This popular Festival is a dynamic live platform for dancemakers and dancers to showcase their work and powerfully engages audiences around dance in the Coachella Valley. Exciting original dances in various styles are performed by companies from across the nation with winners announced at the conclusion of each performance. Saturday evening includes a Lifetime Achievement presentation, while Sunday afternoon showcases local dancers participating in East Valley Dance Project. Celebrating dance as an art form, this unique event delivers an exciting variety of new work created by inventive choreographers and performed by extraordinary dancers.

Saturday, November 9 at 7:00 PM

Choreographies by eleven finalists performed by professional dancers vie for top awards and a Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to Nappytabs, Emmy Award winning choreographers, directors and producers.

Finalists:

Natasha Adorlee/Concept o4 (San Francisco, CA)
Jaime Carabetta/Pony Box Dance Theatre (New York, NY)
Aidan Carberry, Jordan Johnson/JA Collective (Los Angeles, CA)
Sean Aaron Carmon/Vitacca Ballet (Houston, TX)
Joe Davis, Haley Heckethorn/HD Theatre (Los Angeles, CA)
Christina Ghiardi (Las Vegas, NV)
Ruben Graciani/RG Dance Projects (Harrisonburg, VA)
Jennifer Hart/Performa/Dance (Austin, TX)
Madison Hicks/Moving Forward (New York, NY)
Megan Lawson, Jillian Meyers, Dana Wilson/The Seaweed Sisters (Los Angeles, CA)
Carly Topazio/The Rosin Box Project (San Diego, CA)

Sunday, November 10 at 4:00 PM

Choreographies by nine finalists performed by dancers from emerging companies, colleges and studios with multiple awards up for grabs. Local students in East Valley Dance Project exhibit original choreography.

Finalists:

Nicole Berger/Orange County School of the Arts (Santa Ana, CA)
Gianna Burright (Ojai, CA)
Zachary Groenwold/Orange Coast College (Costa Mesa, CA)
Adam Hartley/Steps PDX (Portland, OR)
Marco Laudani, Claudio Scalia/The Premier Youth Dance Company (Tustin, CA)
Gunta Liepina-Miller/The Premier Youth Dance Company (Tustin, CA)
Rochelle Mapes/Mater Dei Dance Conservatory (Santa Ana, CA)
Michelle Shear/Mt. San Antonio College Repertory Dance Company (Walnut, CA)
Stella Sing Yiun Ng/Stellar Dance (Los Angeles, CA)