Dear Friends of MorDance,
Our 2022 season was filled with surpassed goals, impactful collaborations and performances, and new audiences touched by the art of ballet. MorDance’s commitment to greater accessibility in the arts continues to be at the forefront of our initiatives. In 2022, we increased our youth outreach by 33%, connecting with over 600 students through in-school dance workshops in some of NYC's most underserved school districts. Though COVID restrictions remained in place for our annual student performance, and public school field trips were put on hold this spring, we were able to work with a team of videographers to livestream the event. The livestream allowed us to significantly expand our reach and continue to bring the art of ballet to life for these young audiences.
This year our Spring Season performances rose to new levels of critical acclaim. Jerry Hochman of Critical Dance writes, “MorDance's New York season, scheduled for two nights last week at Symphony Space on the Upper West Side, was, to put it mildly, a knockout". Success followed to our final showcase of the year, MorDance Works In Progress, which sold out! Behind the scenes we worked to bring arts enthusiasts closer to our art than ever before, establishing a new membership program that provides extraordinary access to MorDance while garnering support for our annual activities. Members enjoy special opportunities to experience our dance-making, learn about the ballet art form, and truly become a part of the MorDance family. Support from new members also helped provide nearly 200 free tickets to students in programs such as Ballet and Beyond and the Bronx Academy of Music who otherwise would not have access to live ballet performances.
MorDance’s conception of artistic excellence is inseparable from the company’s dedication to accessibility and creativity. We envision an equitable future where everyone, no matter one’s background, identity, or socio-economic circumstance, has the opportunity to access the arts. MorDance believes that dance, and art at large, has the great potential to navigate the complexities faced by our society and our world. As we near a milestone in 2023, MorDance’s tenth season as a company, we are ready to take our mission to new heights. We are ready to innovate and expand upon our ambitious repertoire that has inspired audiences over the past decade. We are ready to launch into a new season redefining ballet and making dance accessible to all. Thank you for your support, kindness and generosity.
Sincerely,
Morgan McEwen