ACFDance: About ACFDance

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ACFDance, Inc. (a.k.a. AdrienneCelesteFadjoDANCE) is a professional modern dance company based in New York City. Under the Artistic Direction of Adrienne Celeste Fadjo, the company performs pieces of "psychological complexity and depth" (The Brooklyn Rail, 2003) that range in both movement style and choreographic approach. Fadjo's work--primarily rooted in, but not limited to modern dance--is strongly based on music, and always explores the human condition. ACFDance performs choreography that represents life in its truest form, in the flesh, through dance.

AdrienneCelesteFadjoDANCE was officially founded in August 2001, a few months after Adrienne graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Pursuing dance in Boston, Adrienne asked four people she met in dance classes if they'd like to dance for her. A few months later, AdrienneCelesteFadjoDANCE presented themselves to the world for the first time with High Street, An Evening of Modern Dance at the Green Street Studios (Cambridge, MA) on December 14 & 15, 2001. Thea Singer from The Boston Globe reviewed the show with an article entitled, "Young choreographer rises to the challenge." Shortly thereafter, in March 2002, Adrienne moved to New York City and took ACFDance with her.

After showing works in a number of venues, the still-forming company held their first audition on Saturday, April 19, 2003 at the Mark Morris Dance Center in Brooklyn, NY. On July 11 & 12, 2003, ACFDance held their second evening-length concert (and NY premiere) at the Merce Cunningham Studio in Manhattan. Over 150 people came to see the show and offoffoff.com and The Brooklyn Rail submitted reviews.

Just before the show went up in July, ACFDance was invited to present another full-evening concert at Joyce SoHo in January 2004. In May 2004, ACFDance returned to MA to perform at the Reunion Weekend for Adrienne's high school, Lawrence Academy, in Groton, MA with Brian Feigenbaum (a former teacher and close friend of Adrienne). In December 2004, ACFDance, Inc. became recognized by the State of New York as a non-profit organization with help from an Organizational Grant from Fractured Atlas.

In January 2005, ACFDance was presented by For Dance, Inc. at the Association of Performing Arts Presenters Conference (APAP) in Manhattan. That same month, ACFDance was invited to present a evening-length concert at The Puffin Room in SoHo. A few weeks later, the company quickly held their second audition at Dance Theater Workshop and prepared for the show. HOMEwork: A Benefit Concert & Sneak Preview of HOME went up in March 2005 to sold-out crowds. In an October 2005 preview article entitled "10 Reasons Why New York is Hard to Beat," Pia Catton from The New York Sun listed "HOME" as one of fall 2005's dance shows not to be missed alongside companies such as the New York City Ballet and Alvin Ailey Dance Theater. The company premiered HOME at their 4th Annual NYC Season at the 14th Street Y on November 3-5, 2005, which included collaborations with painter Jennie Traill Schaeffer and Lighting Designer Jeffrey E. Salzberg. CriticalDance.com and the Village Voice reviewed the show.

In January 2006, over 105 people registered for the company's third Audition, held at the City Center Studios and the FAR Space. ACFDance performed with David Wes Dance at The Dance Complex, Cambridge, MA in February 2006. March brought invitations for the company to teach classes to the students of Skidmore College and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Then, For Dance, Inc. invited ACFDance to present their 5th New York City season as part of the International Dance Festival, where they performed "Quintennial: Celebrating 5 Years of ACFDance" in July. Since March of 2006, ACFDance formed their first Board of Directors and Advisory Board, in addition to applying for tax-exempt status.

The 6th annual company season took place in June 2007 at the Abrons Art Center, which was the company's best annual season yet. In this tribute to the musical masterminds, "Masters in Motion" was an evening of works that celebrated the classic music of Mozart and new music of moby (shared exclusively with ACFDance before its US release!). That same month, the company was awarded their tax-exempt status and no longer had to be fiscally supported by outside arts organizations to receive and manage donations.

The year of 2008 marked continued financial growth for the company, as increased personal donations and a paid Artist-in-Residence program fully supported all artistic endeavors for the year. At the Lenox Hill Neighborhood House, ACFDance participated in multiple educational events and performances with over 100 children between January and June. Their residency culimated in a "Second Sundays" performance where repertory and new works entertained neighborhood residents and Lenox Hill members. In September, the company toured to the Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center in Cambridge, MA to present "In Mixed Company" with long-time friend and choreographer, Brian Feigenbaum. Feigenbaum presented work on guest company Guidance, Inc., a Fitchburg, MA-based modern dance company that is co-directed by Tony Guglietti, a former dance inspiration and high school friend of Adrienne.

ACFDance has performed at the following venues in NEW YORK, NY (MANHATTAN):

92nd Street Y Harkness Dance Center, Dance Space Center, Broadway Dance Center, The Duke Theater on 42nd Street, 14th Street Y Theater, Dixon Place, The Hatch at Jennifer Muller/The Works, Peridance Center, Broome Corner Studio, The Flea Theater, Pier 63 at Chelsea Piers, Joyce SoHo, The DiCapo Opera Theater, Alvin Ailey Studios (at the 2005 APAP Conference), Lenox Hill Neigborhood House, Merce Cunningham Studio, Hudson Guild Theater, and University Settlement.

in BROOKLYN, NY:

One Arm Red, Spoke the Hub, White Wave Dance, BRIC/Brooklyn Information & Culture, and Williamsburg Arts NeXus.

and in these other U.S. STATES:

American College Dance Festival in Lewiston, MAINE; The Dance Complex, Green Street Studios, and the Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center in Cambridge, MASSACHUETTS; the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and Hampshire College, Amherst, MASSACHUSETTS; Lawrence Academy High School and The Groton School, Groton, MASSACHUSETTS, DeBaun Auditorium in Hoboken, NEW JERSEY.

Dance Paws are the offical shoes of ACFDance.