D an c e For C e nte r Ngoma
We Believe... 2014 Annual Report
Dear Friends, We are budding and quite excited to share Ngoma Center for Dance’s 2014 Annual Report with its community. Our seventh year of operation was a great year of organizational growth, community impact and expanded programming. During this fiscal year, Ngoma’s operations capacity increased through the addition of new board members, increased financial contributions, a wonderful intern staff and additional gift in-kind contributions. These new developments greatly benefited day-to-day operations and increased Ngoma’s ability to continue it’s role as a host institution for minority dance activity. Ngoma was able to reach deeper into the Washington, D.C. community through special event performances; workshops; television interviews on public access television; and, most notably, the launch of the Ngoma Reader, Washington, D.C.’s first minority dance magizine. In addition, Ngoma was able to expand its ability to provide programming designed to meet the needs of local artists. Ngoma continued its sucessful programs (Dissonance Dance Theatre, Apprentice, Trainee and Next Step), and nurtured our pilot programs (Dawn, and NR Magazaine). We successfully engaged communities through dance and our programs. Secondly, Dawn, our outreach program for aspiring Black male dancers, successfully served a new group of young artists looking for quality, professional training from accomplished, responsible African-American instructors. Dissonance Dance Theatre, our resident company, increased its number of productions, mounting a nine-month season calendar. Dissonance’s Trainee program continues to serve students eager to learn from our emerging institution.
Founder/Director Shawn Short coaching auditionee. (c) Jeremiah Jones
In addition, we started our after-school program in Prince George’s County, MD. From students and parents to company dancers and energetic patrons, Ngoma is touching the lives of many in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area and providing a powerful reflection of and concern for the changes affecting arts in the region’s minority communities. 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
Our Mission: Ngoma Center for Dance (N-Go-mah) is a 501(c)3 arts organization founded in 2012 to provide minority youth, adults, and their enthusiasts, with a deeper understanding of dance as an art form and a discipline. Its mission and goal is to produce and refine competitive level dance artists in a multicultural environment through its resident dance company Dissonance Dance Theatre (founded in 2007), Africanistic dance training, Ngoma Reader Magazine, in house professional career coaching, and artists development.
Table of Contents Program Highlights Pg. 3 Dance Presentation Pg. 4 Company Impact
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Artist Training and Assistance Pg. 6
Financials Pg. 7 Above Image: DDT dancers in rehearsal. Photo by Shawn Short
Program Highlights: Trainee Program * Ngoma’s trainee program served 10 students ages 15 - 21 years old. Students lived in Washington, D.C. (Wards 1, 6, and 7), Baltimore and Prince George’s County, Maryland.
* Racial demographics: 80% Black, 10% White and 10% Hispanic; 40% Male, 60% Female. * Trainees received summer scholarships to attend Dance Theatre of Harlem summer intensive and were placed in intermediate and advance levels. * Selected trainees performed in across Washington, D.C. (Wards 1, 2, 3 and 5). * 80% of trainees are currently enrolled college students. * First trainee accepted into international arts program! School Partnerships * Partnered with Northwestern High School to provide arts and after-school dance activity programming and discounted tickets to performances.
Above Image: Dancer auditioning for program. (c) Jeremiah Jones
“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 mention their superb technique.” Misako Iwamoto, DMV Dance Network Pg. 3
Left Image: DDT dancers in rehearsal. (c) Shawn Short
Dance Presentation: Dissonance Dance Theatre: * Five sold-out dance productions * Nominated for two 2014 D.C. Dance Awards: - Outstanding Group Performance - Outstanding Overall Production * Washington Post Express’ Best of 2014 Theater Nominee. * MD Theatre Guide for 2014 Best Dance Company Nominee * Performed for 5,000 local audience members. * Hired 5 stellar guest choreographers * 18 Local dance artists employed * Produced our first pointe-shoe ballet * Only D.C. Contemporary Ballet company with office headquarters “East of the River.” * Principal Choreographer/Founder Shawn Short received a 2014 Princess Grace Award Nominee in Choreography (New York City). *Eighty percent of dancers migrated to D.C. to join Dissonance Dance Theatre; addingto the creative economy and diversity of the region. Images from top to bottom: (top) DDT dancers in Short’s ballet Big Band Suite. (middle) Damon Foster and Dominique Atwood in Short’s work Baby It’s Okay. (bottom) Chanel Smith and William Wilson in Adam Sage’s Baroque Fantasy.
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Community Impact: * Engaged 1,000 D.C. residents through community engagments in Wards 1, 2, 3, 5, 7. * Performed at various community events, D.C. government wellness events, college scholarship fundraisers, commercial holiday parties, church performances, and fundraisers.
* Provided initial dance training to 10 young Black male dancers through our Dawn program. * Completed first publishing year of Ngoma Reader Magazine (NR). NR’s mission is to showcase, celebrate and archive dance activity in the Washington, D.C. area. * Since its launch, Ngoma Reader has featured more than 30 artists and 45 dance-affiliated entities and businesses.
Community Partners
Us Helping Us Metropolitan Community Church SageD.C. THE D.C. Center MandateD.C. CulturalD.C. CapitalOne Bank Catholic University of America University of the District of Columbia Howard Univertsity Alumni Office Dance Metro DC
Artistic Partners
Alliance for New Music-Theatre Atlas Performing Arts Center D.C. 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 Invokesound
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Artist Training and Assistance Next Steps Program * Provided room and board for four dancers annualy. * In-house training sessions provided dancers with fundamentals in marketing, communication, and design. * 50% of participants became members of Ngoma’s Internship program. *Participants hold an administrative position within 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
Damon Foster performing in Ostrich Dance
Alum of Next Steps: Roscoe Boyd ’12, Dancer/Admin Harris Nutrituion Group Victor Lewis Jr ‘12, Dancer Philadanco Dance Company Kamali Hill ‘13, Dancer Freelance Choreographer/Artist Taurus Broadhurst’ 13 Choreographer, Founder/TB Dance Company
Damon on the Cosey’s Lounge Show as Ngoma’s PR Coordinator
Moyston Henry ‘13, Dancer, Dissonance Dance Theatre,Marketing Associate Intern MCC Graduate 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.
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Financials 2013 Expenses
2014 Expenses
2013 Income
2014 Income
Programs: $30,823.84 General Operations: $5,927.70 Outreach $2,000.00 Total Expenses $38,751.54
Earned Revenue: Individual Contributions: Board Contributions: Total Income:
$19,880.00 $22,366.00 $ 1,043.00 $43,289.00
Programs: $38,822.00 General Operations: $8,864.00 Outreach $1,731.00 Total Expenses $49,417.00
Earned Revenue: Individual Contributions: Board Contributions: Total Income:
Board of Directors Corey McDougle, Chair Tyler Lewis, Vice Chair Josie Hoover, Secretary Shawn Short, Interim Treasurer/President
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$28,390.00 $22,751.00 $ 1,000.00 $52,141.00