended and adjudicated at the International Association of Blacks in Dance 33rd annual conference in Toronto, Canada providing youth scholarships and professional contracts to dancers. For a second year, Ngoma worked with Joy of Motion Dance Center as they provided Dissonance Dance Theatre rehearsal space operations.

This year, Ngoma celebrates with IABD members in DC as it receives the Medal of Arts from the White House. In light of a tragic situation, Ngoma Center for Dance hires dancers from closing Springfield Ballet Company in Illinois –increasing the number of professional dancers working in DC.

Second, Dissonance Dance Theatre (DDT) celebrates its 16th season. With a new cast of dancers, DDT performs in new spaces in Prince George’s County, Maryland – Publick Playhouse. DDT’s Resident Choreographer Kareem B. Goodwin becomes DDT’s first Horton Modern Company Faculty. Along with new sta hires, DDT welcomes its newest Ballet Master Luigie Barrera. World Ballet Day turns 10 years old, and DDT presents DC’s only WBD YouTube video presentation representation. LA award-winning composer Michael Mollo creates a new composition for The Bridge of Light

DDT company documentary, Company D, wins Best Documentary DC film award at DC International Cinema Festival. Check out our latest pod casts, “The Ballet Basement” and Dissecting The Dance World For Us” to catch up with all things Ngoma.

Thirdly, The Ngoma School program hosts annual education programs – including Summer DanceLab 2024. Serving more than 80 students in 2023. We hosted dance workshops for Prairie View A&M University dance students as part of their Washington, DC tour.

Lastly, Ngoma enjoyed organizational growth. Ngoma provided $11,000 in artist housing assistance, more than $80,000 in artist fees, and hired and petitioned its first cast of international dancers. Ngoma also becomes the first DC dance company to invoke a dance medicine program for company dancers – a rarity in Washington, DC. Moreover, Ngoma completes its first space planning project by working with Quinn Evans Architects and Theater Projects Consultants of New York City. Coupled with double excitement, Dissonance Dance Theatre makes Dance Data Project’s “Largest 150 US Ballet Classically Based Company” list! Recognition abounds. From a 2022 EOY budget of $435K to an increased 2023 EOY budget of $476K, Ngoma Center for Dance progresses forward toward a brighter future.

I encourage you to read on and explore what we accomplished together on the pages to follow.

Yours in Dance,

Shawn Short,

MFA, PGC in Business Founding Director

Shawn Short

Anthony Spivey and Jessica Potts in pose

Images (Clockwise) Black dance professionals adjudicating auditions (Kareem in green), Kareem’s social post, Host StudiosNational Ballet School of Canada

Ngoma in Canada

Ngoma Center for Dance – as a member of the International Association of Blacks in Dance –convened with community members at the 33rd annual conference.

The International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD) hosted its 33rd Annual International Conference and Festival of Blacks in Dance – GLOBALLY CONNECTED: WHAT DOES OUR TOMORROW HOLD? – in Toronto, Canada on January 25- 29, 2023, in partnership with Dance Immersion. Continuing its legacy as the broadest international gathering of Black Dance professionals, agents, artistic directors, artists, choreographers, company managers, executive directors, historians, presenters, scholars, teachers, and many others, the conference and festival remains the most diverse place to share ideas, cultures and experiences.

Ngoma Center for Dance provided more than 30 scholarships for youth dancers toward Summer DancerLab 2023, and 9 professional dancer contracts for dancers of color to participate in Dissonance Theatre’s 16th season. DDT’s Resident Choreographer Kareem Goodwin presided over auditions as Ngoma/DDT’s adjudicator.

National Portrait Gallery Dance Project 2024

On January 27th, 2023 Ngoma Center for Dance began conversations with National Portrait Gallery’s Special Projects and Programs Manager Kaia Black around a new performance opportunity for Dissonance Dance Theatre at the museum. More news in 2024.

