In 2018, dancers Hannah Klinkman and Louisa Mejeur founded the Rhode Island Women’s Choreography Project (RIWCP) with support from an anonymous donor and Festival Ballet Providence (now Ballet RI). The first year gave eight women statewide the chance to choreograph a dance work—some for the first time.

 

In its second year, RIWCP served twelve female-identifying choreographers and over thirty dancers under the directorship of Kristy DuBois, Melissa Wong, and Eugenia Zinovieva. The event featured dancers from Festival Ballet, Island Moving Company (now Newport Contemporary Ballet), North Atlantic Dance Theatre, and local freelance artists, selling out a weekend of performances at the AS220 Blackbox.

 

The COVID-19 pandemic halted plans for a 2020 project, allowing RIWCP to assess its goals and build a plan for the future. In 2021, we presented a virtual program with dance films from six women choreographers nationwide and launched the RIWCP mentorship program, offering creators additional resources to deepen their creative process. We also changed our mission statement to include nonbinary and gender expansive language as a first step towards greater inclusivity.

 

2022 marked our first season as a 501(c)3 nonprofit. The following year, Kristy DuBois became sole Executive Director as Eugenia Zinovieva transitioned to the position of Board President.

 

2024 signifies the start of a new chapter for the organization, as we change our name to the Choreography Project. Under this new name, the organization deepens its commitment to serving not only female choreographers, but also non-binary, trans, and all artists who find that their identity is under-represented in the dance world. We provide a platform for these choreographers to hone their skills in a safe, welcoming environment guided by expert mentors in the field, empowering these artists to lead, make connections, and redefine the future of dance.