In partnership with Dance Project, Inc., an interactive mural is coming to LeBauer Park in celebration of National Dance Day GSO and as a kickstart to Dance Project's 30th North Carolina Dance Festival. Muralist, Darlene J. McClinton and choreographer, Alexandra Joye Warren are collaborating on the mural's design, and four choreographers have been invited to interpret the mural through dance. You can read more about the project here, but if you're all caught up on the details, see below for more information on the artists involved in the process:
Darlene J. McClinton
Darlene J. McClinton is the C.E.O of The Artist Bloc, LLC Arts Venue “Where Creative Minds Meet; Grants Program Manager for ArtsGreensboro; an adjunct professor at North Carolina A&T State University and Lead Arts Integration Facilitator for Guilford County Schools; and professional muralist. Through public art, she develops collaborations and community engagement that fosters research and strategic partnerships between communities and students.
As a creative community leader, Darlene is continually providing creative spaces and platforms for all artists to create and gain revenue from what they love. She also serves on various boards and committees that support her community service oriented values. These include DGI Downtown Cornerstone Art Committee, Downtown Greenway Public Arts Committee, Board member of African American Atelier, and NC A&T Alumni & Friends Visual Art Organization. Darlene J. McClinton future goals include a successful career in public art as well as a lifelong commitment to education and entrepreneurship.
Alexandra Joye Warren
Alexandra Joye Warren is the Founding Artistic Director of JOYEMOVEMENT. Launched in 2014, JOYEMOVEMENT is a contemporary dance company that has performed regionally and toured nationally at many colleges, universities, festivals and conferences, including Opening Night of American Dance Festival in 2017 and at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello in collaboration with activist Bree Newsome.
A native of the Washington, D.C. Metro area, Alexandra received her BA from Spelman College and MFA from UNC Greensboro. She performed, choreographed and taught in New York, finding a company home with Christal Brown's INSPIRIT. Alexandra has been fortunate to study at Germaine Acogny’s Jant-Bi at L'Ecole Des Sables in Senegal, performed with Bill T. Jones in development of FELA! the Musical, Paloma and Patricia McGregor’s Angela’s Pulse, Maxine Montilus, Sydnie L. Mosley Dances, Van Dyke Dance Group, and Amy Love Beasley.
Alexandra has presented her choreography as scholarly research at the Collegium of African Diaspora Dance Conference at Duke University in 2020 and at the National Women's Studies Association Conference in San Francisco, CA in 2021. She is a recipient of the 2019 Arts Greensboro, Regional Arts Grant. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Performing Arts at Elon University.
Photo Credit: Carolyn de Berry
Dance Project, Inc.
Dance Project works to build a stronger community through dance. The school, based in the Greensboro Cultural Center, offers high-quality dance instruction for children, teens, and adults. Visit their website for information about current classes and community events. Each year, the NC Dance Festival, a program coordinated by Dance Project, brings professional modern and contemporary dance choreography from NC artists to audiences across the state. “The ongoing coronavirus pandemic means that our 2020 season will look different than we originally planned, but the importance of supporting North Carolina choreographers, connecting audiences and artists, educating students about dance, and nurturing relationships between artists across the state has not diminished,” said Festival Director Anne Morris. “This season is all about building on what has come before and showcasing the diverse, unique perspectives of artists who call NC home.”
Through a grant from the EcoLab, Dance Project has partnered with us to bring Alexandra Joye Warren as the collaborating choreographer on board for the project, as well as the four interpretive choreographers who will be filmed interacting with the mural's final design. This is the first of many NCDF events/projects this season, including a series of dance films by NC choreographers. For more information on the NC Dance Festival, click here.
