History of Connecticut Dance Alliance

In addition to building the statewide membership base for the organization, the Alliance board identified the holding of a statewide festival for all interested professional and non-professional groups as a major priority for the 2000-2001 year. In October 2000, with the help of a $10,000 Strategic Initiatives Grant from the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism, the Alliance held the first such gathering in Connecticut's dance history. Entitled 'Connecticut Dance Alive!', the festival was co-sponsored by Connecticut College and Garde Arts Center in New London. Over 35 dance companies, schools, and independent choreographers were showcased along with master classes and panel discussions open to members of the dance field and the general public. At the same event, vendors and presenters from around New England participated in a Dance Mart to publicize their programs and products relevant to the dance community. An opening dinner featured guest speakers John Ostrout, Executive Director of the Commission on Culture and Tourism and Samuel Miller, Executive Director of New England Foundation for the Arts. Lifetime achievement awards were presented to Ernestine Stodelle, Martha Myers, and Jennifer Tipton for their pioneering work in dance both in-state and nationally. Chris Arnott, Managing Editor of New Haven Advocate, had this to say about the event:

"Technically, this was a superior festival event. CDA proved a lot, from believing such a widespread event could happen to actually making it happen and having an audience there to prove it happened. All this networking and gawking among dance companies can only help further the diversity of themes and styles but, as we were shown over and over for hours, there's already enough variety and talent in current Connecticut dance to sustain days, weeks, months, years of more CDA festivals."

In subsequent annual dinners, distinguished achievement awards were presented to Mariam McGlone, June Kennedy, and Enid Lynn.

The success of the Festival and the organization's membership drive led to the holding of a second statewide festival in April 2003 at the Bushnell's Belding Theatre and the Theatre of the Performing Arts at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts. In addition to numerous master classes, workshops, and showcase performances, the Festival featured a commissioned work by eight choreographers, Geographical Preludes, set to original music by Connecticut composer, Neely Bruce.

At the closing performance in April 2003, Connecticut Dance Alliance awarded three additional lifetime achievement awards in service to Connecticut's dance community to Pilobolus, Betsy Mahaffey, and Lee Lund.

The 2005 award for distinguished service to the dance profession in Connecticut was awarded to Wesleyan University's Center for the Arts and Pamela Tatge, CFA Director. The 2006 awards were bestowed on Sharon Dante of Nutmeg Conservatory of the Arts and Judy Dworin of Judy Dworin Performance Ensemble. Honorees for 2007 were Susan Matheke of Educational Center for the Art and Kim Stroud of Greater Hartford Academy of the Performing Arts. A special achievement award was presented to Walter Schalk of Walter Schalk School of Dance in celebration of his school's 50th year of operation! This year's honorees are Cheryl Smith, Associate Director, Artists Collective, Hartford, and Noble Barker, Artistic Director, New Haven Ballet.

Subsequent to the establishment of the organization, a statewide publication entitled Dance Alive!, was created to inform all members of our community and the general public of important events and issues and serve as a clearinghouse for resources and job openings. An organizational website (www.ctdanceall.com) now routinely lists dance events and includes weblinks to relevant dance organizations, presenters, and service groups.