2000's

From 2000 - 2003, Melanie Stewart Dance Theatre renewed its vision to include a focus on mentoring affiliate artists, production. During this time the company produced several original works by then Artistic Associate Paule Turner and his ensemble c o u r t, and works by Julia Ritter’s Performance Group as well as several independent artists through their performing venue known as Dancehouse. The works of Melanie Stewart and affiliate artists were performed in Edinburgh Scotland and in Philadelphia at Dance Boom!, The Wilma Theatre, The Arts Bank, the Philadelphia Live Arts Festival, Philly Fringe, Plays and Players Theatre, Conwell Dance Theater and The Painted Bride Arts Center.

In 2003 MSDT established the nEW Festival as dance driven-artist fueled cooperative production initiative which included the previous “Dancehouse” program. . As the producing agent of the nEW Festival, MSDT was awarded Best Dance Venue in the Fringe in 2003 by The Philadelphia City Paper and in 2006 the company won runner up for Best Dance Company from Philadelphia Style Magazine.

During this time, Melanie Stewart continued her collaborative work with European based artists and completed a trilogy of work begun a decade earlier with the production of Babel in 2005 which was performed at DanceBoom! and again at the 2005 Philadelphia Live Arts Festival. She also created other works including The Gathering (2003), The Girl With Bees in Her Hair (2006) and A Simple Fact of Pain (2007). Her most recent work on KILL ME NOW premiered at the Live Arts Festival in September 2009.

For information to book a workshop contact Melanie Stewart.