DDT @ JOMDC

Dissonance Dance Theatre brings contemporary ballet to the studios of Joy of Motion Dance Center. With the schedule restructuring of DDT’s rehearsals from night to day time operations, DDT utilizes JOMDC’s studios and enjoys the urban landscape of the H Street corridor – while assisting a fellow organization rebuilding after the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On April 19th, 2023, Ngoma’s Founder Shawn Short was invited to participate as the choreographer for Live Garra Theatre’s The Window King (musical version). A Black theater company, Live Garra is a 501c3 organization in residence at the Silver Spring Black Box Theatre under the direction of Wanda Whiteside.

The stage play version received a Helen Hayes Awards recommendation, and we also received two notable press reviews.

Ngoma Center for Dance provided four hours of consultation services to revamp the project for its development into a musical prior to pre-production.

DDT Dancer Cora McMahan In pose

IABD Receives Medal of Arts from the White House

Since 1991 (but predates back to 1988), The International Association of Blacks In Dance came into existence to fulfill a need in the Black dance community. On March 21, 2023, Ngoma Center for Dance’s Founder Shawn Short, and Board Treasurer Anthony Spivey (along with other excited members) celebrate the accomplishment at The Oceanaire Seafood Room at 1201 F St NW.

Ngoma’s Founder Shawn Short with Duke Ellington HS Dance Faculty Sandra Fortune-Green

Executive Director Denise Saunders-Thompson speaks to members

Ngoma Team Representing (Former DDT dancer/Treasurer A. Spivey, S. Short)

Dance Place Founder Carla Perlo, and Shawn Short

IABD Members Assemble For Picture

Denise With President Joe Biden

Company Auditions Dissonance Dance Theatre

April 4th, 2023, May 23, 2023

Joy Of Motion Dance Center, H Street NE

Dissonance Dance Theatre holds its first DC auditions post Covid-19 pandemic. The local audition brought 30 local dancers from Baltimore to Richmond to the Joy of Motion Dance Center.

Season 16

Images: (Above) Founding Director Shawn Short coaches dancers in audition

Hopeful DDT auditionees moving across the floor

Many dance companies and entertainment entities forget that DC has aspiring dancers. Part of DDT’s mission is to develop artists. I’ve worked with Netflix, and Super Bowl Talent professionals when bringing projects to Washington, DC. Dancers need the opportunity and drive. Let’s bring them opportunities...the latter should be instinctive.

Dancers participating in dance combination

Dancers in a stretch exercise

Dancers in barre combination

Male dancer dancing for the Director

- Shawn Short, MFA, PGC in Business Founding Director/Principal Choreographer Dissonance Dance Theatre

Image: (Above) L to R DDT Dancer Daniel Artis, Former DDT Dancer/Rehearsal Assoc.

Phillip Fobbs, DDT Founding Director Shawn Short, Asuquo Eton of DC Media Company Asuquo Travels Productions

Ngoma Center for Dance’s Springfield Ballet Company Artist Acquisition

At the end of Dissonance Dance Theatre’s audition season, Ngoma Center for Dance was informed that Springfield Ballet Company (Springfield, IL) closed its doors due to financial distress. Ngoma’s Founding Director Shawn Short reached out to his dear friend SBC Artistic Director Adam Sage to see how he could assist. Ngoma Dance Center hired 60% of SBC’s dancers for DDT’s 16th season - increasing the number of professional dancers working in Washington, DC.

Adam Sage, Former Artistic Director Springfield Ballet Company

DDT’s Shawn Short Advises Architecture Thesis Students @ Marymount University

Through a great reference from Atlas Theatre’s Marketing Specialist Rachel Pearl, Marymount University’s Interior Architecture + Design program (Arlington, Virginia) directed by Sal Pirrone, required advisement for graduate students needing assistance with dance spaces. DDT’s Shawn Short, a former Graduate Advisor at Wilson College, aided students and staff alike in how dance adds value to space.

Ngoma Center for Dance Celebrates 9 years of Relations With UMD and PG Park & Rec

2023 marks Ngoma’s ninth year (THANK YOU) facilitating programming in PG Park’s Culture & Heritage Division, and University of Maryland College Park’s dance spaces. Dance spaces in the DC area are few and greatly expensive. With many arts organizations only able to afford $7 to $15 a square foot, most real estate properties start at $50 to $75 a square foot. By way of relationship building directed by Founding Director Shawn Short, Ngoma Center for Dance found solid grounding to conduct workshops, and educational programming for underserved communities.

