HONOR THE PAST, IMAGINE THE FUTURE
Opening Comments From Douglas C. Sonntag, NEA & Andrea Snyder, Dance/USA
Honor the Past, Imagine the Future
As the end of the 20th century drew near and
with it the turning of the millennial clock,
much attention was given to the events and
accomplishments of the past. For the dance
field, much of the history of the last century
is an American story. Modern dance was born,
classical ballet was redefined, and world cul-tural
traditions were incorporated into the
country’s movement vocabulary, resulting in
the creation of a catalog of masterworks.
However, because dance lives only in perform-ance,
many of these dances—the core of
American dance history—are unfortunately
inaccessible to students, professional dancers
and audiences. It is particularly troubling that
as dance students sharpen their technical
performance skills, they have little direct
knowledge of the artistry and artistic works that
underpin the profession they seek to enter.
To celebrate the Millennium, the National
College Choreography Initiative (NCCI) was
conceived at the National Endowment for the
Arts as a way to showcase the accomplishments
of American choreographers. Following the
White House directive to “Honor the Past;
Imagine the Future,” the Initiative’s goals were
to provide dance students with access to their
artistic heritage, and to acquaint audiences
across the country with the treasury of
American concert dance. NCCI would also
acknowledge the tradition of American creativity
through the commissioning of new works by
leading choreographers that would involve
students in the artistic process.
Through the National College Choreography
Initiative and with Dance/USA as a vital partner,
the National Endowment for the Arts has been
able to highlight the broad range of American
dance artistry, deepen the understanding of
their artistic forbearers for a generation of
students, and enhance creative opportunities
for today’s choreographers.
Douglas C. Sonntag, Director, Dance
National Endowment for the Arts
From the Executive Director
Dance/USA is pleased to highlight the National College Choreography
Initiative and offer a sampling of its impact. This publication illustrates
some of the ways in which the program was transformative for
participating artists, students, administrators, and dance audiences.
Choreography has traditionally been transmitted from one generation
to another through personal interaction, as works are passed down
from choreographer to dancer, teacher to student, master to apprentice;
among all arts disciplines, dance is the least codified, documented and
preserved. In dance, there is rarely a “score” from which to perform. Thus,
for dancers, there is nothing more valuable than learning choreography
directly from its artistic source and no substitute for the personal
influence of those artists who created or previously performed the work.
(Through projects such as the National Initiative to Preserve America’s
Dance (NIPAD) major efforts were made to strengthen dance artists’
and organizations’ capacity to document and preserve dances and
protect this irreplaceable cultural heritage.)
Colleges, universities and conservatories have played a vital role in
the transmission of dance traditions, particularly in the second half of
the 20th century. Nevertheless, a renaissance of activity in university
dance departments in the late 60s to late 70s was followed by a noticeable
decline, which in turn limited the next dance generation’s opportunities
to experience the work of its predecessors. More recent years have
witnessed a renewed appreciation for the symbiosis between academe
and the professional dance world; choreographers are working in closer
conjunction with colleges—for the benefit not only of students and
teachers, but also that of artists themselves and of audiences.
With its commitment to serving all areas of the professional dance
field, Dance/USA realizes that direct contact with artistic leadership is the
key to inspiring the next generation of dancers and artists. College and
university dance departments can again become primary sites for the
field’s development. Dance/USA is playing an active role in reestablishing
closer connections between artists and campuses. Sparked by NCCI,
Dance/USA has begun to create a forum for active dialogue between
colleges and choreographers. We applaud the universities’ leadership,
the artists’ vision, and the young dancers’ commitment to our field.
Andrea Snyder, Executive Director, Dance/USA
Back to the NCCI Publication Table of Contents.
Back to information about the NCCI program.
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