Columbus Dance Theatre

Columbus is more than a midwestern, Buckeye driven college town. It’s home to a thriving urban arts and dance scene. Dance artists in Columbus collaborate locally, nationally, and internationally across disciplines. The outlook for Columbus is positive as a growing tech city in the heart of Ohio. Dancers are continuing to shape, influence and depict Columbus culture to enrich their communities. 

First things first:

Become a member of the Ohio Dance Organization. You’ll receive an email Newsletter full of resources for jobs and collaborations with different dance groups from all over the state of Ohio, as well as rich resources providing an overview of what Columbus and the state of Ohio has to offer in dance. Plus, being a member automatically gives you 10-15% discounts to dance festivals and concert tickets.

Ohio Arts Council connects dance artists to visual, music, and theatre artists. There are roundtable discussions, which meet once per month, and there are opportunities for artists listed locally and to the international level.

Where to train:

Some places to start training include the Universities in Ohio and around the Columbus area. Universities may also point you to the guest artists who offer master classes near you. Also, companies with associated dance schools are a good bet. Try BalletMET Columbus, Cincinnati Ballet, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, MamLuft Dance, GroundWorks, Cleveland Arts, Toledo School for the Arts, Ohio Dance Theatre, and Columbus Dance Theatre.

Where to rehearse:

Lots of new companies are budding in Columbus, like Columbus Moving Company, Tapestry Dance, CoMo Dance, Seven Dance Company, Columbus Dance Theatre, New Vision Dance Company and more. Many of these companies have their own studios available to rent out during off-peak times.

CoMo Dance

Landing a performing gig:

Usually this happens through word of mouth or by taking drop-in classes so people can see you move. Take a local company class by sending your resume and cover letter first and inquire about opportunities.

Choreographing:

If you are an emerging choreographer, it’s best to take drop-in classes, get to know people, and get involved with the local dancers, teachers, and other choreographers. Working on a larger project ensures you will get the opportunity to connect with the most people. Lately there have been site-specific dance requests by local communities. Dance mobs have also been done around the Ohio State University campus and Short North areas. Gallery Hop is a popular time for dance groups to dance inside or around galleries. New local dance troupes have debuted on the Short North Stage and at McConnell Arts Center.

Festivals:

Ohio Dance hosts two main dance specific festivals in Ohio. One is held in the fall and the other in mid-spring. Check out the website for dates and details: www.ohiodance.org. The festivals are a great way to meet many dancers, choreographers, musicians, and teachers from all-around Ohio and in a variety of dance areas. There are opportunities to apply to teach, lecture, or perform for the festival. 

The Columbus Arts Festival, held annually during the summer, often looks for local dance troupes to fill out their performance schedule. 

Venues where out of town artists perform and organizations that present them:

A popular cozy venue in Columbus is the Wexner Center, which tends to present smaller artists and companies from around the world and from large cities like New York. Several recent companies were Bebe Miller, Faye Driscoll, and Companhia Urbana De Danca. 

The CAPA Performance Venue offers several theaters and generally presents larger dance groups such as Complexions Contemporary Dance Company. Urban Art Space is a great location for modern dance groups presenting installations and performance art and there are seasonal grants available for interested artists. King Arts Complex’s Pythian Theatre and Lincoln Theatre regularly present dance artists as well.

Opportunities to teach dance, ages, and settings for teaching: 

There are many opportunities to teach dance, particularly for hip-hop, jazz, tap and modern dance. Mixed, hybrid styles are welcomed and you may find opportunities to collaborate on projects with other arts organizations. At present, many of the job opportunities are available in the preschool and elementary school age areas. Consider offering master dance classes or workshops at local YMCA’s or community centers around Columbus like in Worthington or Dublin.

Local colleges and universities with undergraduate and graduate programs:

The Ohio State University, Kent State University, Ohio University, Akron University, University of Cincinnati College, Wright State University, Ohio Wesleyan University, Oberlin College, Kenyon College, Baldwin Wallace College, Case Western Reserve University, Bowling Green State University, Cleveland State University, College of Wooster, Denison University, Lake Erie College, Miami University, Otterbein University, Sinclair Community College, Wittenberg University, Youngstown State University.

Final thoughts:

Get the word out about your dance company, teaching abilities, and more by posting your advertisements or business cards in North Star cafes, at Whole Foods, and at popular cafes like Stauffer’s. Venture into Columbus’s local neighborhoods: German Village, Short North, Worthington, Dublin, and Grandview and get acclimated with the unique neighborhood vibes. Good luck!

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Joyelle Fobbs is Senior Faculty at BalletMet, a member of the Board of Directors of Ohio Dance, and a national researcher, teacher, and presenter of dance.