Community Engagement Partnership With DC’s Fused Community Collective

Ngoma Center for Dance begins partnership with DC business Fused Community Collective. Fused Community Collective (FCC) is a Black-woman owned community/event DC business, dedicated to working with youth and its communities through social events. FCC has produced community events and youth engagement throughout the Georgia Ave NW corridor. Through this partnership, Ngoma Center for Dance plans to expand its DC impact and engagement to new audiences within the city.

The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center

Preinkert Hall, Dance Studio

Didi Green, Founder/Owner of FCC with assistant Jelani

The New School of Dance & Arts (Ballet Elite) at 5601 Connecticut Ave NW, has more than a 50 year old history in the Washington, DC dance sector. Ballet Elite is a non-profit entity of NSD&A founded in 2015. It is dedicated to the study of classical ballet, its related dance forms, and classical music appreciation. It’s Founder Lynn Welters is a former longtime Ballet Mistress of the founding dance of Duke Ellington High School of the Performing and Visual Arts.

Giving Back To Legacy

NSD&A Founder Lynn Welters contacted Ngoma Center for Dance Founder Shawn Short to aid NSD&A with capacity and programmatic assistance. NSD&A, with its long history in DC’s Black dance community, boasts a quaint annual budget of $30K. Ngoma Center for Dance provided more than 20 hours of consultation on grant basics, research, and financial readiness. NSD&A received their first grant from the city for $5K!

Additionally, Ngoma Center for Dance provided potential new hires to NSD&A to improve and increase their class offerings. DDT dancer Alicia Kenefic (They/Them), became NSD&A newest pointe and ballet instructor.

New School of Dance & Arts’s students in class

Madame Lynn Welters with students

Alicia Kenefic

Aiding The Next Generation

The Creative Space is a company dedicated to supporting professional and pre-professional artists by providing them with opportunities to cultivate their creative practices. A new DC dance entity, is the brain child of former DDT 2 dancer Founder Kamali Hill, MFA. Ngoma Center for Dance provided 30 hours of mentorship and consultation toward the new dance entity.

The workshops take place at Dance Place dance studios.

Kamali Hill with DDT

Kamali Hill

DDT Dancer Tirza Panunto in pose

DDT Director and House Photographer Shawn Short working with Marissa Escalante during company photoshoot

Images: Clockwise(Top to Bottom) Director Shawn Short coaching

DDT Dancer Daniel Artis & Apprentice Maya Richard, Luigie Barrera & Daniel Artis in flight, Emma - Lissette Haupt in rehearsal for Short’s For You.

With the subsiding of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022, Washington, DC’s arts scene began to start anew across the region. Starting in 2020, DC experienced an exodus of dance artists leaving for NYC and LA - leaving solely organizations with larger budgets decimating mid to smaller dance companies.

Eager to launch its first live performance season ( 2021 and 2022 were online-only season), Dissonance Dance Theatre (DDT) started national and local auditions to increase the amount of professional dancers working in Washington, DC.

Conducting auditions in Canada, DC, and globally (online), DDT reached more than 400 dance artists through its efforts - 12 dancers were selected.

Marissa Escalante in rehearsal for Short’s Time Equals No Man

Alicia Kenefic

Cora McMahan

Daniel Artis

Hannah Adamczack

Emily Lissette Haupt

Edagar Lacaba

Marissa Escalante

Tirza Panunto

Maya Richard Apprentice Apprentice

Mikayla Anderson

Luigie Barrera

Whitney Hester

Expansion of Staff & Faculty

Dissonance Dance Theatre is excited about its new level of artistic capacity - the hiring of additional artistic staff. To assist with the management of rehearsals and production needs, DDT internally develops artists eager to assist with Dissonance Dance Theatre’s theatrical needs in the studio and stage.

These artists teach company classes, and conditioning, and assist in the reconstruction and maintenance of DDT’s varying repertoire.

