GEN Y- cultivating a new generation of dancers

Last Year Mocean Dance initiated the Gen Y Project as a means to unite local HRM dance schools and to provide an opportunity to work in a setting that bridges the gap between the student and professional dance world. Gen Y helps to form community connections and develop interpretive and working skills amongst the next generation of professional dancers.

This outreach initiative seeks to foster the artists of tomorrow in a forum that encourages exchange and expands horizons beyond the scope of a young dancer's familiar surroundings. Now with the 2nd installment well under way, Mocean Dance is bringing together HRM’s upcoming talent to create something special. 

I am thrilled to be working with this group of dancers, hand selected from our open audition held in November. This year the participating students are from Halifax Dance, Maritime Dance Academy, Leica Hardy School of Dance, and the Maritime Conservatory for the Performing Arts.

A sea of dancers from the November 2011 Gen Y Audition!

I had a tough job, selecting only 12 out of the 30 promising dancers who showed up.  Gen Y's final piece choreographed by myself, will be performed at In the Making, March 3-4 and as part of the YOung COmpany's home season May 11-12, 2012.

Learning a combo at the November Gen Y Audition.

I am pleased to share the development of the new piece through the power of digital digest and this time.... I have asked the young dancers to participate in the blogging as well.

Mocean's Gen Y Project is supported through the Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage Cultural Opportunities for Youth Program and the RBC Emerging Artist Program.