Our Story
A choreographic showcase for dance makers to present work with the option of receiving community feedback.
Detroit Dance Exchange was founded in 2018 to provide an annual performance platform for emerging artists in the city of Detroit. The mission behind DDE is to create a place of community and networking for dance makers in any stage of their choreographic process.
The key - communication.
At all Detroit Dance Exchange events, dance works or works in progress can be presented for audience feedback. There is no hierarchy. Anyone who attends an event can participate in giving anonymous, constructive commentary to help guide dance makers as they continue creating.
DDE believes that dance and art are essential to bringing a community together, and our incorporation of conversation makes that belief a reality.
Detroit Dance Exchange is a 501 (c)(3) non profit organization. All large donations are tax deductible.
“There are not a lot of forums for choreographers to receive feedback. Most things that we do are focused on the finished product. I was really excited to actually have the focus of an event be on the choreography itself. I appreciated that I was receiving critique from not only experienced artists that I admire, but also anyone attending with an unbiased opinion. It was extremely validating!”
- Carmen Craft, 2019 Presenter
“Detroit Dance Exchange was a great experience. Everything ran smoothly from tech to the performance and presenting work in Jam Handy just added to the overall experience. As a historic building it gave a certain atmosphere to everyone’s work. I presented 2 pieces in DDE last summer. The feedback given has been really helpful in thinking about how to develop my work further. I really appreciated that. It gave me a lot of food for thought.”
- Apryl Pipe, 2018 Presenter
“My time at Detroit Dance Exchange was special for me as an artist. I had just graduated from the Wayne State dance department in May of 2018 and this gave me an opportunity to continue my work as an artist in the Detroit area. A space and audience to give feedback in a non-academic setting is rare around this area, but Detroit Dance Exchange made that possible. For someone like me, who loves to show and see work, Detroit Dance Exchange was the perfect opportunity to make connections with the Detroit dance community.”
- Maria DiMarzio, 2018 Presenter