Images (Above) L to R: Junior Ballet Master/ Rehearsal Associate Luigie Barrera, Rehearsal Associate Hannah Adamczak, Rehearsal Associate Whitney Hester, Company Class Faculty (Horton, Modern)/Resident Choreographer Kareem Goodwin

Hannah watching combinations in class

WORLD BALLET DAY TURNS 10!

Happy 10 years World Ballet Day! – Nov 1, 2023 – Dissonance Dance Theatre (Washington, DC) presented a look into the life of DDT dancers as they prepare for their presentation “Up Jump The Boogie”. Footage included backstage experience with commentary from Founding Director Shawn Short discussing the company style, dancer type, and more. To date, Dissonance Dance Theatre is the only DC dance company that presents a video presentation for World Ballet Day.

Luigie Barrera leading company class

Up Jump The Boogie

October 21st (Sat) & 22nd (Sun), 2023 Times: 8pm and 4pm

Prince George’s Publick Playhouse

A mixed-bill evening of dance ranging from the timeless beauty of classical ballet to funky jazz, Up Jump The Boogie is a show you don’t want to miss. Featuring the music of classical composer Korngold’s violin concerto, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, and more, Up Jump The Boogie was a delight for children and adults alike.

After 12 years of relationship building, a local presenter fully presented Dissonance Dance Theatre. Thank you to Managing Director Omrao Brown, staff and patrons who made DDT’s first Post-COVID production a success.

Dancers in wardrobe

Dancers getting ready

Publick Playhouse

DDT’s Love is My Game cast in candid moment

DDT’s Whitney Hester in Short’s It Will Rain

DDT’s Shawn Short with patrons

DDT’s Shawn Short with patrons Dr. Dickson with Hannah Adamczack

DDT’s Daniel Artis being cool

Commissioned Musical Work

Award-winning LA composer Michael Mollo returns (first composed DDT’s Human in 2007) to Dissonance Dance Theatre for its upcoming work, The Bridge to Lightslated for 2024.

A musician who has worked on films such as Encanto, Kung Fu Panda and How To Train Your Dragon, Mollo’s 45 minute work will premiere in DDT’s upcoming season.

New Podcasts – DDT & The Ngoma School

Ngoma Center for Dance joins the podcast universe with new voices to inform, share, and enlighten patrons, students, and community members. Launched in late December 2023, Dissecting The Dance World for Us (The Ngoma School), and the Basement Ballet (Dissonance Dance Theatre) bring new conversation to Ngoma listeners. Check them out!

Company D

Documentary | 1h 30 min | 2023 | HD/4K

Interviews with Dissonance Dance Theatre dancers, artists, and supporters share their stories and happy sentiments of the man who changed their lives as Dissonance Dance Theatre prepares for their Diaspora production.

A small-but-mighty Washington, DC dance company, becomes the place for dancers to fulfill their dance careers, under the contemporary ballet vision of Black choreography/ visionary Shawn Short.

Starting Fall 2021, Ngoma Filmworks began pre-production work for a documentary that showcases the story of Dissonance Dance Theatre. Inspired by the success of the web series His Eyes Saw Dance, production sta believed it time to tell the story of the only Black-managed, nationally-recognized contemporary ballet company between NYC and ATL.

Sean Burns, Former DDT Apprentice

Caitlin Granville, Former DDT Soloist

DDT in Short’s The Sun Will Rise Again

Olivia Crosby, Former Corp de Ballet

Nicolette Jackson, Former DDT Soloist

Anthony Spivey, Former Corp de Ballet

In 2022, Ngoma FilmWorks invested more than $100K in expenses and in-kind services toward the production phase of the feature-length documentary. The project - once completed - will bring more awareness of Dissonance Dance Theatre within streaming platforms - expanding its reach.

