New dance festival set for Rhode Island

Fusionworks Dance Company, a Rhode Island-based modern dance repertory company founded in 1987, will present a new festival this year called the Northeast Choreographers Festival (NECF.)

Sponsored by WaterFire Providence, Neighborhood Health Plan of RI, and Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, NECF 2016 will highlight the original works of five emerging artists. A select handful of modern dance choreographers, chosen from over 60 applicants nationwide, have been setting their work on Fusionworks dancers during several weeklong residencies this summer. Their work will be premiered in a public performance on Saturday, November 5 at 8 pm at the McVinney Auditorium in Providence.

Also included in the festival will be an educational concert on November 4 for over 650 students from schools throughout Rhode Island, as well as an exciting array of master classes open to the community, which will be held in the Providence area.

NECF is Fusionworks’ largest endeavor to date. In presenting this festival, the dance company aims to connect Rhode Island with what is happening right now in modern dance around the country; to further the arts in RI communities; to give emerging choreographers nationwide an opportunity to showcase their work; and to enhance the public’s understanding and appreciation of modern dance.

In January, Fusionworks released its Call to Artists and received an overwhelming response of 60+ choreography submissions from all over the country. Then in February, the company ran a very successful Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign to fund NECF. For more information, or to book tickets to the main performance, head to necf2016.eventbrite.com.