Interpretive Choreographers:
Laura Gutierrez
Laura Gutierrez, a native Houstonian, is a performing artist and choreographer. She received a BFA in Contemporary Dance from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, where she was awarded a Kenan Fellowship at Lincoln Center Education. Gutierrez has performed at the Biennale de la Danse de Lyon, BAM Next Wave Festival, Jacob’s Pillow Dance, CounterCurrent Festival, Brisbane Festival and in museums such as The Menil Collection, Contemporary Arts Museum–Houston, the Fabric Workshop Museum, DiverseWorks and The Guggenheim -Works in Process. While her own choreography has been seen at Lincoln Center’s Clark Studio Theatre, CPR- Center for Performance Research,Triskelion Arts, Sicardi Gallery, Dixon Place, Judson Church, MATCH Houston, and CounterCurrent Festival. She has performed works by Jonah Bokaer, Joan Jonas, Tino Sehgal among others and in 2014 was named one of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch.” In addition to performance she was an adjunct faculty member at KinderHSPVA Dance Department from 2011-2019. Most recently, her work ‘Center Aisle Blues’ was part of Best of 2018 by Dance Magazine. She currently resides in North Carolina.
Photo Credit: BOE
Nicole Lawson
Nicole Lawson, Artistic Director of Nicole Lawson Dance Projects, is a dancer, choreographer, teacher, and activist working in the Triad. As a choreographer, her work investigates the pathways between injustice and hope. Prior to launching NLDP in January 2018, Nicole was selected as a part of the first class of Artists in Residence with Dance Project. Through this program, Nicole produced the company’s first show, “I am not a Monster.” in November 2018. In 2019, Nicole and collaborator, Dylan Reddish, teamed up to produce “Love Notes from the Skeleton in my Closet.” The show premiered in August 2019 through the GreenHill Opens program. Most recently, Nicole was selected as a member of the Tobacco Road Dance Productions 2020 concert. Through the residency, she is working the first phase of her latest project, (Un)Civilized Nation. Previously, Nicole’s work has been presented Stokes County Arts Council, Meredith College in Raleigh, NC, and Emergence in Durham, NC. Nicole is a graduate of Meredith College where she received Bachelor of Arts with majors in Dance Studies and Spanish. In addition to her work as a dance instructor with Ballet and Performing Arts Center in Winston-Salem, Nicole also collaborates with North Carolina public schools as a guest artist.
Photo Credit: Zoe Litaker
Dylan Reddish
Dylan Reddish started her dance training in Salisbury, MD. Before moving to Greensboro to pursue her undergraduate degree, she studied classical ballet, Irish step, and jazz. Dylan graduated from UNCG in 2015 with a BA in Sociology and a minor in Dance. Since graduation she joined the modern dance company JOYEMOVEMENT to blend her love of movement with social justice. She has also performed with independent dance artists in the North Carolina Dance Festival, Fringe Festival, Triad Showcase, 17 Days Festival, and many nontraditional spaces/showings. When not teaching in the triad, Dylan likes to run, cycle, or curl up to a good book with her cats.
Photo Credit: Shred Media
Gelly Long
Gelly Long is a Montagnard/Cambodian dancer born and raised from Greensboro, North Carolina. He is a recent graduate from the University of Greensboro North Carolina with a BFA in Media Studies. During his at UNCG, he performed local small events, made short dance films, and competed in all-styles events. He is from the very unique community called the Montagnards, which is exclusive to Greensboro, and helps with their efforts to solve disparities within the refugee/immigration community. Gelly is looking forward in his artistic future to find ways to express creative ideas and share them with his community.
Your Support Means a lot
Like all of our programs at Greensboro Downtown Parks, National Dance Day GSO is free to attend every year. We're proud to put this event on, showcasing the talented performing artists of our local community. Especially this year, when the corona virus pandemic has taken an incredible toll on non-profits like us, artists, and the entire creative sector, we're grateful to have this event as a shining example of what coming together looks like, even when we have to be apart. Support from individuals and sponsor organizations is critical to bolstering the work of the local arts and culture economy. You can lend your support by donating or becoming a Friend of the Park and help us continue to bring free programs to the public.
We especially want to thank generous sponsors for helping us to put this virtual event on this year:
