A new initiative focuses on collaboration to amplify the art of dance in Memphis.
Spearheaded by ARTSmemphis, Dance Memphis joins nine of the city’s art organizations to emphasize access to dance education, performances, and other opportunities. This project includes: Germantown Performing Arts Center (GPAC), Cannon Center for the Performing Arts, Orpheum Theatre Group, Collage Dance, New Ballet Ensemble & School, Ballet Memphis, Buckman Performing Arts Center at St. Mary’s School, and the University of Memphis Theatre and Dance Department.
“Through collaboration, shared strategy, and community engagement, these organizations aim to create a unified platform that celebrates, supports, and expands dance in Memphis,” ARTSmemphis organizers said.
As a partner to arts organizations in Memphis, ARTSmemphis has been able to see how dance is integrated into the city’s cultural fabric. While music has been highlighted as one of Memphis’ biggest contributions, arts enthusiasts believe that dance is a key element of Memphis’ distinctiveness.
“Dance is a growing and evolving discipline in Memphis,” Elizabeth Rouse, president and CEO of ARTSmemphis, said. “We’re fortunate to have a lot of different dance organizations and dance assets. Dance is one of several key pieces of Memphis culture.”
While some of the arts groups have offerings for all ages, many have a specific emphasis on youth development, with a presence in Memphis Shelby County Schools and afterschool programs. Rouse said this “youth-centered” piece is an important thread in Dance Memphis.
Tracy Lauritzen Wright, chief operating officer for ARTSmemphis, added that while these organizations put on great performances, they are also responsible for training the next generation of performers.
“We have absolute world-class dance companies here in Memphis,” Wright said. “Thats not an exaggeration. Anyone coming to Memphis interested in dance, you’ve come to the right place.”
Dance Memphis allows for different arts organizations to be elevated and to collaborate with each other. As a result, Dance Memphis features a centralized calendar for all of Memphis’ dance events.
Rouse said Dance Memphis is the result of data collection and conversations with the groups they financially support. She noted that after the pandemic, arts groups were rebuilding programs and inviting audiences back in, but noticed that dance audiences were “lagging behind.”
“That was one piece of it,” Rouse said. “Another was that there’s been a lot of growth in the field of dance in Memphis, especially in the last 10 years or so.”
The growth allowed ARTSmemphis the opportunity to bring numerous dance organizations together to promote cooperation while improving accessibility for residents in the city.
“The Memphis nonprofit arts sector is a very supportive, collaborative, group,” Wright added. “Organizations are always helping one another, supporting one another, sometimes sharing resources — often partnering in presenting programming. “
Wright said that cross-disciplinary support has been pre-existent, however there was also opportunity for greater teamwork – specifically in dance.
While the companies put on their own productions, they also bring in different entertainers to perform, which results in almost “weekly” opportunities for Memphians to engage in the arts from the city and around the world.
“We hope that Memphians will engage in the great dance offerings that our city has,” Wright said. “We hope they will tell their friends, and through some of our collective efforts, people outside of Memphis will be coming to Memphis to experience the great offerings we have on stage.”
