The NCDT Program

Established in 2003 by Artistic Director Rhea Gill, Nebraska Contemporary Dance Theater (NCDT) was founded to provide pre-professional training in contemporary dance to students in the Southeast Nebraska area.  NCDT is committed to supporting young dancers, underserved populations and the greater community in an effort to increase arts literacy and appreciation, specifically as it pertains to dance and dance culture.  Focusing on outreach and education, the company presents seasonal performances as well as performing at local events. Workshops for schools and community centers are essential to the company’s mission, serving as an opportunity to educate both dancer and participants in the importance of dance as part of a collective cultural identity. Committed to exposing dancers to complex and challenging choreography, NCDT strives to develop and encourage artistic diversity both in the dancer and through the works presented.

The NCDT Experience

Performance experiences include, but are not limited to, the annual company Ballet in January, community, statewide and national performances and outreach, in addition to multiple added performances in the annual May recital. NCDT Company members also participate in master classes and are required to attend annual professional dance concerts that have been identified as exemplary works by the NCDT Artistic Director. NCDT Company admittance is determined by audition, acceptance is not guaranteed. The audition is conducted by independent judges to ensure a specific skills standard.
Requirements:

• Attend their respective NCDT audition in the summer.
• Attend the week long Company Summer Intensive program and appropriate summer dance classes or equivalent approved by the director.
• Fall class requirements include: four weekly ballet classes and pointe (if applicable), a weekly jazz and modern class, and attendance at weekly company rehearsals from 11:15am-1:15pm on Saturdays
• Perform in the annual winter ballet, any other scheduled performances and the RDA festival in the spring

Meet the Director

Artistic Director Rhea Gill has been an arts educator for over two decades acting as a performing artist, choreographer, master teaching artist and arts presenter.  She holds a Bachelor of Fine & Performing Arts in dance and a Masters of Management with an emphasis in International Business. For twenty years  Rhea acted as the executive director of Arts Are Basic one of the original aesthetic education programs of Lincoln Center. She is the professor of Dance at Doane University and has acted as a lecturer of Modern Dance and guest choreographer at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. Rhea is a member of the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science and has been a presenter at the International Network of Schools for the Advancement of Arts Education in Oakland, CA. Her work focuses on the importance of arts literacy and community access to interdisciplinary arts experiences.