THE DANCE COLLECTIVE
The Dance Collective is a resident pre-professional dance company that is sponsored by the Eastern North Carolina Dance Foundation, Inc. Auditions are held each fall for students ages 9 and up. If selected, students will have the opportunity to participate in master classes, lecture-demonstrations, performances and community programs in eastern North Carolina.
This program provides a chance to aspire to greater levels of technical achievement as well as learn about careers in dance. Dancers who participate must maintain a high level of classical training and be able to attend Sunday classes and rehearsals. Dance Collective members participate in four annual professionally- produced productions. Two of these are for our fans in Pitt County and are featured in our annual Winter Wonder benefit for Toys-for-Tots. The company has also benefited the ECU Brody School of Medicine’s Kidney Disease and Transplant Programs and the Leo W. Jenkins Cancer Center. The company is a member of The Southeastern Regional Ballet Association (SERBA).
The two performances outside Pitt County are by invitation only and are festivals and competitions recognizing meritorious dance performance, outreach and education in eastern North Carolina and the southeast. The first is a ballet scholarship competition—The Youth America Grand Prix semi-finals—in Columbia, South Carolina, which grants summer and year-round scholarships and professional company contracts to ballet and modern companies in the US and Europe. The second is in Winston-Salem at the UNC School of the Arts where the company is featured each February in its Festival of North Carolina Dance.
Membership Benefits
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Socialization
Dancers make new friends who share a love of dance. Less experienced dancers are exposed to seasoned company members who serve as mentors.
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Community Service
Much of the funding for The Dance Collective is received through endowments, corporate sponserships and grants, and part of the company’s mission statement is to give back to the community that supports it.
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Free Master Classes with Acclaimed Guest Artists
Members receive the benefit of free master classes with guest artists as opposed to non-members who must pay for these classes.
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Performance Opportunities
Winter Wonder, Spring Splendor, University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) and America Grand Prix (YAGP)
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Auditions and Feedback
Auditions are held each year prior to the season and are judged by rehearsal directors who will be working with the company that season. Each dancer is given critical feedback about their audition in their acceptance package.
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Dance Festivals & Scholarship Competitions
University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) and America Grand Prix (YAGP)
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Free Weekly Company Class
Members receive a free weekly company class instructed by Dance Collective staff members and/or guest artists.
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Technical Improvement
Dancers receive more intensive instruction and guidance by learning to polish performance quality and stage presence. Dancers receive individualized attention from staff and guest artists.
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Back Stage Access To Professional Performances
Dancers and parents get to attend at least one professional dance performance per year. Dancers are allowed to meet the company members or observe a professional company class.
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Scholarship Opportunities
Each season, several company members receive summer scholarships granted by the ENCDF. Members also receive other scholoarship money to attend summer programs across the country.
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Summer Study/Networking
Summer camps broaden and refine dance training received throughout the school year and foster friendships with other serious young dancers from across the United States and abroad.
