Springboard Danse

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Springboard Danse

A unique project for experienced, professional dancers who wish to access the int'l dance community

Springboard Danse is a not-for-profit contemporary dance organization that centers career development and connects professional dancers, choreographers, and companies. Springboard’s dynamic ecosystem facilitates jobs, mentorship, and ethical practices in the larger international dance field. Springboard believes that the future of the field comes from the artists, and commits to supporting their success both within and beyond the existing institutional frameworks. Dancers for the project are selected during auditions during the month of February. The dancers live a unique, intense experience, working closely with as many as 10 principal companies and 7 emerging choreographers from around the globe, all internationally renowned. Over a three-week period in May/June, dancers participate in workshops, rehearsals, creations and auditions– in contemporary dance– wherein they explore different artistic approaches and choreographic processes to further each individual’s professional development. On the final day of the project a showing of “works in progress” is presented in a theatre before an invited audience. Members of the dance community, as well as presenters, choreographers and artistic directors from companies in the United States, Canada and Europe, will be invited to this presentation. During this annual artistic “rendez-vous”, the dancers are provided with a rare opportunity to demonstrate their abilities in a context other than an audition, and to touch the pulse of the dance world through contact with several prominent and current creators. The artists not only engage in exchanges with the other participants but also get a chance to be seen by many choreographers and company directors. For their part, artistic directors from the participating dance companies have the chance to see the dancers’ potential within a professional working context of daily classes, rehearsals, creative process and showings.

11/02/2026

Jordynn Christianson attended a three-week dance intensive in Pittsburgh this summer, thanks to support from the College of Fine Art’s Medici Circle.

Christianson, a senior pursuing a BFA degree in dance, attended Springboard Danse | Pittsburgh. She studied with 120 dancers from around the world for three weeks at Point Park University. The program included classes, workshops, rehearsals, auditions, and performances with attendees ranging from college students to established professionals.

“One of the most meaningful parts of Springboard was the community. I met so many talented and inspiring dancers and artists who pushed me to grow, take risks, and see myself in new ways.”

Medici Circle support allows talented artists like Christianson to extend their education and creative practice beyond the classroom.

“I am incredibly grateful to Mr. Wesley Green and so fortunate to have received the Medici Scholarship, which made it possible for me to pursue this opportunity. I am deeply thankful for the support and investment in my education and artistic growth.”

https://azart.fyi/MMJordynnC

11/01/2026

For over 20 years, Michael Slobodian joined us in Montreal for our annual summer project. An extraordinary artist behind the lens, Michael immortalized countless dancers and choreographers both in the creative process and on stage throughout their careers.

Michael was a unique photographer with the sensitivity and skills to capture an ephemeral art form. The moments that stir an audience’s heart often flash by, a millisecond that reflects deep tenderness, passion, rage, exhaustion, love, and connection.

Michael captured these moments of humanity with grace and artistry. Each year, he shared his work with us, leaving behind hundreds of beautiful images. Many of these will now be featured on a new website page honoring Michael and his contributions.

He led with a generous heart and a commitment to excellence- it was a privilege to know him and collaborate with him for so many years. We are eternally grateful and join the dance communities in Canada and across the world in sending our condolences and love to Gioconda Barbuto, his family, colleagues, and friends.

Photos © Michael Slobodian

SBDM_2022_johannes wieland

SBDM_2017_Shomromi Abraham

SBDM_2022_Emerging_Kelly Ashton Todd

SBDM_2016_Emerging Spenser Theberg

SBDM_2016_Le Carré des Lombes

SBDM_2009_Emerging_ Arianna Bardesono et Nelly van Bommel

SBDM_2013_Emerging_ Kate Wallich

SBDM_2012_Emerging_ Danielle Russo

SBDM_2019_Maxine Doyle

SBDM_2013_Ballets Jazz Montréal

SBDM_2013_Sylvain Emard

SBDM_2013_Emerging _Elisabeth Motley

SBDM_2015_Roy Assaf

SBDM_2015_Sharon Eyal

SBDM_2019_Fernando Melo

SBDM_2019_Sasha Waltz

SBDM_2014_RBDG

SBDM_2022_johannes wieland

10/16/2026

SPRINGBOARDx | PITTSBURGH ARTIST SPOTLIGHT GRACE WHITWORTH

We’re excited to welcome Grace Whitworth to the Springboard family for SPRINGBOARDx | PITTSBURGH! A Point Park University alum, Grace brings a special connection to the Pittsburgh community and will lead dancers in contemporary workshops focused on FOCO TECHNIQUE™.

