The Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning (JCAL) will host the Making Moves Dance Festival (MMDF), an annual landmark event promoting new, emerging and underrepresented choreographers, dancers and dance companies from Queens and New York City.
The free two-day festival will take place on the outdoor stage of the Jamaica Performing Arts Center, located at 153-10 Jamaica Ave., on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 23 and 24, at 7 p.m. both days.
This year’s theme is “Carpe Diem,” which means seize the day.
“One thing the recent past has taught us is that time is precious — and time to create perhaps most of all,” said Courtney Ffrench, JCAL artistic director. “So as we considered themes for this year’s festival, the phrase ‘carpe diem’ — seize the day — came to mind. Because there’s something compelling, even urgent, in the work of these choreographers and dancers, you could sense it from their applications alone. Their work teaches why one must seize the day — why one should never let a day pass without some gesture, some act of thoughtful creativity.”
Now in its 13th year, MMDF is a testament to the rich diversity of Queens and New York City as it offers traditional and contemporary styles of dance, from Indian classical to tap and ballet. Along with the outdoor presentation of the festival, audiences can check out each company’s process as all rehearsals will be held on JCAL’s outdoor stage, which is visible from Jamaica Avenue.
After an open call process, JCAL’s professional jurors selected nine NYC-based dance companies for this year’s MMDF. Commissioned artists will receive $3,000 to create a new, 30- to 45-minute work; emerging artists will receive $1,250 to present a 15- to a 25-minute work; and early-career artists will receive a $750 stipend to present a 15- to a 25-minute work.
“We feel pride, warmth, even a bit of awe toward this year’s MMDF artists,” said Leonard Jacobs, JCAL executive director. “In part because they’re an intrinsically diverse group that attests to our community’s strength, but also in part because, as individuals and collectively, they leverage the power of their creativity in all they do — a crucial skill set in bracing times. These artists understand that the act of creation, no matter the subject or theme, is about the gift of freedom of expression.”
On Friday, Sept. 23, JCAL will also present works created through Redtail Artist Residencies, a partnership with JCAL supported by the Mertz Gilmore Foundation. Redtail provides choreographers and composers three months of free rehearsal space at JCAL each year, along with public performance opportunities.
This year, Hannah Garner will present “Slumber (Duet 2021),” which she has written, directed and will perform. The work is being presented in collaboration with Courtney Barth.
JCAL’s Making Moves Dance Festival is supported by Mertz Gilmore Foundation, Harkness Foundation for Dance, Howard Gilman Foundation, Con Edison and Resorts World New York City. It was made possible through public support from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, the Office of Mayor Eric Adams, New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Councilwomen Nantasha Williams and Selvena Brooks-Powers.
