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February 8, 2005

Contact: Ann Norris
202-833-1717 x13
202-309-5850 cell
anorris@danceusa.org

DANCE/MetroDC FINDS DIRECTION

WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 8, 2005 – Dance/USA announced today that Johanna Seltzer has been selected to be the Project Director of Dance/MetroDC, a new local dance service organization. A program of Dance/USA, the national service organization for professional dance, Dance/MetroDC will focus specifically on the needs of those creating dance and dance audiences in the District, Maryland and Virginia. “I’m thrilled to be given this opportunity to work with the numerous talented artists in this area,” says Ms. Seltzer. “DC dance has a vibrant past, present and future. The community is ready for a unifying voice and to collaborate on a large scale. DC has the potential to become a mecca for dance, a place where artists come to develop their careers not unlike New York City or Los Angeles. I’m here to put the pieces together to make that a reality.”

Dance/MetroDC is receiving its initial support from the Meyer Foundation. Kathy Freshley, Senior Program Officer of the Meyer Foundation, has been leading the effort to create this organization for a long time. “The metropolitan DC region has an incredible array of talented choreographers and dance companies engaging in a broad range of dance from classical to ethnic to modern. In making this grant, Meyer’s goal is to strengthen the dance community, make it more visible to the public, and create a real buzz nationally and internationally about the quality of dance here. We want to put this region on the map as one of the significant dance hubs in this country,” said Ms. Freshley.

The initial foci of Dance/MetroDC will be to create an interactive web site for artists and audiences alike, provide professional development and educational seminars, manage aspects of the Metro DC Dance Awards, and play an organizing role in an anniversary festival in Spring ’06. “What excites me about this organization is that the possibilities are endless,” observed Ms. Seltzer. “There is so much potential, and the best part is that the dance community has been involved from the beginning. The collaborative nature of Dance/MetroDC was created during its’ infancy stage.”

Ms. Seltzer has been a major player in the explosion of dance over the past decade. As Managing Director of Joy of Motion Dance Center, the largest dance institution in the DC metro area, she provided dance opportunities for thousands of students, outlets for artistic work, and contributed significantly to the growth and interest of dance in this region. She currently serves as Chair of the Metro DC Dance Awards Selection Committee and member of the Steering Committee.

“Dance/USA is delighted to welcome Johanna Seltzer to its office as director of Dance/MetroDC.  We are ready to support her leadership and efforts to root this vitally important local dance service provider.  Dance artists, organizations and audiences in the Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC region will soon benefit from a coordinated, centralized structure that will strengthen and advocate for the many diverse dance voices that contribute to the cultural life in our nation’s capital.  Under our auspices, this entity can grow in view of the national dance community to become an important piece of the DC area’s cultural landscape and ecology,” remarked Dance/USA Executive Director, Andrea Snyder.

A native Washingtonian, Ms. Seltzer studied at an early age with Corinne Phelps Robertson and Carolyn Tate; at the University of Maryland with Alcine Wiltz, Bob Dunn, and Anne Warren, performing in the work of Ethel Butler, an original Graham Company member; in New York City at the Martha Graham and Paul Taylor schools; and in Seattle studying Alexander, Feldenkrais, Ballet and Limon Technique. Prior to her position at Joy of Motion Dance Center, Ms. Seltzer taught jazz, modern/contemporary, ballet and tap to all ages, and performed locally while holding down positions in arts administration at The Friends of the Kennedy Center, The IN Series at Mount Vernon College and Feet First Dance Studio. She holds a BA in Dance from the University of Maryland and a Certificate of Arts Management from The American University. Ms. Seltzer officially takes her position as Project Director of Dance/MetroDC February 22, 2005.

In support of its mission to advance the art form of dance, Dance/USA is grounded in the conviction that the concerns and aspirations of dance artists and institutions can be addressed effectively through active, cooperative endeavors with its membership, the broader dance field, and with other performing arts disciplines. Since its founding in 1982, Dance/USA has evolved to become the sole national service organization representing the great variety of organizations and dance genres that exist in the field.  Membership today includes over 400 ballet, modern, ethnic, jazz and tap companies, dance service and presenting organizations, artist managers, educational institutions, business affiliates and individuals, both nationwide and international.  Core programs and servicesconsist of Public Communications in the form of publications, and web, email and media communications; Advocacy on Capitol Hill in support of federal policies designed to strengthen arts organizations and individual artists, in the media to represent a unified voice for the field, and in the philanthropic community to articulate the field’s needs; Research andInformation Services in the form of statistical information on professional dance through data research and needs assessments; Professional Development workshops, training seminars and annual meetings; and Special Projects.