Shawn Short, Founding Director

Bernice Hammond, DC Dance Elder Christine Motta, Soloist Daniel Artis, Corp de Ballet Emma Button, Soloist

Heather Carlson, Corp de Ballet

Kelsey E. Collie, DC Theater Elder

Kevin McEwen, Ward 7 ANC/D. Artist

Kenniston Brown, Apprentice

Jazmine Rutherford, SoloistJonathon Carrington, G. ManagerKeith Lee, Capital Ballet AD

Melissa Victor, AEA Performer

Moyston Henry Jr, Corp de BalletPhillip Fobbs, SoloistShawn Rawls, NYC Dance ArtistTony Sewer, Corp de Ballet

Education

Ngoma Student Lidia Da Cruz in Class

Faculty

Job Training

2023 Recap

2022 saw the return of Ngoma Center for Dance’s education program pillar, The Ngoma School.

In 2023, the school program observed an 80% in student retention, with students from Maryland (Montgomery and Prince George’s counties), and Washington, DC (Wards 7, 8, 5). Moreover, the program gained an increase in international and national staff, increasing its educational offerings for the communities we serve. The staff, hailing from Philadelphia and the Philippines, provided countless hours of instruction to students ranging from seven to 17 years old. Professional instruction included modern (Horton, Graham) classes, classical ballet, career guidance, mentorship, DC dance history, and dance medicine.

In The Community

The Ngoma School discovered an uptick in young adult students seeking professional training programs for dance performance, teaching, and arts management jobs. Rising to meet the demands of the community, The Ngoma School served the community in need with new internships, in-house job teacher training, and scholarships towards Ngoma’s Trainee program for young adults 18 - 24 year olds. Trainee students had the opportunity to participate in Dissonance Dance Theatre, and weekly scheduled dance classes.

Mikayla Revell, in her early 20’s, has dreams of being a dance professional. Ngoma Center for Dance provided her four teacher trainings, paid opportunities and dance classes. She is now Ngoma’s newest Creative Movement faculty, and has attended Complexion Ballet Winter Session to further her dance career.

Shawn Short, MFA - Director

Kareem Goodwin, BFA

Luigie Barerra

S. Short Teaching

K. Goodwin Teaching

L. Barerra Teaching

M. Revell Teaching

M. Revell Taking DDT Company Class

The Ngoma School

Image: (Right) Student Omokorede in stag pose in Horton modern class.

(Bottom L to R) Student in Creative Movement class, Students in candid picture, ballet student in Level 1

The Ngoma School served more than 80 students during its revival post-COVID-19. The program was introduced to new students eager to dance, after two years of in-house isolation. The DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) is seeing a different demand for dance. Many studentstoday - are seeking commercial dance success in the future, with a dance focus on social media notoriety and popularity. The Ngoma School staff spent a significant amount of the year educating the increased need for traditional dance training to solidify dance opportunity attainment for aspiring dancers.

Students were exposed to working professionals and viewed Dissonance Dance Theatre performances. The program housed and served students at the University of Maryland College Park dance facilities as part of their community engagement program. The program saw students from Maryland and Washington, DC. DC students received partial scholarships through Ngoma’s DC Dance Student financial assistance program.

The Ngoma School offers two school-year programs: The Academy & The Early Steps Programs. The Academy launched in Fall 2019 and encompasses levels I, II, III. Early Steps program is a flexible program for students needing flexibility with schedule and our activity schedules; classes only provide beginning hip-hop, jazz, and ballet. Our summer program, Summer DanceLab, runs in June Through early July, with our trainee program aligned with Dissonance Dance Theatre’s schedule.

We provide pre-professional dance training that informs and encourages the pursuit of post-secondary education, healthy living, mentorship, self-care, and life skill mastery.

The Ngoma School offers programs for students with different levels of ability. School year programs include the highest quality of instruction in ballet, modern, jazz, hip-hop technique, and other electives.

On June 19th, 2023 through July 15th, 2023, The Ngoma School presented its annual summer program - Summer DanceLab. The program was the culmination of six acceptance auditions (locally and internationally), three levels of instruction in classical ballet, modern (Horton), musical theatre and Afro-jazz, stretch/alignment, and choreographic study.

Dancers hailed from across the DC region and out-of-state. The program culminated with two 1-hour in-studio community performances for parents, family, friends, and community supporters. Students had the opportunity to witness professional performances by entering Dissonance Dance Theatre dancers, who performed to community audiences during the in-studio performances. The program impacted the lives of 71 students (ages 7 to 22 years old) in total through audition classes and four-week program - facilitated at The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center’s dance studios.

