This event is about connecting dancers to dance-related work and giving those who hire an opportunity to meet the immense pool of talent in Portland. Part audition, part high-energy functional networking extravaganza!
Thank you to all who attended the Citywide Dance Connector – Until We Meet Again!
Whether you are looking to hire or be hired now or in the future, this is the biggest opportunity of the year to make connections!
Performers | Freelance Artists | Teachers | Dance Talent
Company + Theatre Directors | Independent Choreographers | Studio Owners | Casting Agents
The Citywide Dance Connector brings people together from all corners of the dance community. “Dancers” take class in various styles to show off their talent. “Directors” receive a directory of headshots, resumes, and audition numbers of all who attend.
The day will consist of hour-long classes taught by 6 working artists. Dancers are able to register for up to three classes and will be assigned an audition number. Each class will culminate in a short piece of choreography. Directors (those hiring or casting) can set up in the lobby, or move fluidly through the space to view class or final choreography for each class. Directors will get a link to view headshots, resumes, and audition numbers of all Dancers who attend and are responsible for their own callbacks or hiring next steps.
Reel From Previous Years
2023 Teacher Reel
Main Event Details + Schedule
Date: Sunday April 23rd, 2023
Location: BodyVox Dance Center – 1201 NW 17th Ave. Portland, OR 97209
Cost: Members FREE | Nonmembers $10/class for Dancers or $50/Director
| Lobby | Open Studio | Main Studio |
|---|---|---|
| 1:30 check in DANCERS + DIRECTORS | 2:00 – 3:00 Director Presentations | |
| networking | 3:00-4:00 | Commercial Choreography | 3:15-4:15 | Contemporary Jazz |
| opportunity board set up | 4:15-5:15 | Structured Improv | 4:30-5:30 | Spicy Musical Theatre |
| networking | 5:30-6:30 | Modern Dance Lab | 5:45-6:45 | Hip Hop + Freestyle |
| 6:45-7:00 | All DANCER Cool Down |
All teachers for this event are active artists collaborators/producers in Portland!
3:00-4:00 | Jazmyn Thomas | Commercial Choreography
This class is a fun and challenging mashup of New York, Los Angeles, and Portland influenced movement. Portland native, Jazmyn Thomas provides movers the freedom to build stamina, retention, and performance quality through intermediate/ advanced choreography. Class will begin with a guided full body warm up that includes grooves, isolations, footwork, and stretching that will assist in the class combination. If you are looking for ways to elevate your movement textures, spatial awareness, level changes, and overall performance application then this is the class for you!
3:15-4:15 | Franco Nieto | Contemporary Jazz
This class is designed to improve fluidity of the spine and torso. You will gain a deep understanding of the pelvis and how it helps drive your movement. We will get grounded, explore our physicality and musicality while working on transitions into the floor and around the space. This contemporary dance class fuses jazz, and contemporary techniques with no judgment on oneself. Also it’s FUN!
4:30-5:30 | Laura Cannon | Structured Improv
Let your unique self shine! This class is for dancers trained in any movement style. Laura will guide dancers through a basic warmup and then introduce a structure for your movement to follow. Each dancer will have the freedom to demonstrate what they excel in.
4:45-5:45 | Theresa Hanson aka Resa la Revv | Spicy Musical Theatre
A fun, flirtatious jazzy heels class with a musical theatre foundation to upbeat Broadway hits. This class will combine sensuality with jazz technique and be a chance to be expressive and charismatic. Give em’ the ol’ Razzle Dazzle! (heels optional)
5:30-6:30 | Sara Parker | Modern Dance Lab
This modern/contemporary dance class questions, deepens, and experiments with movement and dance technique. Through both improvisational and guided technical exercises, class emphasizes dynamic energy, whole bodied movement and an integrated approach to well-being (dance for life!). Explore gravity, effort, and ease with strength. Find the three-dimensionality of your body, the expressivity of your spine, and the relationship between your center core and outer periphery. Risk-taking is celebrated!
5:45-6:45 | NØIR | Hip Hop
NØIR is a street dancer and choreographer based out of Portland, OR. His class will cover the foundations of Hip Hop Dance and give students the tools they need to advance in this dance genre. NØIR’s Hip Hop class will go over bounce, rocks , grooves, and even more.
Bonus Opportunities for Dancers
March 26th – April 21st
Anyone who has registered can book a FREE 30 minute 1:1 Session with Dance Wire staff via Zoom. In this session we can:
- Review your resume and headshot
- Prep you for the event
- Answer any questions you have about dance opportunities in Portland or whatever you need to feel prepared!
A link to reserve your session will be emailed or text to you after you have registered.
Bonus Opportunities for Directors
March 26th – April 21st
Anyone registered for the event can book a FREE 30 minute 1:1 Session via Zoom. In this session you can:
- Review your dancer contract (if applicable)
- Discuss any materials you want to bring
- Answer any questions you have about the event and how to attract the right dancers for your opportunity.
A link to reserve your session will be emailed or text to you after you have registered.
Day of Citywide Dance Connector
First 10 registrants will get 5 minutes at the beginning of the day to do a demo of their movement style and/or speak about what they are looking for from dancers that day.
Who should attend as a Dancer?
Anyone interested in being hired for dance-related work.
Who should attend as a Director?
Anyone who hires for dance-related work.
- dance company directors
- theatre company directors
- independent choreographers
- studio owners hiring teachers
- agents scouting talent
What is dance-related work?
- dance instruction
- concert dance
- dance projects
- dance gigs
- admin work for a dance business
Why does this cost money?
This is a service Dance Wire provides that benefits both Dancers and Directors and we charge both to participate. Members attend free because they are already supporting our work and we value their ongoing participation in what we do – including putting on events like this!
Can I take more than one class?
Yes! As a Dancer, you can sign up for one, two, or three classes. Don’t forget to take advantage of the Bonus opportunities that come free with registration!
Do people really get hired from this event?
Yes! The Directors who attend this event are regularly blown away by the number of people who attend and the level of talent. The best part is, Directors are looking for a wide variety of things – teachers, performers, collaborators, and administrators. Note: Directors may not be hiring exactly at the time of this event, but we send them all the headshots and resumes so they can reach out when opportunities come up.
Am I guaranteed work from this?
No. But if nothing else, you’ll have a great time, meet other dancers, and grow your network.
How are teachers selected?
All teachers are active working artists in Portland. We create a new lineup of teachers every year and work to have a variety of movement genres available so Dancers can show off their many talents!
Who are the teachers in 2023?
See above and click the link on their names to read more about them.
Can I register as a Dancer AND a Director?
Yes! If you register for both you will need to sign up for each separately so you are sure to get the bonuses that come with the different registrations.
Who will be attending as a Director?
Check out the profiles of Directors who have registered here once registration opens Registrations are updated regularly so keep checking back as names get added to the list! Click on individual cards to expand the listing.
Is this an audition?
Yes and no. We are calling it a Connector and invented the term functional networking to better describe the purpose. As dancers we represent ourselves better through our bodies than on paper, so this event combines some of the elements of an audition with a whole lot of movement. We hope you enjoy it!
What happened to the Citywide Dance Audition?
From 2015-2019 we held an annual Citywide Dance Audition that connected dancers to companies, choreographers, agents, and casting directors. It was a high-energy event that brought 90+ dancers and 25+ directors together in one space. It was magical! Since this event was so much more than audition we changed the name to better represent the purpose and added bonus opportunities.