National Dance Project International Partnerships

International partnerships offer opportunities for communities and audiences in the U.S. to engage with artists from other countries, to explore commonalities and differences, and to learn about diverse cultural perspectives. NDP offers a mechanism through which U.S. presenters can identify and present outstanding dance artists from throughout the world, and U.S. audiences can broaden their understanding of diverse dance expressions. 

Past Partnerships

Australian Partnership
NEFA and the Australia Council for the Arts collaborated on a multi-year partnership between 2005-09 to support the production and touring of Australian dance to the U.S. The partnership was initially forged to help bring Australian dance companies and artists to the attention of communities throughout the United States and allow presenters and communities to access the work of these dance artists through residencies and performance. The partnership culminated in two production and four touring grants awarded to four Australian dance companies that toured to 18 venues throughout the U.S. The Australian dance companies that toured the U.S were Chunky Move, Sydney Dance Theater, Ros Warby and Clare Dyson Dance.

The Australia Council for the Arts awards Dance Down Under U.S. Ambassadors each year. Dance Down Under Ambassadors are U.S.-based dance and performing arts presenters who act as personal advocates for Australian dance companies and artists within the U.S. These Ambassadors can be helpful in answering questions on Australian dance artists and companies available for touring in the U.S View current DDU Ambassadors.

British Council Partnership
Formally launched in the Fall of 2000, this relationship was initially forged to help bring three renowned British dance companies to the United States. Wendy Houstoun, Akram Khan, and Random Dance Company visited New York City in October 2001 to perform as part of UKwithNY, a two-week festival celebrating British excellence and achievements in arts, education, science, technology, business, and tourism. The companies then went on to tour through seven additional communities across the U.S., including Columbus, OH; Pittsburgh, PA; Anchorage, AK; Portland, OR; Burlington, VT; Seattle, WA; and Chicago, IL.

Built on the success of that first venture, NDP and the British Council celebrated their continuing partnership by supporting the 2003-04 U.S. tour of Akram Khan Company and George Piper Dances (a.k.a. the Ballet Boyz) to bring new UK dance to American communities. This new project not only brought together two contemporary companies and a variety of dance styles, but also highlighted the artistry of several prominent and highly acclaimed choreographers including Matthew Bourne, William Forsythe, Akram Khan, Russell Maliphant, and Christopher Wheeldon. Other internationally recognized artists collaborating on the project were musicians Richard English, Philip Glass, and Nitin Sawhney, and sculptor Anish Kapoor.

The British Council works to refresh and update perceptions of the UK by promoting the best of contemporary UK creativity worldwide.

Dutch Partnership
From 2005-2008 NEFA worked with the Theater Instituut Nederland and the Consulate General of The Netherlands to support tours of Dutch dance companies throughout the U.S. The partnership was initially forged to help bring Dutch dance companies and artists to the attention of communities throughout the United States and allow presenters and communities to access the work of these dance artists through residencies and performance. During the partnership period six projects toured the U.S to 28 communities in the U.S and Canada The company’s that toured through this partnership were Emio Greco/PC, Andre Gingras, Anoukvandijk and Leine and Roebana.

U.S./Japan Cultural Trade Network (CTN)
The U.S./Japan Cultural Trade Network (CTN) was founded as an international project of Arts Midwest, headquartered in Minneapolis, MN in 2001 to provide leadership, vision, information and support to enhance cultural trade between the U.S. and Japan.  Under the leadership of its founding director, Kyoko Yoshida, CTN has designed and implemented a number of exemplary exchange projects with an array of committed partners and participants, developed long-term relationships and broadened the knowledge within the professional community about artistic resources and practices in both countries.

After its successful and productive operation of five years in the Midwest, CTN relocated to the Pacific-rim city of San Francisco in 2006 to become an independent nonprofit organization.