Summer DanceLab

Image: Clockwise (Top to Bottom) Students enjoying lunch, student in modern class, students rehearsing a joint lift, Director Short instructing tutu tacking class.

Director Shawn Short Assists Student

Summer DanceLab Workstudy Staff

An Exciting Transition: From Dancer, Manager, to Administrator

2023 provided a great transition for one of our beloved DDT family members - Anthony Spivey. Spivey, a Southerner from Mississippi, began his Dissonance Dance Theatre professional dance career in 2017. Since then Anthony has grown through many experiences - strongly excelling along the way. Anthony began his dance training at Mississippi’s School of Arts and moved to Montgomery, AL to study on scholarship at Alabama State University. After graduating with high honors, he received his BFA in dance from ASU. Within his matriculation, he had the privilege of training with artists and choreographers such as Roger C. Jeffrey, Thang Dao, Yin Yue, and Alonzo King of Lines Ballet. Spivey danced at Dissonance Dance Theatre for several years.

While at Dissonance Dance Theatre, Spivey developed skills in management, education, and administration. As an administration intern, Anthony worked along with Founder Shawn Short, on community projects ( such as Black Dance Festival DMV). Moreover, Spivey (for several years) provided programming support at the International Association of Blacks in Dance, proudly representing Ngoma Center for Dance/Dissonance Dance Theatre - adjudicating and speaking to more than 400 dancers and community stakeholders annually. Secondly, Anthony assisted Ngoma with its first capacity-building grant, Lift Off, from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities as a grant associate. Additionally, his dedication to Ngoma’s vision led Anthony to provide in-person, on-site, and remote support as Ngoma’s first School Manager. Spivey provided countless hours of support as a teacher coach, and a community representative engaging parents and alike. His love of people and communities inspired him to complete his MA in Teaching as a Mathematician.

We are so proud of Anthony as he leaves Ngoma’s administrative team and becomes an Assistant Principal with DC Prep. Spivey holds a position on Ngoma Center for Dance’s Board as treasurer.

Anthony Spivey, MA

Images: Clockwise (top to bottom) Anthony teaching, in pose, adjudicating at IABD, recording marketing content for school program

An Exciting Transition: From Dancer, Teacher, to Medical Professional

The few will lead and help the many. One woman saw the vision and always provided a guided hand. Tisa Huff was a member of Dissonance Dance Theatre from 2008-2013. A solid performer with beautiful stage sensibility, Tisa was a pillar in DDT’s ranks. She is the original female soloist in Short’s spiritual-inspired work Utopia Fallen in 2008. She performed Short’s solo in his legato-themed work Reflect Movement #1 recorded by PBS in 2012. A native Washingtonian, her pre-professional art-training started at Duke Ellington School of the Arts, a pre-professional arts training in Washington, D.C. Tisa trained under the direction of Charles Augins, Sandra Fortune-Green, Katherine Smith, Treanna Alexander, and Kikki Sutton. Mrs. Huff has worked with notable choreographers: Louis Johnson, Christopher Huggins, Kevin Malone, Bill Evans, and Garth Fagan. She received her BFA in Dance from New World School of the Arts.

After she left the lights of production and performance, Tisa saw Ngoma’s Founder Shawn Short’s vision and felt compelled to aid him. Tisa taught classes for The Ngoma School and Summer DanceLab for several years. Also, Huff provided backstage and Director assistance at the drop of a call.

We say goodbye to our compassionate comrade as Tisa completes her Master’s in Physical Therapy and begins her family with her husband Kevin Huff. Thank you, Mrs. Tisa.

Tisa Huff, MS

Images: Clockwise (top to bottom) Tisa teaching, in pose, representing Ngoma/DDT at Oprah’s 2016 OWN Summit, in rehearsal with Founding Director Shawn Short

Becoming A National Destination for Dance

On April 19th, 2023 dance students from the Historically-Black institution Prairie View A&M University, participating in dance classes with Ngoma School faculty as part of their Washington, DC tour itinerary. The classes were facilitated by Horton modern faculty Anthony Spivey.

