mission Stefanie Nelson Dancegroup was established to foster and promote an appreciation of the study of the art of movement and dance; to integrate the artistic, cultural, and educational aspects of movement and dance through performances, classes and workshops; and to promote interdisciplinary artistic collaboration among artists in all artistic disciplines.

biography Stefanie Nelson is the artistic director of Stefanie Nelson Dancegroup, a contemporary dance company based in New York City. Since it’s inception in 2000, SNDg has been presented internationally in Toronto (Canada), Merida (Mexico) and throughout Italy. In Florence, the company performed to sold-out audiences at the renowned Fabbrica Europa Festival in 2004 and 2005, the Corpo al Corpo Series at the Florence Dance Center, and the Florence Winter Dance Festival at the historic Teatro Goldoni; in Genoa the company performed at the Corpi Urbani Festival and Teatro G. Modena in collaboration with Italian company Lische; in Lucca at Sala del Teatro and Teatro del Giglio; and in Prato at the festival OnStage at Cantiere Culturali - Ex-Macelli. Nationally, the company has been presented in New York at the 92nd St. Y, Baryshnikov Arts Center, Boston CYBER-ARTS festival, Bowery Ballroom (with off-broadway’s smash success BETTY RULES!), Dance Theater Workshop, Fieldston Ethical Culture School, Gowanus Arts Exchange, Hostos Cultural Center, Joe’s Pub, Jose Limon Institute, Joyce SoHo, LaMama Moves, Lincoln Center's Out of Doors festival, Mamapalooza, which featured a live broadcast of Stefanie Nelson and dancer Jennifer Sydor on ABC-TV’s morning show, New York University, Pier 63, Rockland Community College, Solar One Festival, Stella Adler Conservatory, Steven's Institute, University Settlement, Washington Square United Methodist Church, Williamsburg Arts Nexus-WAX; in Massachusetts at The Yard (Martha’s Vineyard) and Green Street Studios (Cambridge); and in Nashua, NH at the Academy of Movement.

Stefanie Nelson Dancegroup has been in residence at the Baryshnikov Arts Center, the Bessie Shoenberg Choreographer’s Residency at The Yard, The Field's Artist Residency program supported by the Tides foundation, and Dance New Amsterdam; space grants awarded to the company include Bridge for Dance (NYC), Florence Dance Center (Florence, ITALY), the Harkness Dance Program at the 92nd Street Y (NYC), and the Scuola Fuoricentro (Lucca, ITALY).   Recent company performances include the Downtown Dance Festival (NYC), DanceNow @ DTW and Joe's Pub, Schegge di Danza: Miniature Pucciniane (Lucca, Italy).

Stefanie Nelson Dancegroup has received financial support from the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, The Massachusetts Cultural Council, The Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust Live Music for Dance Program, American Express Co., J.P. Morgan Chase Foundation, The Duke Energy Foundation, Johnson & Johnson, The New York Times, Safe Horizon Inc., Sony Music, World of the Walking Stick; and in-kind donations from David Leach Photography, Elizabeth Arden Red Door Salon, Etoile Toy Visual Arts, Florence Dance Center, the 92nd Street Y, Jarvis Recording Studios, Movado Watch Company, 17 Corporation, and Sony Recording Studios.

Independent choreographic projects include a featured tango scene in Plan-B, a feature film starring Diane Keaton, and The FIRES, a rock musical presented at the Hostos Center in the Bronx. Ms. Nelson’s, Cocoon won a first place award at northeast choreography competition, DTI, and she was the subject of an in-depth, live radio interview (www.ciut.fm at the University of Toronto). Ms. Nelson’s essay about her solo EMERGE was published in ‘Resti di Scena’ by Paolo Ruffini. The company has received numerous awards and distinctions and has taught workshops in New York, New Hampshire and Lucca, Italy.

Ms. Nelson’s choreography has been set on students at The Fieldston Ethical Culture School, (New York, NY), Fuoricentro, (Lucca, ITALY), Coupe’ and TranscenDance, (Rockland, NY). Stefanie has taught Contemporary Dance at The Fieldston Ethical Culture School, Fuoricentro, The University of Korea (as assistant to Lorry May-Artistic Director of Anna Sokolow’s Players’ Project), and The Academy of Movement in Nashua, NH. She taught Creative Movement at The Columbia Grammar School where she was on faculty from 1994-2002, and for outreach program, Education in Dance from 1994-1997. She currently teaches Creative Movement classes to toddlers in Harlem, adult movement workshops, and she’s a guest teaching artist at Dance New Amsterdam.

Board of Directors:
Jill Inbar
Risa Kantor
Sefanie Nelson
Julie Thompson-Keane

collaborators

GIERRE GODLEY hails from Little Rock, Arkansas where he began his dance training with C. Michael Tidwell and Arlene Sugano. Since his arrival to NYC he has had the pleasure of working with many choreographers. As a choreographer for Sobers & Godley and PROJECT 44, Gierre's work has been presented at various NYC and international venues. He is currently on the teaching staff of Fancy Feet Dance Studio (Bronx) and summer faculty for the Debbie Allen Dance Academy (LA). Gierre is very excited to be working with the Stefanie Nelson Dancegroup! For more information please visit: www.gierregodley.com

DANIEL HOLT grew up in Lansing, MI and started dancing while attending Lansing Community College. He received his BFA in Dance from The Ohio State University, Spring 2011. During his time in Ohio, he performed in works by Susan Hadley, Sabela D. Grimes, and Esther Baker-Tarpaga, among others. Additionally, he was the director of a community-based dance group called Guerrilla Dance from '09-'11. He now resides in Brooklyn, NY where he continues his practice of guerrilla dancing, as well as his work as a professional dancer/choreographer.

SARAH MATRY-GUERRE began dancing in her hometown of Montpellier, France. She continued her training at the Laban Center in London and received a diploma in higher education. She has recently graduated from New World School of the Arts under the direction of Daniel Lewis. While attending New World she had the opportunity to perform works from Darshan Singh Bhuller, Martha Graham, Jose Limon, Doris Humphrey, Peter London, and many others.  Sarah is excited about her first season with Stefanie Nelson Dancegroup.