Now Next Dance Bridge Program

Now Next Dance/Bridge offers recent college dance graduates a challenging and supportive transition from college to a complex field. The Bridge program combines a certification in the Now Next Dance/Youth and Now Next Body techniques,  creative real world experience in curriculum and arts administration, while developing the dancer's creative voice and physical practice. 

Overview

  • Six months: June to December or January to July (the program is closed in August)
  • Three days/week (2 days studio & 1 field trip)
  • Studio days include technique classes with our partner companies, Now Next Body class, teacher training workshops, student teaching, and experience hours
  • Field trips include site visits and mentoring sessions with young professionals working in dance or dance-adjacent fields in DC and informational interviews with arts managers/mid-career professionals

Creative Work

  • NND Trainees have the opportunity to perform and create as part of the Bridge Program. This builds their professional performance dossier and provides exposure in the DC dance scene.
  • For two weeks, NND Trainees will participate in a new works research session with a NND member artist, culminating in an informal showing
  • NND Trainees will participate in at least one NND summer workshop and the NND Leadership Institute
  • Trainees will co-produce an informal concert at Dance Loft on 14.

Experience hours

Trainees will build a set of hard skills through a series of program activities.  Unlike an internship where interns provide ad hoc and sometimes low-skilled support, Trainees will have the opportunity to develop and take full credit for these skills. Trainees will end the Bridge Program with a digital portfolio that may include the following: 

  •  Marketing
  • Social media
  • Development
  • Events production
  • Database management
  • Technical theater skills

Outcomes

At the end of the program students will have:

  • Opportunity to test for certification as a Now Next Dance/youth and Now Next Body instructor
  • Ability to develop and run NND youth satellite programs
  • Polished & practical Resume
  • Network of connections
  • Interview and presentation skills
  • Grant writing/writing skills
  • Social media portfolio

Field trip

Twice per month, Trainees and the Director will take a field trip to meet with dance and dance-adjacent professionals in the DC metro area. These field trips will include a site tour, informational group interview, and in some cases a work observation. In addition to the field trips, NND can facilitate job-shadow days for Trainees interested in a particular workplace.  Depending on the needs of each trainee class, these may include:

  • Dance advocacy organizations
  • Dance festivals
  • Dance companies 
  • Government entities 
  • Graphics/arts media/marketing firm
  • Arts education centers 
  • Dance outreach projects 
  • Presenters and education institutions 
  • Service organizations
  • Grantmaking bodies 
  • Funding resources 
  • Physical therapy offices
  • K12 school
  • Independent schools

Student teaching hours

  • Co-Teaching Now Next Dance: After the first month, Trainees will co-teach one after-school Now Next Dance class to youth living in the DL14 neighborhood.
  • Now Next Body: After completing the NNB coursework, students will teach Now Next Body to community members. This class will be taught in rotation and Trainees will take class when not teaching.
  • Teaching project: As a culminating project, NND Trainees will set up one NND workshop for a population of interest. Each Trainee will produce and teach this event, with support from the director and other trainees.

Cost

Full program: $3,500

Now Next Body certification only: $1,500

Application

Students who are interested should contact the Now Next Dance director to discuss the application and audition process:

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