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The National Dance Project (NDP) Team is pleased to share the 2024 NDP Production Grant Advisor Cohort.
The NDP Production Grant is an annual grant opportunity that provides support for the creation/development and U.S. touring/sharing of 20 new dance projects. Each year, grantees are selected via a two-stage application process where a cohort of Advisors* assess and evaluate project submissions based on program criteria.
Comprised of 12 individuals representing various aspects of the dance ecology, the NDP Advisors collectively seek to select projects that represent the fullness of our field as exemplified through NEFA’s values, including how artists/companies/collectives choose to enhance or subvert dance forms and aesthetics, life experiences, career stages, geography, and more. They serve one-to-three-year terms and engage in rigorous dialogue through the grant panel review meetings and policy discussions that support the advancement of the program’s design, grantmaking processes, and field impact. We remain appreciative for the hard work and care they will exude as part of their decision-making and efforts to equitably steward this funding.
*Selection of NDP Advisors considers geography, gender, cultural and racial equity, and includes new and established leaders in the field.
In 2024, NDP welcomes five new Advisors:
- Ben Johnson (Ben John-son)
He/Him/His
Director, Department of Arts & Cultural Affairs – City of Minneapolis
Land of the Dakhóta Oyáte and Ojibwe People (Minneapolis, MN) - Megan Kiskaddon (Meg-an Kis-kad-din)
She/Her/Hers
Executive Director, On the Boards
Land of the Coast Salish Peoples, specifically the Duwamish Tribe (Dkhw Duw’Absh) (Seattle, WA) - Michael Reed (MY-kuhl r-EE-d)
He/Him/His
Senior Director of Programs and Organizational Initiatives, ASU Gammage
Land of the Akimel O’odham and Pee Posh Peoples (Tempe, AZ) - Māhealani Uchiyama (Mah-hay-yah-lah-knee Ooch-chee-yah-mah)
She/Her/Hers
Kumu Hula, Hālau Ka Ua Tuahine; Director, Mahea Uchiyama Center for International Dance
Member, The Recording Academy & Hawaiʻi Academy of Recording Arts;
Co-Artistic Director Emerita, San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival
Land of the Chichenyo People (Oakland, CA) & Land of the Kanaka Maoli People (Honolulu, O’ahu Hawaiʻi) - Daria Yudacufski (Dah-ree-uh You-duh-kuf-skee)
She/Her/Hers
Executive Director, USC Visions and Voices
Land of the Tongva and Chumash Peoples (Los Angeles, CA)
We are delighted for the continued service of seven returning NDP Advisors:
- Jerron Herman (Jerr-on Her-man)
He/Him/His
Dancer/Performer
Land of the Lenape People (New York, NY) - Marisa Hollingsworth (Ma-risa Hall-ings-worth)
She/Her/Hers
Executive and Artistic Director, Presenting Denver
Land of the Utes, Cheyennes, and Arapahoes Peoples (Denver, CO) - Germaine Ingram (Ger-may-ne In-gram)
She/Her/Hers
Dance/Vocal Improviser, Choreographer, Cultural Strategist, Writer
Land of Lenni-Lenape People (Philadelphia, PA) - Lori N. Jones (Lor-ri Jones)
She/Her/Hers
Director of Programming and Operations, Quick Center for the Arts
Land of the Paugussett People (Fairfield, CT) - Tariq Darrell O’Meally (Ta-reek O Meal-ee)
He/Him/His
Director, BlackLight Summit
Land of the Piscataway People (College Park, MD) - Heena Patel (He-na Pa-tell)
She/Her/Hers
Producer, Coach, Performing Artist; MELA Arts Connect / Heena Connects
Land of the Anikituwagi People (Asheville, NC) - Tamara "Fákémi" Williams (Tam-ah-ra Will-e-ams )
She/Her/Hers/Iya
Founder and Artistic Director, Moving Spirits Inc. & Associate Professor, UNC Charlotte
Land of the Catawba, Sugaree, Cherokee, Coharie and Lumbee Peoples (Charlotte, NC) & Tupi-Guarani People (Salvador, Bahia, Brazil)
Lastly, we extend a special thank you to our outgoing Advisors whose contributions have been invaluable to the advancement of our program:
- Michele Kumi Baer
She/Her/Hers and They/Them
Cultural New Deal and Kumi Cultural
Land of the Tongva People (Los Angeles, CA) - Kristen Brogdon
She/Her/Hers
Director, Artistic & Community Programs, University of Minnesota - Northrop
Land of the Wahpekute and Očhéthi Šakówiŋ Peoples (Minneapolis, MN) - Patrick Makuakāne
He/Him/His
Choreographer, Dancer, Director, Nā Lei Hulu I Ka Wēkiu
Land of the Ramaytush, Ohlone, and Muwekma Peoples (San Francisco, CA) - Ali Rosa-Salas
She/Her/Hers
Vice President of Visual and Performing Arts, Abrons Arts Center/Henry Street Settlement & Associate Curator, Jacob’s Pillow
Land of the Munsee Lenape People (New York, NY) & Land of the Mohican People (Becket, MA) - Judith Smith
She/Her/Hers
Founder, AXIS Dance Company
Land of the Ohlone, Muwekma, and Chochenyo Peoples (Oakland, CA)
Please Note: Native Land Acknowledgements have been provided by Advisors based on their location. Additional support has been provided by native-land.ca. The website strives to represent nations and Indigenous people on their own terms and recognizes that the map is a work-in-progress that relies on contributions from the community to fix any errors.