Move

Move(nyc)'s flagship program, the young professionals program (ypp), is a tuition-free year-round mentorship, artistic training, and professional development program for dancers aged 13-18 residing in nyc. Ypp provides 50 young artists with over 500-hour yearly rigorous and sequential conservatory-based curriculum, individualized career guidance, and networking opportunities, enabling them to develop into versatile, socially conscious, and self-sufficient artists. In addition to providing artistic training, we are proud of our unique commitment to the professional development of each young artist through one-on-one mentorship, audition coaching, and career management seminars, as these tools are just as vital as the physical training necessary for a successful career in dance. Ypp operates from august to june annually, and is designed to work in tandem with and in addition to any technique-based training programs and/or performing arts high schools that our students may also attend. Move(nyc) offers two additional artistic development programs: pre-ypp and open access intensive, each of which offers the same rigorous instruction and individualized support as ypp, but with more flexibility in terms of time commitment and level of technical ability. Both programs have served as training grounds for dancers who later went on to join ypp, enabling us to identify and nurture talent at every stage of development. Pre-ypp is a tuition-free high school preparedness and mentorship program for nyc-based dancers in seventh and eighth grade, designed to prepare approximately 10 young dancers annually for a successful high school career. Pre-ypp operates from august to june annually, and mirrors the ypp curriculum. Open access intensive is an annual week-long winter workshop serving 40 talented youth ages 13 - 18 who reside in the tri-state area, including long island, nj, and ct. Designed to welcome young dancers who live both in and outside of new york city, the program takes place alongside the ypp winter intensive, culminating in a showcase for public audiences.piloted in the summer of 2023, sweat lab is a week-long residency that gives ypp alums who are emerging choreographers the opportunity to develop new work in a supportive and collaborative environment. Over the course of the residency, two choreographers each work with six paid professional dancers who are ypp alumni to develop an original piece. The choreographers also each receive a $2,000 stipend, dedicated mentorship and guidance from a professional choreographer, a fully produced showcase of their work at chelsea factory at the culmination of the residency, and networking opportunities with leaders in the field.our peer mentorship program and move the field internship program provide ypp alumni with opportunities to make industry connections and successfully begin their professional careers. The peer mentorship program is a paid year-round initiative that pairs 10-12 recent ypp alumni with current ypp participants, providing alumni with experience in advising young artists. Move the field internships offer ypp alumni hands-on learning opportunities with professional dance companies, including working as a rehearsal assistant, learning foundational production and administrative skills, and attending live performance viewings. In summer 2023, we launched a two-week tuition-free summer intensive based on the ypp model for students aged 13-18 in the dc metro/baltimore areas, in partnership with the dance institute of Washington. Thirty students took classes in ballet, contemporary, jazz, improv, and repertory, with the program culminating in three performances of a new work for over 200 audience members. This pilot program will inform our work in building a full-scale dc young professionals program.our programming provides the long-term, comprehensive support necessary to increase equity of access, positioning the next generation of dancers to succeed professionally and transform the field. We see building a more diverse dance sector as a foundational step to building a more just, equitable world.