FOCO TECHNIQUE™, created by choreographer and 2015 Springboard Emerging Choreographer Yue Yin, blends Chinese classical and folk dance with contemporary movement, emphasizing precision, fluidity, musicality, and dynamic contrast. Through a follow-along approach, dancers develop strength, stability, and nuanced movement quality.

ABOUT GRACE
Grace is originally from Cleveland, Ohio. She graduated from Point Park University with a BA in Ballet and Jazz studies. After graduating, she moved to Chicago, where she continued her education and passion for learning on scholarship at Lou Conte Dance Studio. As a professional contemporary dancer with YYDC, Grace has toured internationally to Italy, China, Germany, Serbia, and Brazil, to name a few. She recently traveled to Amsterdam teaching FoCo technique and YYDC rep. Drawing on an extensive performance career and her leadership as Rehearsal Director for YYDC, Grace brings warmth, insight, and clarity to the studio. As a mother and cofounder of Dancers and Motherhood, Grace is also committed to expanding conversations about caregiving, access, and longevity within the dance field. She believes dance education should honor the whole person. Grace currently lives in Manhattan with her husband and 6-year-old son, Walt.
Join us November 7 + 8 to explore physicality, individual expression, and contemporary techniques. The weekend is designed to sharpen your skills and deepen your artistry, individuality, and versatility.

SPRINGBOARDx | PITTSBURGH
📅 November 7+8, 2026 🕙 10AM - 6PM SAT | 10AM - 4PM SUN
📍 Point Park University, Pittsburgh, PA 🌟 Non-audition based | Ages 16+
🎟️ $350 (payment plans available) 
Tap the link in our bio to register! 📲

Photos: Grace Whitworth by Joan Dwiartanto
Photo 2: Yue Yin Yue Yin by Paul B Goode

10/13/2026

SPRINGBOARDx | PITTSBURGH ARTIST SPOTLIGHT BANNING BOULDIN

Some things deserve a full-circle moment! We’re thrilled to welcome Banning Bouldin back to Springboard, nearly a decade after joining us as an Emerging Choreographer in Montreal. It’s an honor to continue to work with these established artists and a testament to the lasting relationships built through this community, and we’re excited to continue that journey with Banning as an Artist for SPRINGBOARDx | Pittsburgh.

Banning Bouldin is a dance artist based in Nashville, TN. She is the resident choreographer and founder of New Dialect, a contemporary dance organization she established in 2013 to cultivate rigorous artistic practice and equitable access to dance education in the American South. Her international career spans over two decades and includes collaborations with Cullberg, Mats Ek, Hubbard Street, Camille Brown, Lar Lubovitch, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Alex Ekman, Aszure Barton, Trisha Brown Dance Company. As a choreographer, Banning has created works for Whim W’Him, Gibney Dance Company, Juilliard, SALT, Visceral Dance Chicago, Groundworks Dance Theater, Northwest Dance Project, and universities across the US. A graduate of The Juilliard School, Banning is currently completing an MFA through Bennington College at the Centre Chorégraphique National de Montpellier, France. Her research explores improvisation, adaptive choreographic structures, and community-driven approaches informed by q***r and femme empowerment, interdisciplinary collaboration, and Banning’s lived experience with disability.

Join the Springboard family while sharpening the skills necessary to support a dynamic and compelling career.

SPRINGBOARDx | PITTSBURGH
📅 November 7+8, 2026 🕙 10AM - 6PM SAT | 10AM - 4PM SUN
📍 Point Park University, Pittsburgh, PA 🌟 Non-audition based | Ages 16+
🎟️ $350 (payment plans available) 
Tap the link in our bio to register! 📲

Photo: Banning Bouldin portrait by Andrea Behrends-Fecht

SPRINGBOARDx | PITTSBURGH ARTIST SPOTLIGHT BANNING BOULDIN

Some things deserve a full-circle moment! We’re thrilled to welcome Banning Bouldin back to Springboard, nearly a decade after joining us as an Emerging

10/02/2026

This fall, join us in Pittsburgh for a transformative weekend with Banning Bouldin (New Dialect) and Grace Whitworth (Yue Yin Dance Company).

