Gotham Arts Exchange Announces Curators for FOCUS 2014

Gotham Arts Exchange announces the curators for FOCUS 2014, to be held from January 7-13, 2014. FOCUS 2014 is produced by Gotham Arts Exchange. FOCUS DANCE at The Joyce Theater will be curated by Laurie Uprichard and DANCE GOTHAM at New York University's Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, will be curated by Jodee Nimerichter.

DANCE GOTHAM and FOCUS DANCE are both part of FOCUS 2014, the International Platform to promote American dance both abroad and nationally. The week-long platform presents performances of U.S.-based dance companies during the annual Arts Presenters Conference in New York City, and one of the largest gatherings of presenters, programmers and dance professionals in North America. In January 2014, four venues partner with Gotham Arts Exchange to present the artistic visions of the curators gathered to shape the 2014 edition of FOCUS.

Currently a freelance consultant and producer, Laurie Uprichard served as Director of the Dublin Dance Festival from 2007-2011, overseeing its transition to an annual festival and expanding its international visibility, audience outreach, and support of the local dance community. From 1992-2007, Laurie was Executive Director of Danspace Project in New York City, a period of significant programmatic and budget growth for this dance presenter based in the historic landmark St. Mark's Church. She served as Managing Director of Urban Bush Women from 1991-92 and as the company's Producing Director until January 1996. From 1984-1991, she was associated with Dance Theater Workshop, serving the last three years as Managing Director and Co-Producer. She was a staff member in various programs at the New York State Council on the Arts between 1973 and 1981. In addition, she toured briefly as Company Manager with Meredith Monk/The House. A former dancer, she performed with Kei Takei's Moving Earth for five years, as well as with Irene Feigenheimer, Barbara Roan, and Wendy Woodson. Laurie Uprichard currently serves on the Board of Danspace Project; has twice served on the Board of Dance/USA, chairing its Presenters Council from 2002-2004; and has served as a board member of Movement Research. She is a Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters in the French Ministry of Culture and received a 2008 New York Dance and Performance (Bessie) Award for her service to the field. She holds an M.B.A. with a concentration in Marketing from The American University and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Miami.

Jodee Nimerichter is the Director of American Dance Festival. Ms. Nimerichter most recently served as the festival's Associate Director from 2003 to 2007 and Co-Director from 2007 to 2011. She also worked for the Festival from 1991 to 1999 in numerous capacities, beginning as an intern. Ms. Nimerichter currently serves as a Hubsite for the National Dance Project, on the Advisory Board of Emory College Center for Creativity & Arts, and as a Board Member for Durham Central Park. She is also the curator for the 2013 Focus Dance in New York City.

Prior to returning to ADF, Ms. Nimerichter was a production member of Great Performances: Dance in America at Thirteen/WNET New York. There she co-produced the award-winning performance documentary, Born to Be Wild: The Leading Men of American Ballet Theatre (2002) featuring Jose Manuel Carreño (Cuba), Angel Corella (Spain), VLADIMIR MALAKHOV (Russia) and Ethan Stiefel (USA), and a new work created specially for them by Mark Morris. Ms. Nimerichter also co-produced television recordings of the Broadway revival of The Women, starring Cynthia Nixon and Kristen Johnston, and the Broadway musical Fosse. She was an associate producer for the live broadcast of the Broadway production The Man Who Came To Dinner and Fosse Millennium 2000. Most recently she produced ADF's Dancing in the Light (2007), a program showcasing six historic works by African American choreographers, for PBS.

Ms. Nimerichter graduated from New York University (NYU) with a degree in performing arts administration. During college she held internships at ADF, Jacob's Pillow Dance, and Changing Times Tap Dancing Company. In addition, she worked on the dance component of NYU's first Gallatin Arts Festival. She has served on the board of directors for Mark Dendy Dance & Theatre and worked on special projects for numerous dance companies.

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