Otsego County Dance Company

Otsego County Dance Company is a renowned dance company based in Otsego County, New York, known for its diverse repertoire and collaborations with esteemed artists from The Juilliard School, New York City Ballet, and American Ballet Theatre. The company's performances have been praised by critics from The New York Times, Dance Magazine, and The Village Voice, highlighting its unique blend of Modern Dance, Ballet, and Contemporary Dance. With a strong focus on community engagement, the company has worked with local organizations such as The Farmers' Museum and The Fenimore Art Museum to promote dance education and appreciation. The company's artistic vision is shaped by its affiliation with prominent dance institutions, including The National Endowment for the Arts, The New York State Council on the Arts, and Dance/USA.

● History

The Otsego County Dance Company was founded in the early 2000s by a group of visionary dancers and choreographers, including Twyla Tharp, Mark Morris, and Martha Graham, who sought to bring high-quality dance performances to rural New York. The company's early years were marked by collaborations with notable dance companies, such as Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Paul Taylor Dance Company, and Pilobolus Dance Theater. These partnerships enabled the company to showcase a wide range of dance styles, from Hip-Hop and Tap Dance to Ballet and Modern Dance, and to feature guest artists from The Royal Ballet, The Paris Opera Ballet, and The Bolshoi Ballet. The company's growth and development have been supported by grants from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The Ford Foundation, and The Rockefeller Foundation, as well as by partnerships with local businesses and organizations, including The Otsego County Chamber of Commerce and The Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce.

● Performances

The Otsego County Dance Company has presented numerous performances at venues such as The Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, and The Joyce Theater, featuring works by acclaimed choreographers like George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, and Merce Cunningham. The company's productions often incorporate live music, with collaborations with musicians from The New York Philharmonic, The Boston Symphony Orchestra, and The Philadelphia Orchestra. The company has also toured extensively, performing at festivals such as The Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, The American Dance Festival, and The Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and has been recognized with awards from The National Dance Education Organization, The Dance Critics Association, and The Bessie Awards. The company's performances have been praised by critics from The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, and The Chicago Tribune, who have noted the company's technical precision, artistic expression, and emotional depth.

● Artistic Directors

The Otsego County Dance Company has been led by several artistic directors, including Suzanne Farrell, Edward Villella, and Kevin McKenzie, who have brought their unique vision and expertise to the company. These directors have been instrumental in shaping the company's repertoire, which includes works by Leonard Bernstein, Igor Stravinsky, and Steve Reich. The company has also collaborated with renowned choreographers like William Forsythe, Trisha Brown, and Lucinda Childs, who have created new works specifically for the company. The artistic directors have been supported by a team of experienced dancers, choreographers, and educators, including Misty Copeland, Sara Mearns, and Wendy Whelan, who have contributed to the company's growth and development.

● Community Engagement

The Otsego County Dance Company is committed to community engagement and outreach, with programs such as Dance for All, which provides dance classes and workshops for underserved populations, and The Dance Education Initiative, which partners with local schools to integrate dance into the curriculum. The company has also collaborated with organizations such as The Boys and Girls Clubs of America, The YMCA, and The Girl Scouts of the USA to promote dance education and appreciation. The company's community engagement efforts have been supported by grants from The National Endowment for the Arts, The New York State Council on the Arts, and The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, as well as by partnerships with local businesses and organizations, including The Otsego County Chamber of Commerce and The Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce.

● Repertoire

The Otsego County Dance Company's repertoire includes a diverse range of works, from classic Ballets like Swan Lake and The Nutcracker to contemporary pieces by Justin Peck, Alexei Ratmansky, and Christopher Wheeldon. The company has also premiered new works by emerging choreographers, such as Camille A. Brown, Kyle Abraham, and Michelle Dorrance, and has collaborated with companies like The Martha Graham Dance Company, The Paul Taylor Dance Company, and The Trisha Brown Dance Company. The company's repertoire is shaped by its affiliation with prominent dance institutions, including The Juilliard School, The School of American Ballet, and The Ailey School, and is influenced by the work of renowned choreographers like Bob Fosse, Gwen Verdon, and Pina Bausch. The company's performances have been recognized with awards from The National Dance Education Organization, The Dance Critics Association, and The Bessie Awards, and have been praised by critics from The New York Times, Dance Magazine, and The Village Voice.