The PC  }  About

Each season, the Northwest Professional Dance Project (NWPDP) invites an elite and talented group of experienced NWPDP dancers back to the Project and to join the PC.

That's what the PC is -- a professional core of returning NWPDP dancers that performs works from our extensive repertoire, collaborates with contemporary choreographers on new dance works and participates in our Dance Moves community outreach program and other events during the season.

What does "PC" stand for? Well, it most likely means Project Company.
But it could also mean Physical Creators.
or Professional Core
or Performing Cohorts
It might even mean Perfect Combination.
or People's Choice
or Pursuing Culture
And it could even mean Pretty Cool or Party Central.

What's in a name, anyways?

Take your pick. Create your own PC meanings and email us your suggestions.

The PC was launched in the summer of 2007 (though it remained nameless until late November) as part of NWPDP's ongoing mission to support the development of young, emerging artists. The PC is comprised of up to 10 top dancers who have excelled through NWPDP's intensive three-week Project. The PC presents new and established works by leading national and international choreographers that have been created specifically for NWPDP, participates in our innovative Dance Moves community outreach program that brings dance directly to under-served youth in the Northwest throughout the year, and is involved with a number of other NWPDP events and performances.

Under the artistic direction of Sarah Slipper, NWPDP mentors and develops young professional artists and provides choreographers open forums to create new dance works without constraints, restrictions or commercial expectations. The combined energy and artistic freedom consistently results in amazingly creative and inspired original dance works.

The results have been extraordinary -- in just four years NWPDP has fostered the creation of over 30 innovative new creations from Donald McKayle, Luca Veggetti, Sarah Slipper, James Canfield, Lauri Stallings, Lucas Crandall, Paul Vasterling, Cayetano Soto and Thaddeus Davis, to name a few.

The PC features returning NWPDP dancers displaying brilliant versatility and virtuosity in our diverse, original repertoire that inspires, engages and delights audiences. These dance works and our incredible PC dancers are just too good to not be shared with, and enjoyed by, a wider audience.

The Oregonian described the PC as "an impressive distillation of what Slipper has been doing right since she launched the Project in 2004."