PVAMU Dance Director reached out to Ngoma Founding Director Shawn Short, and wanted the students to connect to the organization to introduce them to a leading Black-managed organization.

Ngoma Center for Dance is excited into becoming a national destination for dance.

Ngoma is humble and appreciative as it becomes a dance ambassador for Washington, DC.

PVAMU Director Sherry Harper and Anthony Spivey with students

PVAMU students in class

PVAMU students in class

The Next Generation

The Ngoma School receives a new generation of young dancers from previous students of Founder Shawn Short. Emily Williams, a former student of Short during his tenure at the Catholic University of America, enrolls her daughter Lydia into Ngoma School’s year-long program.

Emily with Shawn Short and Lydia

Organizational Growth

Image: Dr. Dickson working with DDT’s Cora McMahan

Artist Housing Assistance Show Me The Money

To increase the number of professional dancers working in Washington, DC, Ngoma answered the call and provided dancers with housing assistance to transition them to the district.

Ngoma Center for Dance developed new relationships with Extended Stay Hotels Inc - providing housing for season 16 dancers for three months.

Additionally, dancers coming to into Washington, DC area received $11,000 total towards housing assistance, and travel expenses - serving 10 artists.

In 2023, Ngoma Center for Dance hired its first international dance artists. Dissonance Dance Theatre is excited to increase its global artistic talent capacity. This year brings dancers from the Philippines. Dance service organization, Dance USA, supported this milestone creating United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) support letters for these talented dancers. Initial consultation from Law Offices of Tina Sharma was also obtained.

Creativity is at the center Ngoma Center for Dance. From dancers, make-up artists, editors, content creators, and more Ngoma Center for Dance increased its capacity to work with local and national creative professionals within its programming.

In 2023, Ngoma Center for Dance increased its artist budget providing more than $80,000 directly to artists.

New Grant Received

Ngoma Center for Dance received second year of Lift Program. As a recipient of DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities’ s Lift Off program, Ngoma was able to:

1. In 2023, Dissonance Dance Theatre invested $12,000 in processing and filing fees and secured international company dancers.

2. In FY23 Dissonance Dance Theatre, through its parent Ngoma Center for Dance, became the first professional company to provide company-ready assessment to its dancers.

3. Lastly, Ngoma has increased staff capacity by adding eight new staff people to its operations.

Image: (R) Dancer quarters

Image: (right) 10-year veteran DDT Dancer Daniel Artis purchase a new car with additional money from season contract.

Image: Dr. Dickson working with DDT’s Hannah Adamczak

DDT Dance Medicine Program

In 2023, Dissonance Dance Theatre embarks on its first Dance Medicine program. Through the wonderful advisement of former Founding DDT Dancer, Dr. Danelle Dickson, PT, DPT, OCS, Dissonance Dance Theatre raises $5,000 towards physical therapy and dance medicine services. Through this Washington, DC based service, dancers have received assistance with injuries and preventative care ( including conditioning care – a rarity for dancers and DC dance companies.

DDT dancers have also worked with Orthopedist Dr. Micheal S. Antonis a team physician for the Washington Commanders and previously served as team physician for D.C. United and Loudoun United for five years.

Image: Dr. Dickson working with DDT’s Hannah Adamczak

Image: Dr. Dickson working with DDT Apprentice Maya Richard.

Image: Dr. Dickson and staff, with DDT

Image: Dr. Dickson with DDT’s Whitney Hester

and other major city dance companies.

Dr. Danelle Dickson, PT, DPT, is a licensed physical therapist, Performing Arts specialist, Orthopedic clinical specialist and owner at Performance Plus Physical Therapy. She is also the creator of Dansebridge Online, an online cross training program for dancers, host of the Dancing around Elephants Podcast, co-founder of a business mentorship for minority women: The Business Female Foundation and co-founder of the Dance Ready Project, an online hub for tools and resources for dancers.

