Choreography Project

New Beginnings RECAP 🎉 ❤️

This past weekend, Choreography Project presented two shows, New Beginnings, for the first-time ever in our new venue, the auditorium at Hope High School. Featuring six world premieres by Nina Yoshida-Webster, Simon Montalvo, Hannah Franz, Ava Grebe, Alyah Baker, and Deanna Gerde, as well as works by this year’s Alumni Spotlight: Dara Capley and the Hope Fellow: Shannon Mullaney. Congratulations to our talented choreographers and dancers. We are grateful for all who came to support and we can’t wait to share more!

New Beginnings was sponsored by Providence Tourism Council, Papitto Opportunity Connection, AS220, Providence Ballet Theatre, The City of Providence Department of Art, Culture + Tourism, and RISCA

📹: New Beginnings, Choreography Project 2025

NEW BEGINNINGS CHOREOGRAPHER HIGHLIGHT // Hannah Franz

Today is the last day of week two for Choreography Project 2025. Our show, New Beginnings, is happening at the end of this month! We’ve been highlighting the choreographers that are part of this year’s cohort. Meet Hannah Franz!

Hannah Franz is a Boston-based dancer, choreographer, and teaching artist from Long Island, NY. Franz holds a BFA in Dance from Adelphi University, where she spent a semester abroad at London Contemporary Dance School and completed an internship with GALLIM. She is incredibly grateful to have worked professionally with an array of companies and artists including Douglas and Co., Ji Hee Lee, Dishman & Co., Jessi Stegall, Dara Capley, Ilya Vidrin, AMC Network, Theresa Jimmerson, Chavi Bansal, Eli Dewitz, Margot Aknin, Andrews Movement, Cassie Wang, and others. Hannah’s choreography has been presented by Adelphi University, Beyond the Bounds, Holy Trinity High School, The Craft NYC, and Urbanity Dance. Franz currently dances with Partnering Lab, as well as other freelance projects in and around Boston.

Catch the premiere of her work on August 24 through our link in bio and tune into our IG stories today for a takeover by one of Hannah’s dancers,

New Beginnings is sponsored by Providence Tourism Council, Papitto Opportunity Connection, AS220, Providence Ballet Theatre, The City of Providence Department of Art, Culture + Tourism, and RISCA

📸 (1) Hannah’s Rehearsal in Residency, (2, 3) Heidi and Jonathan Denney of Exclusive Image

NEW BEGINNINGS CHOREOGRAPHER HIGHLIGHT // Deanna Gerde

We are four days into Choreography Project 2025! As we get closer to our show, we are highlighting the choreographers that will be featured in New Beginnings. Meet Deanna Gerde, who will be premiering work with us for the second time!

Deanna Gerde (she/her) was born in Syracuse, New York, and received her formal dance training from SUNY Brockport and The Joffrey Ballet School in Manhattan. She started her professional career as a freelance artist in Manhattan, and then danced with Ballet Arkansas for two seasons. In 2019, she moved to Rhode Island to dance with Newport Contemporary Ballet. Along with performing the work of various visiting choreographers, as well as that of NCB’s artistic director Danielle Genest, Deanna enjoys exploring her choreographic voice whenever she can. She has set work on the NCB Jr. Company, and teaches in the RI area. In 2023, Deanna presented her work with Choreography Project Providence, and in 2024 that work was performed at the Newport Dance Festival. In 2024 she also co-choreographed work with Katie Moorhead for Puddingstone Festival; an intimate classical concert series paired with movement. Most recently, Deanna participated in Cre8Dance Choreographic Competition 2025, with a piece choreographed alongside Benjamin Rabe, which was also performed at Newport Contemporary Ballet’s May repertory program.

Catch the premiere of her work on August 24 through our link in bio.

New Beginnings is sponsored by Providence Tourism Council, Papitto Opportunity Connection, AS220, Providence Ballet Theatre, The City of Providence Department of Art, Culture + Tourism, and RISCA

📸 (1, 2) Heidi and Jonathan Denney of Exclusive Image, (3,4,5,6,7) Deanna’s Rehearsal in Residency

New Beginnings is less than a month away! ⚡

Join us for our first performance at Hope High School’s auditorium featuring six emerging choreographers. These talented artists begin their residence with us next week and will present their latest works.

OUR CHOREOGRAPHERS:
- Nina Yoshida-Webster
- Simon Montalvo
- Hannah Franz
- Ava Grebe
- Alyah Baker
- Deanna Gerde

Don’t miss these performances on August 24, 2025 at 1:30 & 5:30! Learn more about the artists and purchase tickets through our link in bio.

New Beginnings is sponsored by Providence Tourism Council, Papitto Opportunity Connection, AS220, Providence Ballet Theatre, The City of Providence Department of Art, Culture + Tourism, and RISCA

📸: Heidi and Jonathan Denney of Exclusive Image

(1) Deanna Gerde and Hannah Franz (2) Alexis Von Maluski [dancer], Yazmine Akamine [dancer], Simon Montalvo (3) Alexis Von Maluski [dancer], Simon Montalvo, Nina Yoshida-Webster, Yazmine Akamine [dancer], Hannah Franz, Deanna Gerde