SARAH COUNCIL DANCE PROJECTS

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

Established in 2007 in New York City, SCDP is now based in Charlotte, North Carolina where they continue to develop and perform new work, and conduct community engagement efforts.

SCDP’s works range from intimate observations of daily life and relationships, to wider focused explorations of concerns facing our larger community, country and world. Council’s 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.

SCDP has performed and taught extensively throughout New York City and the east coast region. Council’s choreography has been presented at 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) Stephen Hyers Theatre (NC) and Petra’s (NC).

SCDP has received support from organizations including; 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 has received commissions for choreography; notably from Kinetic Works/NC Choreographer’s Residency Project where SCDP was a 2022/23 company in residence (NC), Winthrop University (NC). North Carolina Dance Alliance/North Carolina Dance Festival where she received the New Works Award, The Jacksonville Episcopal School (FL) and Glema Mahr Center for the Arts (KY) with support from a South Arts Regional Touring Grant.

SCDP’s education program Move Create and Collaborate: k-12 arts-integrated and PD movement residencies and workshops has been implemented in several Charlotte Mecklenburg Public Schools and featured at Wake County Arts Council’s Arts Integration Institute. Council is an A+ Fellow with A+ Schools of North Carolina and is celebrating her 10th year as dance teaching artist with the Wolf Trap Institute of Early Learning Through the Arts (DC, NJ, NC, VA). She also has experience teaching dance and dance-making in community spaces in person and virtually (centers, libraries, ZOOM etc.).

SCDP’s Dancing the Poem Workshop Series had been supported by of the Arts and Science Council (NC) Culture Blocks programs and Charlotte Mecklenburg Public Libraries.  Additionally, she has had the opportunity to teach in numerous studio settings over her extensive career: Dance Place (DC), Joy of Motion (DC), American Dance Institute (DC), Glen Echo Park (DC), Ebb and Flow (NC).

Council Is also a Certified GYROTONIC® and GYROKENISIS ® instructor and loves introducing people to this powerful system. She invites her clients to experience the joy of moving while building strength, flexibility and range of motion! She is offering classes online and in person. Find out more: www.sarahcouncil.com Council has a BFA from the University of Oklahoma