The Dance Now! Ensemble

Dance Now!, in residence at Miami’s Little Haiti Cultural Center, was founded in 2000 by Diego Salterini and Hannah Baumgarten through a chance encounter at PAN, a South Florida dance collective. The two quickly became dance partners and creative collaborators; their work bridges their diverse backgrounds in ballet, modern dance, and jazz, creating poetic narrative and theatrical artistry filled with fierce athleticism.

Dance Now!’s collaborative international style has received critical and popular acclaim both at the local and the national level. The company’s work has been presented in 10 states and three continents by among others, Ballet Estable del Teatro Colon, Michael Uthoff Dance Theatre, Interlochen Center for the Arts, and the Dance Gallery Festival of New York. The directors have created ten full-length evenings of dance and over 50 shorter works, working both individually and collaboratively. DNE has presented the work of guest choreographers Michael Uthoff, Tauna Hunter, Josée Garant and Colleen Farnum. Dance Now! has garnered prestigious awards including: Best Experimental Dance Company (Miami Sun Post) and Top Ten Dance Events of the Year (Miami Herald). At the Little Haiti Cultural Center, the company rehearses, performs, and teaches classes for children and adults. Their “Dance In Public Schools” educational outreach program reaches over 5,000 children annually with master classes, workshops and performances as well as an apprenticeship program nurturing tomorrow’s talent.