The wait for Dance Place’s highly anticipated 2024-2025 season is almost over! This upcoming season promises a captivating exploration of dance, featuring established artists who have influenced our organization alongside the next generation of local favorites.
A cornerstone of next season is the return of our Co-Presentation Series. We are firmly committed to providing a platform for both emerging and established DMV-based artists. This program not only allows them to reach new audiences but also grants them a prominent role within the season itself.
To curate a diverse and stimulating lineup, Dance Place assembled a distinguished Curatorial Advisory Committee. The committee collaborated closely with Dance Place’s presentation team to thoughtfully evaluate nearly 40 applicant proposals. We are deeply grateful to Jane Hirshberg, Sarah Beth Oppenheim, and Tariq Darrell O’Meally for their invaluable contributions, insights, and thoughtful approach to curating this series.
A Season Shaped by Visionary Leaders
Jane Hirshberg
A pillar at The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, Hirshberg serves as Program Director, Development & Community Engagement. Her leadership in program design fosters impactful initiatives that bridge the gap between the university and the surrounding community. Notably, her vision led to the creation of NextLOOK, a program that empowers local artists through professional development, funding, and studio access, allowing them to create works that explore social justice themes and audience engagement.
Sarah Beth Oppenheim
Self-described as a Teaching Artist Mom, Oppenheim is a creative force in the DMV who masterfully blends choreographic research, subversive practices, and arts & crafts between stage, studio, classroom, and nursery. Her captivating work extends across various platforms: teaching at Dance Place, serving as an adjunct professor at esteemed universities, and serving as the Artistic Director of Heart Stück Bernie (HSB), where she makes site-specific and proscenium works in museums, theaters, stairwells, back rooms, storage facilities, and other curious spaces.
Tariq Darrell O’Meally
The creator and lead curator behind the BlackLight Summit, O’Meally is a visionary curator with a wealth of experience. He has programmed dance, theater, and artist residency programs at The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center and played a pivotal role in directing major dance festivals. His recognition as a Kennedy Center awardee, National Dance Project Advisor, Ruby’s Artists Grantee, and Dance Place Artist-In-Residence further solidifies his place as a luminary within the local dance community.
The upcoming season promises an unparalleled experience of local excellence. We are thrilled to share that all co-presentation artists will now be granted a two-night run in the Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Theater at Dance Place, allowing them to showcase their work to a wider audience and deepen their connection with the local dance community. Stay tuned for the complete season announcement in August!