Dr. Danelle’s forty-two years in the dance world fueled her passion to work with dancers’ injuries. She combined her passion for dance with her skills in orthopedics to work with thousands of dancers and other athletes, at the pre-professional level and professional levels. She has worked with local DC dance companies, DC dance schools and notable companies such as Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ailey II, Little Dancer Theater, and CHICAGO!

Dr. Danelle has used her 17 years experience in the field to help her patients, but also to give back. She has lectured at Howard University, University of Maryland , University of Delaware, Marymount University on dance medicine , injury assessment and treatment.

Images: Dr. Dickson and Ngoma’s Founding Director Shawn Short presented an Instagram Live presentation that spoke to followers about the need for dance medicine programs for DC

Image: Founding DDT Dancer Danelle Dickson in Short’s work “7” in 2007

Dr. Michael Antonis specializes in sports medicine and holds a Certificate of Added Qualifications as a Sports Medicine Specialist. Dr. Antonis is a registered diagnostic medical sonographer with a special interest in ultrasound point-of-care exams and ultrasound-guided procedures, including platelet-rich plasma and newer orthobiologic agents, to augment healing.

Image: DDT’s Luigie Barerra at Dr. Antonis

Space Planning @ Ngoma

The project was a learning experience for the organization. Not only did Ngoma Center for Dance learn many aspects of space planning, real estate brokerage firms, and the relationship with working with them. Ngoma worked with Compass and Lincoln Property Company brokers in acquiring a permanent home. Quinn Evans provided a completed full space study and estimate for Ngoma’s future capital campaign. The materials will be used for space pricing and space evaluation for Ngoma’s permanent DC home. During the process, Ngoma reviewed and negotiated two properties for possible lease (Fort Totten (1), Rhode Island Ave (1). Due to a conflicting agreement clause and a competing gym tenant, neither space was secured.

Phase 1: To date, Ngoma Center for Dance acquired a Compass commercial broker to aid Ngoma in potentially acquiring a space for its future headquarters. Under the advisement of Senior Architects at Quinn Evans firm, Ngoma was diligent in the building selective process. With the aid of Quinn Evans, Ngoma discovered its three-phase design structure. The first phase provided Ngoma a DC space for the organization to operate. The second phase will bring enhancement to the initial space, while the final phase provides the fully-dream design. Moreover, Ngoma Center for Dance obtained the expertise of Theatre Projects Consultants, an international firm assisting small and large arts spaces globally with offices in New York and London.

Phase 2: Quinn Evans provided a completed full space study and estimate for Ngoma’s future capital campaign. The materials will be used for space pricing and space evaluation for Ngoma’s future permanent home.

Dissonance Dance Theatre ranks #137! Thank YOU DDP!

The following is Dance Data Project®’s fourth annual and most comprehensive study to date of the largest U.S. ballet companies. For the 2022 Report, the DDP research team produced rankings by size not only for the Largest 50 and Next 50, but also an Additional 50, thus ranking a total of 150 U.S. ballet companies. The Largest 150 U.S. Ballet & Classically Based Companies & Financial Scope of the Industry Report gives information on the aggregate expenditures of all three groups, demonstrating the considerable economic contribution of the classical dance economy, as well as the significant disparity in size between the largest few companies and the rest.

Image: Above: Ngoma School Student

Ngoma Center for Dance wants to thank the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities, Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation, Publick Playhouse, students, parents, patrons, individual donors, and our Board of Directors.

Note: Ngoma Center for Dance, again, humbly received more than $100k in gift-in-kind services.

Founding Director/CEO

Shawn Short, MFA, PGC in Business

Technical Director

Chris Holland

Interns

Lauren Watkins

Destini Williams

Board of Trustees

Chairman

Dave Domzalski, BS

Vice ChairmanWW

Tyler Lewis, BA

President

Shawn Short, MFA, PGC in Business

Treasurer

Anthony Spivey, BS

Secretary

Jessica Potts, MA

Member

Dr. Benjamin A. Dukes, Ph.D, RDT, RYT

Member

Anthony Hyman, M.ed

Member

Tony Thomas, BS

Member

Quoc Tran, MBA