MISSION
Amanda Selwyn Dance Theatre/Notes in Motion presents dynamic dance theatre productions that activate emotional expression. Through an interplay of athletic and articulate motion, we present theatrical and immediate works that engage audiences from start to finish and beckon a response of thought, feeling, and soul. Our education program, Notes in Motion, brings inclusive dance programs to the NYC Public Schools in styles including modern, ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, Latin, African, and more. Programs are united by our singular approach to dance education, The Movement Exchange Method, which combines technical instruction with creative skill-building and collaborative learning. We aim to provide access to the art form of dance to inspire the next generation of dance appreciators.
Notes in Motion/Amanda Selwyn Dance Theatre is rooted in our mission of offering access, nurturing community, and promoting individual expression and freedom. Our dance education programs in the NYC schools offer students tools to express themselves, engage with their peers, and gain a more well rounded school experience. Through sharing and providing access to this inclusive learning model, we are engaged in the critical work of breaking down barriers of systematic racism and oppression. We actively recruit diverse teaching artists, dancers, staff, and board to reflect, empower, and celebrate the diverse populations we serve. We are steadfast in our commitment to equity and change and driven to show up with vulnerability in an open dialogue with our schools, audiences, patrons, volunteers, and supporters. It is a privilege to share the joy of dance, offering students and audiences in-roads to discover inspiration, meaning, and joy. We continue into our third decade of dance making, sharing, and educating with a dedication to foster equality, access, and opportunity to all. — Amanda Selwyn, Artistic/Executive Director
Founded in 2000, Amanda Selwyn Dance Theatre has presented 20 original evening length works and dozens of shorter works at NY Performance Seasons and festival engagements, and offers residencies to universities. We have presented over 160 productions at venues including Baruch Performing Arts Center, New York Live Arts, Mark Morris Dance Center, Tribeca Performing Arts Center, The Kumble Theater, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Danspace Project, The Ailey Citigroup Theater, John Jay College, Dance New Amsterdam, Peridance, Cunningham/Westbeth, and more. We have been the recipient of grants from NYSCA, the Harkness Foundation, MetLife, Friars, Dizzy Feet Foundation, Bronx Council on the Arts, DCLA, O’Donnell Green Foundation, Hyde and Watson Foundation, MidAtlantic Arts Foundation, and many more. Press: Dance Magazine, Dance Teacher, Dance Enthusiast, NYFA’s Current: A Magazine for Artists, Queens Public TV, BronxNet, WKTU, Movers and Shakers Podcast, It’s in Queens, The New Yorker, Time Out, NY Times, Oberon’s Grove, Dance Informa, Dance Talk, and more. Amanda has led residencies and workshops at Peridance, Hofstra University, New Women, NY, the NY Gender Conference, Temple University, SUNY New Paltz Dance Association, BMCC, Baruch, Face to Face, Dance Teacher Summit, APAP, and more. Our robust dance education program, Notes in Motion, has served over 67,000 students across NYC’s underserved public schools. Programs foster self-discovery, risk-taking, and community connection. We provide access to the art form of dance to inspire the next generation of dance appreciators.
In 2024, we secured a 6,000 square foot space at 412 Broadway in Tribeca, functioning as a rehearsal and performance venue, workshop hub, and event space. Ongoing offerings include: pre-professional intensives, youth dance, global dance styles, company class, ballet fundamentals, yoga flow, Latin Dance, contemporary partnering, and more. In the last three years, our dance education programs have grown from 87 programs and 45 school partners per year to 163 programs and 75 school partners. This year, Notes in Motion brought dance to 21,000 students and delivered 4,400 program sessions throughout NYC. Programs directly benefit underserved communities who historically face a lack of arts education.
