The National Center for Choreography–Akron (NCCAkron) celebrates 10 years as a national hub for dance research and development. This milestone anniversary kicked off in December 2025, launching an 18-month celebration filled with public events, research and development residencies, and national convenings in Akron, OH; Houston, TX; Memphis, TN; Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN; and Boston, MA.
Established in 2015 with lead support from Knight Foundation, NCCAkron is one of only two national centers for choreography in the U.S. Nationally recognized for redefining support for dance artists and thought leaders, to date, NCCAkron has worked with 800+ choreographers from 100 U.S. cities as they explore, experiment, and shape the future of the art form. The organization also offers audiences opportunities to experiment with and understand dance through conversations, events, podcasts, and books.
Over the past decade, NCCAkron has invested nearly $3 million in dance artists, performing arts thought leaders, and arts workers. The organization has hosted 105 Research, Creative, Technical, and Dancing Lab residencies for artists across the U.S., in addition to 62 Creative Admin Research Investigative Retreats. NCCAkron has facilitated activities and convenings in Akron, OH; Pittsburgh, PA; Albuquerque, NM; Miami, FL; Houston, TX; Seattle, WA; New York, NY; Chicago, IL; and Nashville, TN.
Under the NCCMedia umbrella, NCCAkron co-created the NCCAkron Series in Dance, working with the University of Akron Press to publish Artists on Creative Administration: A Workbook from the National Center for Choreography (2024) and Shifting Cultural Power: Case Studies and Questions in Performance (2021). NCCMedia podcasts include the short-form Inside the Dancer’s Studio (Seasons 1-6) and the long-form research series How People Move People (Series 1-4).
“Ten years ago we asked ourselves: what is possible for a center focused on research and development in dance? We set out to redefine creative investment by reimagining how we support choreographers and dance as an art form. By committing time, space, and resources to try things in the studio, pursue new research topics, or have coffee with a thought partner—all with zero pressure for a final product—NCCAkron has strived to create transformational experiences for artists, not just transactional exchanges,” shares Christy Bolingbroke, Founding Executive/Artistic Director of NCCAkron.
“Artists help us process the world around us—something more important than ever—and dance is not some niche art form; it is an intrinsic part of our culture and daily lives. As a connector, cultural matchmaker, and hyperagent for the field, NCCAkron continues to learn as we champion the artists shaping the future of dance.”
NCCAkron is marking its 10th anniversary with an exciting 18-month celebration that continues to champion research, development, and community engagement for dance artists nationwide. The organization will host ongoing research and development opportunities, including upcoming collaborations with Ashwini, Aparna, and Ranee Ramaswamy (Minneapolis, MN); Shamel Pitts/TRIBE (Brooklyn, NY); Michael J. Love (Philadelphia, PA); Yayoi Kambara (San Francisco, CA); and Angelina Ramirez (Tucson, AZ) with Carlos Menchaca (Albuquerque, NM).
Public events remain a cornerstone of the anniversary programming, with offerings both in Akron, OH, and across the country. The popular Dancing Conversation series will feature two upcoming talks: “The Creative Process in Nature” on April 17, 2026, at the F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm in Akron, OH, and “Aging as Action” on May 7, 2026, at a TBA location in New York, NY. NCCAkron also plans to present Making Moves events in Boston, MA; Memphis, TN; Houston, TX; and additional cities to foster dialogue and connection within regional dance ecosystems.
In Akron, highlights include a special 10th Anniversary Dance Party Through the Decades fundraising event on June 20, 2026, followed by the return of Dance Club: A Social Experiment for Dance Audiences from August through November 2026. The Creative Administration Research (CAR) program continues its investigative retreats, pairing artists Amy O’Neal (Seattle, WA) with Thought Partner Michele Byrd-McPhee (Jersey City, NJ); Deneane Richburg (Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN) with Thought Partner Francine Sheffield (Richmond, VA); and Jasmine Hearn (Houston, TX) with Thought Partner Conrhonda Baker (Atlanta, GA).
NCCAkron will host its fourth CAR Learning Journey in Minneapolis-St. Paul in March 2026, culminating in the third National Summit Convening for invited CAR artists and their Thought Partners in Akron from June 20–22, 2026. This three-day national think tank will include the public-facing Dance Party Through the Decades on Saturday, June 20.
Expanding its digital footprint under the NCCMedia umbrella, NCCAkron is launching an artist-centered, artist-driven platform dedicated to telling stories and amplifying voices from dance artists and genres often excluded from the traditional canon. Short-form series Inside the Dancer’s Studio (Season 7) will premiere in Summer 2026, with the long-form serial How People Move People (Series 5) following in Fall 2026. The newest recipient of the Knight Choreography Prize will also be announced in Fall 2026.
These events and initiatives reflect NCCAkron’s ongoing commitment to supporting working dance artists through experimentation, advocacy, and national collaboration. For the latest details and ways to participate, visit nccakron.org.
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