Location

4701 Bath Street
Philadelphia, PA 19137-2235
United States

NextMove Dance

Organization/Business type
Other
Migrated automatically.

NextMove Dance brings the world’s most exciting and awe-inspiring dance to the greater Philadelphia area through an annual series of live performances, interactive outreach and arts education programming, and original productions.

Our mission is to inspire passion, joy and appreciation for dance and movement in all its forms in the Philadelphia region.

Founded in 1979 by Artistic Director Randy Swartz as the American Ballet Competition to support American dancers competing in international dance competitions, the organization legally changed its name in 2005 to Dance Affiliates to more appropriately reflect its mission and programming to promote, support and present dance since 1983. Its annual Dance Celebration series was renowned for 32 years. In October 2015, the organization opened the inaugural season of its new dance series called NextMove, Dance at the Prince, in Center City Philadelphia, offering more performances and outreach activities through extended engagements and residencies to reach more diverse audiences and give the series the potential to become a powerful player on the city’s cultural landscape with its location within the scope of the Avenue of the Arts. With its second season launch in the fall of 2016, the organization’s name officially changed to NextMove Dance (NMD).

NMD serves its mission through a commitment to artistic excellence in the presentation of diverse dance styles and choreography, cultures and nationalities; commission of original works from local and nationally-known choreographers; cultivation of broadly-based adult and youth audiences; enrichment of the school curriculum through high-quality performance, arts education, and outreach programs; collaborations with performing arts partners in the field; service to the local dance community; and active participation in the vibrant Philadelphia arts community.

NMD’s greatest strength is that it has endured and thrived for more than three decades as one of the nation’s few remaining exclusive presenters of dance and is regarded by those in the field as a catalyst and industry model for similar dance presenters. It has been recognized as a major cultural asset to the city and region when honored with “Best of Philly” awards and by a City of Philadelphia proclamation. There is no comparable dance programming throughout the region that provides such an excellent and consistent resource for community residents who find inspiration, enlightenment, healing and joy in the arts.

In his 47-year career, Randy Swartz is regarded as an expert and mentor in his field, having presented hundreds of dance companies and solo artists in more than 1,000 performances; served on a variety of boards, arts advisory panels and academic staffs; and traveled throughout the world to work with renowned dancers, choreographers and dance companies.