Dance/NYC Names Alejandra Duque Cifuentes Executive Director

Dance/NYC and Board Chair Elissa D. Hecker have announced today the appointment of Alejandra Duque Cifuentes as Executive Director. Ms. Duque Cifuentes officially steps into the role after serving as the organization's Acting Executive Director during the nationwide search, conducted by Management Consultants for the Arts.

"The Board unanimously approved this appointment," Dance/NYC Board Chair Elissa D. Hecker said today. "Alejandra leads by example with passion and integrity. She inspires others to think deeply and thoughtfully. Together, we will both honor Lane Harwell's legacy and work to implement a new strategic vision for Dance/NYC. We are extremely excited to continue working with someone who has dedicated herself to dance, with a commitment to justice, equity, and inclusion."

Since establishing itself as an independent nonprofit organization in 2013 under Executive Director Lane Harwell, Dance/NYC has grown its work to promote the knowledge, practice, performance and appreciation of dance in the metropolitan New York City area among residents and visitors alike, supporting over 5,000 individual dance artists and 1,200 dance-making entities. As Executive Director, Ms. Duque Cifuentes aims to continue Dance/NYC's legacy of dance advocacy and support.

"It is an immense honor to join a thriving legacy of leaders in dance and to serve this expansive community of dance makers and cultural workers who have for generations stewarded New York City's blossoming dance ecosystem," said Ms. Duque Cifuentes. "This work is for them, and ultimately it belongs to them. Together, I look forward to creating a dance ecology wherein power, funding, opportunities, conduct, and impacts are just for all artists, cultural workers, and audiences."

Dance/NYC is committed to creating a more just, equitable, and inclusive dance ecology. Its work is currently focused on three issue areas: Racial Justice, to dismantle white supremacy in dance and amplify the voices and autonomy of the African, Latina/o/x, Asian, Arab, and Native American (ALAANA) communities; Disability. Dance. Artistry., to advance a cultural ecosystem that expressly includes disabled artists and disability communities; and Immigrants. Dance. Arts., launched in 2018 to dismantle xenophobia in dance and extend the role of dance artistry in fostering the inclusion, integration, and human rights of more than three million immigrants in the New York City metropolitan area.