Maggie Allesee National Center for Choreography (MANCC)

07/02/2026

nora chipaumire’s history with MANCC runs deep. She first came to MANCC as a collaborator in 2005 and 2008 with Urban Bush Women and then returned in 2008-2009 to further the development of “lions will roar, swans will fly, angels will wrestle heaven, rains will break: gukurahundi.” In 2015 she returned to develop “portrait of myself as my father.”

“lions will roar...” examined art making in Zimbabwe and the complexities of what it means to live outside of one’s native culture; at MANCC chipaumire collaborated with Zimbabwean musicians Thomas Mapfumo and Blacks Unlimited to further the musical score. “lions will roar...” premiere at The Kumble Theater for the Performing Arts in 2010.

While developing “portrait of myself as my father” at MANCC chipaumire deeply engaged in research resources including visiting a boxing gym with Dr. Joab Corey for movement research, a scholar meeting with Religion Professor Dr. Joseph Hellweg and Ethnomusicologist Dr. Frank Gunderson, and developing a soundscape with Tallahassee Sound Designer Calvin Jones. “portrait of myself as my father” premiered at Montclair State University in 2016.

Photos:
1. 2015 nora chipaumire, Pape Ibrahima Ndiaye, and FSU Dance alum Shamar Watt (BFA 2015)
2. 2015 chipaumire
3. 2015 Ndiaye
4. 2015 Dr. Joab Corey, chipaumire, and collaborators
5. 2009 chipaumire
6. 2015 Watt
7. 2015 Ndiaye

06/24/2026

Pioneer Winter developed his latest work, "Apollo", in part during a residency at MANCC in 2024. While at MANCC Winter met with Dr. Chris Martin, Assistant Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at FSU to discuss Dr. Martin’s research on how aging affects long-term memory—a core inspiration shaping the choreography and themes of his project.

The Pioneer Winter Collective makes its American Dance Festival debut with "Apollo" Thursday June 25th.

06/23/2026

Don't miss the New York Times feature on Pioneer Winter Collective's "Apollo" - the work was developed, in part, during their November 2024 MANCC residency and will premiere this Thursday, June 25th, at American Dance Festival.

Pioneer Winter’s works expand ideas about who gets to be a professional dancer. In “Apollo,” his muses are older dancers, who are like living archives.

06/18/2026

Legacy Artist Sara Shelton Mann and collaborator, Jesse Zaritt, came to MANCC in 2024 to further develop their body of work, a series of duets and solos entitled “moving alchemy: puzzles/propositions/journeys”.

This generative residency furthered their work "Within the Heart” and provided material for Mann’s book “MOVING ALCHEMY” (published 2024) which was funded, in part, by MANCC’s writers' program. "Within the Heart” premiered at Dance Mission Theater in San Francisco in February 2024.

Step inside their creative practice in this newly released research highlights video that showcases residency footage and read more about their residency at mancc.org.

Mann’s residency and the Embedded Writer Program were supported, in part, by the Mellon Foundation.

https://dance.fsu.edu/artist/sara-shelton-mann-with-jesse-zaritt/

MANCC Residency: January 23 – February 5, 2024 Legacy Artist Sara Shelton Mann and collaborator, Jesse Zaritt, came to MANCC in 2024 to further develop their body of work, a series of duets and solos entitled moving alchemy: puzzles/propositions/journeys. Filmed and Edited by MANCC's Media Special...

06/12/2026

Living Legacy Artist Liz Lerman developed her work “Healing Wars” over two MANCC residencies in November 2013 and May 2014. Through deep research and development, the work dealt with the impact that war leaves behind, both physically and abstractly. Focusing on the connections between the American Civil War and contemporary wars of the 2000’s in Iraq and Afghanistan, “Healing Wars” centered the embodied experience of combat and recovery.

Lerman embedded her process within the FSU and veteran communities. The team - including acclaimed actor Bill Pullman - collaborated with combat medics, engineering researchers specializing in advanced prosthetics, and Vietnam War veteran nurse Dr. Deanna Epley—who joined the performers on stage to share her story. Lerman folded this research into the final work which premiered at Arena Stage in June 6-29, 2014.

