Peter Pucci Named New Artistic Director of the Steffi Nossen Dance Foundation

Choreographer Peter Pucci has been appointed Artistic Director of the Steffi Nossen Dance Foundation as of January 2014. The appointment has been announced by Executive Director Kaylen Ratto Giannini.

"On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Steffi Nossen Dance Foundation, I'm thrilled that the illustrious Peter Pucci has joined the Steffi family to bring an exemplary artistic direction to our students and community. With Peter at the helm, we expect our students to gain remarkable exposure to the contemporary dance world and to grow exponentially as artists. In addition to our stellar faculty, Steffi dancers continue to have the most qualified and passionate instructors in all of Westchester County." - Kaylen Ratto Giannini, Executive Director.

Pucci, a 20 year resident of Mt. Kisco, brings four decades of award-winning international experience as a dancer, choreographer, and teacher to his new role. He will begin his tenure as producer of the Foundation's annual Community and Benefit Concerts to take place at the SUNY Purchase Performing Arts Center March 27 - 29. He is currently setting a new work on the Steffi Nossen Dance Company to be premiered on the program.

A graduate of the North Carolina School of the Arts with a BFA in Modern Dance, Pucci was a principal dancer, choreographer and rehearsal director with Pilobolus Dance Theatre for nine years, touring internationally, before forming his own company, Peter Pucci Plus Dancers (PP+). PP+ has performed extensively, including six seasons at New York's Joyce Theater. Pucci has created ballets for many of the top ballet companies including the Joffrey Ballet and the Dance Theater of Harlem. He works as a Movement Director for theater productions regionally and in NYC including recent productions at New York's Roundabout Theatre Company, Washington, DC's Shakespeare Theatre Company, and the Big Apple Circus. Most recently Pucci was commissioned to create the choreography for "Dream On By" with music by Paul Simon for the State Street Ballet in California. He is an Artist in Residence at Manhattanville College, and a guest artist at the Juilliard School of Drama.

Among his many choreography awards are a Special Drama Desk Award for work in Horton Foote's "Orphan's Home Cycle", Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Choreographer for "Queens Boulevard (the musical", and ArtsWestchester Artist of the Year.

Pucci will oversee the artistic vision of the Foundation, Choreography Showcase, Benefit and Community Concerts, Guest Artist Series and Master Class programs. Mr. Pucci stated on his appointment, "It is with great pleasure that I accept the position of Artistic Director of the Steffi Nossen Dance Foundation. I look forward to sharing all the experience and knowledge that I've gained through my work with professional dance and theater companies and to join my experience with that of the SNDF's visionary history and incredible faculty, staff, students and community. I've had the good fortune to work with Steffi Nossen dancers in the past as a choreographer and I have always admired the level of commitment, integrity and tradition that the School embodies. My goal is to increase our level of excellence, to implement professional protocols, to broaden our student base, to add appropriate repertory and to support in every way what I feel is one of the very best dance schools in the country."

The Steffi Nossen Dance Foundation, formerly the Dance in Education Fund, is a 77-year-old not-for-profit dance advocacy and community outreach organization, which seeks to foster the arts in Westchester County. The Foundation supports and promotes arts, allowing for dance education and performances to be available to broad and diverse populations. Through significant artist support, outreach classes and free performances, the Foundation introduces dance to traditionally underserved children and adults. Through the support of the Foundation, the Steffi Nossen School of Dance enables all students, including those with special needs, the opportunity to participate in their extensive programs and classes in a supportive, non-competitive environment. A generous financial aid and scholarship program supports those with significant economic challenges. With a sterling reputation in the industry, Steffi Nossen is a leader among dance schools, focusing on the growth of students' mind, body. spirit and character. For more information, please visit us at http://www.steffinossen.org or call us at 914-328-1900.