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The National Center for Choreography-Akron (NCCAkron) announces Thought Partners for the new cohort of its Creative Administration Research (CAR) program. Thought Partners are paired with CAR choreographers to investigate administrative practices that support the artist’s creative practices. New Thought Partners include Conrhonda Baker (Atlanta, GA) working with Jasmine Hearn (Houston, TX), Vu Le (Seattle, WA) working with Deneane Richburg (St Paul, MN), and Tonya Lockyer (Suquamish, WA) working with Amy O’Neal (Los Angeles, CA/Seattle, WA).
The CAR program launched in 2020 with lead support from the Mellon Foundation. NCCAkron has initiated a sixth cohort for a total of 25 Artist Teams from across the U.S. Each team—choreographer, Thought Partner, and NCCAkron staff—participates in an Investigative Retreat to explore tailored administrative experiments that enhance creative practices. Rejecting a one-size-fits-all model, CAR encourages diverse approaches, with Thought Partners offering accountability and guidance between retreats.
“Serving as a Thought Partner in the CAR program has been a deeply meaningful experience—one that reaffirmed my belief that the work of thinking, exploring, and mentally creating for administration is just as critical to a successful artistic practice as rehearsal, technique development, and stretching are to dance-making. The CAR program’s national think tank model provides a rare and vital space for artists to step outside of inherited structures and reimagine administrative practices that truly support their creative visions. I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this evolving dialogue that values creative administration as an essential part of artistic practice,” commented Conrhonda E. Baker, Founder and Chief Copy Editor, The Bese Saka.
For a list of all program participants, alumni, and Thought Partners, click here.
NCCAkron continues to share program learnings with the wider performing arts field. Artists on Creative Administration: A Workbook from the National Center for Choreographya book on creative administration edited by Tonya Lockyer (Suquamish, WA) and published by the University of Akron Press, was released in September 2024. Related virtual and in-person Making Moves book events continue through 2025.
Amy O’Neal, CAR Program, Conrhonda Baker, Creative Administration Research Program, Deneane Richburg, Jasmine Hearn, Mellon Foundation, National Center for Choreography Akron, NCCAkron, Thought Partner, Tonya Lockyer, Vu Le
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