Sarah Council Dance Projects

Sarah Council Dance Projects (SCDP) is a Charlotte-based contemporary modern dance company founded by choreographer Sarah Council. SCDP is focused on dance research, investigation, creation and performance and works to share these experiences with others through presentations, workshops and residencies.

SCDP has performed and taught extensively throughout New York City and the east coast region.

Council’s works range from intimate observations of daily life and relationships, to wider focused explorations of pressing social justice issues. Her dances emerge from a collection of personal experiences, research and observations. They are shaped by extended periods of investigation that give rise to an intimacy between the dancers that is deeply felt by audiences. Council’s movement explores momentum, dynamic contrast and breath, while maintaining a physical and emotional clarity that is detailed and precise. Her choreography is grounded in a visceral theatricality - producing dances that are thought-provoking and emotionally transporting.   

Her work was described as “…uncommonly honest and expressive” by the Washington Post. 

Council’s choreography has been presented in numerous venues in NYC, including: The Green Building, The 92nd St. Y, The LaGuardia Performing Arts Center, Times Square Arts Center, The Flea Theater, The Secret Theater, The LABA Theater, The Riverside Theatre, Green Space, Triskelion Arts, Topaz Arts, Merce Cunningham Studio, Dance New Amsterdam, and Gowanus Arts. Council’s work has also been presented at the following venues in Washington, DC, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Florida and North Carolina: Dance Place (DC), The Jack Guidone Theater (DC), Franklin Marshall University (PA), Glema Mahr Center for the Arts (KY), Jacksonville Episcopal School (FL), Meredith College (NC), Bennett College (NC), The Duke Energy Theater (NC) and Goodyear Arts (NC). 

SCDP has received support from the  Arts and Science Council, Queens Council on the Arts, The Puffin Foundation and The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. She was awarded the North Carolina Dance Alliance/North Carolina Dance Festival New Works Award. 

SCDP presents public performances yearly through showcases, festivals and self-produced performances. SCDP offers additional opportunities for public engagement throughout their creative process by hosting open-rehearsals and community-based dance-making workshops. As a dance educator, Council believes that the creative process is empowering and transformative for individuals and communities. Sharing this process is a passion and priority for SCDP. In this effort, Council has conducted residencies, presented lecture demonstrations and taught master classes and dance-making workshops to people of all ages and abilities throughout New York City, New Jersey, Washington DC, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Florida and North Carolina. SCDP offers Move Create and Collaborate: arts- integrated creative dance residencies for K-12. 

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