Liz Lerman Projects

05/22/2026

Wally Cardona came to MANCC in 2009 to further the development of REALLY REAL—a work The New York Times dubbed his "people piece." Critic Gia Kourlas noted its theatricalization of Kierkegaard’s ideas, describing it as a grand search for human connection: "If you strip everything else away, love is all that matters."

Following its development at MANCC, REALLY REAL premiered at the International Festival of Arts and Ideas before heading to BAM’s Next Wave Festival.

Since then, Cardona has continued to push boundaries and connect people and will present TIMES FOUR - a work honoring David Gordon at the American Dance Festival at the end of May.

Please visit mancc.org to watch the full MANCC video and learn more about Cardona’s 2009 residency.

20 years of movement. 20 years of process. 20 years of artist support.



Collaborators: Julian Barnett, Kana Kimura, Omagbitse Omagbemi, Stuart Singer, Francis Stansky, and Joanna Kotze.

Research highlights of Wally Cardona in the development of "REALLY REAL" MANCC Residency: March 28 - April 11, 2009 Collaborators in Residence: Rick Murray [lighting designer], Julian Barnett, Kana Kimura, Joanna Kotze, Omagbitse Omagbemi, Stuart Singer and Francis Stansky [dancers] Filmed & Edited....

05/19/2026

Sending a MANCC congratulations to NYC tonight as Movement Research honors Okwui Okpokwasili, Peter Born, and Eleanor Savage at the 2026 Gala!

After being in residence with Ralph Lemon for two MANCC residencies in 2010 (How Can You Stay In The House All Day...) and 2014 (Scaffold Room), Okpokwasili returned to MANCC with Born to further the development of Bronx Gothic (2012) and Poor People’s TV Room (2016) over multiple residencies.

05/14/2026

Jeanine Durning came first to MANCC in 2008 as a performer with Deborah Hay and returned in 2018-2019 to develop her solo work "dark matter, selfish portrait" over multiple residencies. At MANCC she met with experts in physics, philosophy, and English literature, investigating the theory of dark matter, discussing Samuel Beckett’s influence on the search for meaning, and exploring feminist philosophy.



As part of the embedded writer's program, writer Jenn Joy accompanied Durning’s second residency. The resulting book, commissioned by MANCC, “nonstopping” featuring essays, a glossary, photos from the residency, and reflections on the process of making “dark matter, selfish portrait.”



Multi-residency and embedded writer support was provided by the Mellon Foundation.



20 years of movement. 20 years of process. 20 years of artist support.

05/08/2026

Alice Sheppard came to MANCC in 2017 to further the development of "DESCENT", a work that explores the experience known to all users of wheels: the raw pleasure of flying free down a slope. As part of the residency, Sheppard worked with collaborators to refine the lighting and the construction of the ramp, an architectural set piece integral to the work. "DESCENT" premiered in 2018 at New York Live Arts. Photos and video available on mancc.org

20 years of movement. 20 years of process. 20 years of artist support.

Kinetic Light

MANCC Residency: August 25 - September 8, 2017 Collaborators in Residence: Laurel Lawson [Dancer], Michael Maag [Lighting and Video Designer], Joseph Futral [Technical Director], Lisa Niedermeyer [Performance Coach], Carrie Sandahl and Jerron Herman [Writers]. Filmed by Tiffanie Pough and Chris Came...

05/07/2026

Congratulations to Mariana Valencia on the premiere of "Jacklean (Jacklean)" at ODC Theater in San Fransico this past weekend. We are honored to have supported Valencia and musician Jazzy Romero during their March 2024 residency, where they explored improvisatory choreographic scores, music, and text. Photos and video from the making of the work are available on mancc.org

MANCC Residency: March 18-31, 2024 Collaborator in Residence: Jazzy Romero [Musician] Filmed by Chris Cameron, Emmett Higgins, and Gemma Leary Edited by Chris Cameron This residency was supported, in part, by the Mellon Foundation "Jacklean (in rehearsal)" will premiere at MOMA from March 12 - 23, 2...