Ngoma Begins Its Design & Search for Its Permanent DC Home
Image: Ngoma Center for Dance Space Rendering
August 5, 2023 – Washington, DC
Ngoma Begins Its Design & Search for Its Permanent DC Home
Contact:
Shawn Short, Director
202-540-8338
sshort@ngcfddt.org
Ngoma Center for Dance begins its journey of acquiring its flagship space in Washington, DC. Starting Dissonance Dance Theatre (2007) in the Coors dance studio at Culturaldc’s FlashpointDC space (formerly located at 916 G St NW), Ngoma Center for Dance (2012) was founded with DDT becoming one of its programs. After discovering that FlashpointDC was closing from a newspaper headline, Ngoma migrated several programmatic activities to Maryland (Montgomery and Prince George’s counties). With the assistance of Lincoln Property Company, Ngoma has embarked on its journey to find its permanent DC home. “ This project has been a learning experience for the organization. Not only did Ngoma Center for Dance learn many aspects of space planning, real estate brokerage firms, and the relationship with working with them, we heard the concerns of our communities – new and old,” says Founding Director Shawn Short.
Ngoma Center for Dance received $60,000 in DC funding from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities to begin space planning, working with Theatre Consultant NYC alongside architect firms Quinn Evans and HGA. During the process, Ngoma reviewed and negotiated two properties for possible lease. Ward 4 Fort Totten and Ward 6 Rhode Island Ave. Due to a conflicting agreement clause and a competing gym tenant, neither space was secured. However, cost estimates and design plans for the project are complete.
Image: Brokers Discussing at Fort Totten Space
With Quinn Evans’s aid, Ngoma discovered its three-phase design structure. The first phase will provide Ngoma with a DC operational space for the organization. The second phase will enhance the initial space, while the final phase provides the fully realized design. Moreover, Ngoma Center for Dance obtained the expertise of Theatre Projects Consultants, an international firm assisting small and large arts spaces globally with offices in New York and London.
“DC hasn’t had a new Black-led dance facility since the early 2000s. That’s more than 23 years. With our own space, we would be gifted with the ability to expand our reach and further our programming impact. I look forward to seeing this through.” – Shawn Short, Founding Director
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Ngoma Center for Dance is the home of Dissonance Dance Theatre (founded in 2007) and its award-winning programs based in the Washington, DC area. DDT is named “one of the 11 small-but-mighty dance companies outside of LA and NYC” by Dance Spirit Magazine. Evoking emotional experiences in the audiences we touch, is the only East Coast, nationally recognized, Black-managed contemporary ballet company between NYC and ATL. For more information, visit www.ngcfddt.org