(Banning Bouldin Grace W.)

Ground yourself with contemporary classes and workshops focused on creative exploration and dynamic physicality. Plus, gain insight from an artist chat with Banning, Grace, and Springboard Artistic Director and Founder Alexandra Wells.

📅 November 7+8, 2026 
🕙 10AM - 6PM SAT | 10AM - 4PM SUN
📍 Point Park University, Pittsburgh, PA 🌟 Non-audition based | Ages 16+
🎟️ $350 (payment plans available) 
⚡️ Registration is NOW OPEN — spaces are limited! Link in bio!

SBDP_2026_ Resident Choreographer_ Tamisha Guy Tamisha A. Guy (TAG) 🇹🇹 _ Photo © Dizzy Graham Drew Christopher Graham

09/27/2026

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of a cherished member of the Springboard family, Michael Slobodian. 🤍

Michael captured the iconic moments of Springboard Danse Montréal for over 20 years, and words cannot articulate how grateful we feel to have collaborated with him. To be supported by his incredible artistry was an immeasurable gift.

Our sincere condolences to Michael’s family, friends, and the Montréal and Vancouver dance communities. May he rest in peace.

Photo:
SBDM 2015
Emerging Choreographer Banning Bouldin
©️Michael Slobodian

06/14/2026

That’s a wrap!

Springboard Danse 2026 has come to a close. ❤️‍🩹

We are so grateful for all of the incredible artists who mad our second year in Pittsburgh so special. ✨ Thank you to our Principal Companies, Stagers, Resident Choreographers and Emerging Choreographers for your generosity and to our dancers for their brilliant artistry during these three weeks. We are inspired 🫶

A shout out to for welcoming us back to the gorgeous spaces at Point Park. Thank you to all our Pittsburgh team members especially the production teams at the George Rowland White Performance Center and the Pittsburgh Playhouse.

Thank you to our partners at Amplified Productions and to for your genius work capturing media during our summer project. We are so lucky to work with you again.

Last but certainly not least, thank you to our visionary leader .dance and our incredible team, Erin, Piper, Kevin and Andrea. Your commitment, care, and hard work are deeply appreciated and help support the future of contemporary dance. ❤️

We wish you all a great summer! ☀️

05/29/2026

Our PLATFORM Showing is TONIGHT! 💥

We are so excited to witness excerpts of works by our inspiring 2026 Resident & Emerging Choreographers tonight at 5:30 in the George Rowland White Performance Studio!

These artists represent a diverse range of backgrounds and artistic perspectives, and we can’t wait for this peek into their creative worlds. 👀

🔺Resident Choreographers: to.campfire

🔸Emerging Choreographers:
t saffo mweber

Learn more about the artists at the link in our bio!

05/11/2026

SPRINGBOARD DANSE PITTSBURGH 2026 💥

We can’t believe we are just 2 weeks away from the 26th edition of our beloved summer project! We are so thrilled to be returning to Pittsburgh for our second year and could not be more excited for this extraordinary cohort of international artists to join us. Each of them brings their unique brilliance to the project as creators, performers, and collaborators, and we are so grateful they are spending part of their summer with Springboard.

See you soon, Pittsburgh! ⏳

05/06/2026

SPRINGBOARD 2026 EMERGING CHOREOGRAPHER JULIA WEBER💥

Julia Weber is a Polish-born, New York–based choreographer and performer and a graduate of The Juilliard School. In 2025, she choreographed a new work for New York City Ballet through the New York Choreographic Institute and created a piece for the Traverse City Dance Project. She is a three-time recipient of Juilliard Choreographic Honors (2023, 2024, 2025), a recipient of the Hector Zaraspe Prize for Choreographic Promise, a multiple first-place honoree at the Polish Choreographic Competition (ZAiKS), and has received recognition from the Polish Minister of Culture and National Heritage. Her choreography was also selected for the 24th Annual DUMBO Dance Festival.

We are so excited to welcome Julia to Springboard 2026 as an Emerging Choreographer, and can’t wait to see what she creates with our dancers this summer!

📸 Photo ©Karolina Gmurczyk

Address

Pittsburgh, PA

Website

http://springboarddanse.com/

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