Directing My Dancers/Directing Myself

Nichole Canuso, artistic director of Nichole Canuso Dance Company (NCDC), embarked upon Directing My Dancers/Directing Myself—a planning project that included a mentorship under U.K.-based dancer Wendy Houstoun, as a framework which allowed Canuso to reevaluate her choreographic practice. Canuso founded NCDC in 2004 and has worked with companies and organizations such as Pig Iron Theatre Company, Headlong Dance Theater, and The Wilma Theater, among others. This project prompted Canuso to step back from her recent large, theatrical works, and to focus on expanding and exploring her own dance practice. Houstoun is a founding member of London's award-winning DV8 Physical Theatre and known across Europe for her work, which deftly combines text, movement, visual design, and sound—all parallel to Canuso's interests. Houstoun engaged in one-on-one sessions with Canuso and introduced her to peer artists during a stay in England; after that time, Canuso returned to Philadelphia and generated new material for a solo project. The NCDC website has documented this project with writing from Canuso. Canuso received a follow-up grant in 2013 to produce the solo performance work that emerged from her time spent with Houstoun. This will take place during the 2013–14 season of FringeArts' non-festival programming.