BY LEANDRA ACOSTA
In 1969, a group of teachers from the New Jersey Federation for Dance founded the New Jersey Dance Theatre Guild (NJDTG) establishing their own ballet syllabus. Soon after, several charter members of NJDTG met with Dr. Alfredo Corvino to form a ballet company with students from the Guild schools that he would audition, teach, and cast in productions. Maestro Corvino remained NJDTG's Artistic Director for 13 years and had a profound influence on the students and teachers of the Guild.
Since its inception, NJDTE has provided pre-professional performance opportunities with internationally renowned choreographers including Sidra Bell, Shannon Gillen, Adam Barruch, Elizabeth Roxas-Dobrish, Cherice Barton, Loni Landon, Belinda McGuire, Andrea Miller, Kate Skarpetowska, Bradley Shelver, and Artistic Director Nancy Turano. NJDTE dancers have also performed works by master choreographers Twyla Tharp, David Parsons, and Robert Battle.
In 1994, Nancy Turano became the Artistic Director turning NJDTG into the New Jersey Dance Theatre Ensemble. In that same year, NJDTE took up residence at Drew University in Madison, NJ. Since becoming Artistic Director, Ms. Turano has created innovative training and mentoring programs for dancers and choreographers in the New York City metro area, including MOVEMENT INVENTION PROJECT®, MIP2®, AiR® contemporary choreographic residencies, and INKUBATE®. Then in June 2015, NJDTE moved to its current 9,000 square foot home in Summit, NJ.
NJDTE now celebrates its 51st Anniversary Season: 51 Years of Excellence in Dance Education. From founding Artistic Director Alfredo Corvino to current Artistic Director Nancy Turano, NJDTE has remained steadfast in its goal of providing dancers pre-professional dance training and forward-thinking programming that empowers its dancers.
Since its inception, NJDTE has provided pre-professional performance opportunities with internationally renowned choreographers including Sidra Bell, Shannon Gillen, Adam Barruch, Elizabeth Roxas-Dobrish, Cherice Barton, Loni Landon, Belinda McGuire, Andrea Miller, Kate Skarpetowska, Bradley Shelver, and Artistic Director Nancy Turano. NJDTE dancers have also performed works by master choreographers Twyla Tharp, David Parsons, and Robert Battle.
In 1994, Nancy Turano became the Artistic Director turning NJDTG into the New Jersey Dance Theatre Ensemble. In that same year, NJDTE took up residence at Drew University in Madison, NJ. Since becoming Artistic Director, Ms. Turano has created innovative training and mentoring programs for dancers and choreographers in the New York City metro area, including MOVEMENT INVENTION PROJECT®, MIP2®, AiR® contemporary choreographic residencies, and INKUBATE®. Then in June 2015, NJDTE moved to its current 9,000 square foot home in Summit, NJ.
NJDTE now celebrates its 51st Anniversary Season: 51 Years of Excellence in Dance Education. From founding Artistic Director Alfredo Corvino to current Artistic Director Nancy Turano, NJDTE has remained steadfast in its goal of providing dancers pre-professional dance training and forward-thinking programming that empowers its dancers.
| Since March 16, 2020, NJDTE dancers have been taking their classes virtually from home due to the COVID-19 Pandemic Closures. NJDTE dancers have held onto their dreams and passion for dance during this difficult time. “This time has been an incredible testament to our dancer's and their determination. Every day, I open Zoom and thirty students are ready to dance in their homes. This time is an affirmation of importance dance has in the lives of our student's and why the arts are important to the cultural landscape of New Jersey and America,” says NJDTE Artistic Director Nancy Turano. |  |
Please join us in celebrating our 51st Anniversary virtually on June 7th at 4:00pm which includes: a Virtual "Year in Review" premiere video with at home and rehearsal footage, in-studio and zoom class videos, candid moments, and interviews with dancers, followed by a Zoom Party to celebrate our dancers and the final day of our season.
Proceeds from this event will kick off the NJDTE Emergency COVID Relief Fund Campaign that will continue
online until July 14th. To purchase your ticket, please visit: https://NJDTE.networkforgood.com/events/21255-njdte-virtual-fundraiser-performance
To donate directly to the NJDTE Emergency COVID Relief Fund Campaign, please visit: https://njdte.networkforgood.com/projects/101436-donate-to-njdte
Proceeds from this event will kick off the NJDTE Emergency COVID Relief Fund Campaign that will continue
online until July 14th. To purchase your ticket, please visit: https://NJDTE.networkforgood.com/events/21255-njdte-virtual-fundraiser-performance
To donate directly to the NJDTE Emergency COVID Relief Fund Campaign, please visit: https://njdte.networkforgood.com/projects/101436-donate-to-njdte
