The 8th New Waves! Institute will take place from 25 July to 1 August 2018 in Trinidad & Tobago. The weeklong program will engage participants in intensive dance classes and workshops, building community, and experiencing the unique cultural landscape of Trinidad & Tobago. New Waves! draws a stellar faculty of international dance artists and scholars each year: Dr. Sheron Wray is the 2018 Scholar-in-Residence. Faculty/Guest Artists will lead three tracks of focus: “Caribbean Futurisms” with Makeda Thomas (Founding Director) and André Zachery (Renegade Performance Group); “Caribbean Dance” with National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica choreographer and University of Wisconsin-Madison professor of dance, Christopher Walker and Haitian dance artist, Jean-Sebastian Duvilaire; and “Performance Art’ with performance artists Michelle Isava of Venezuela/Trinidad and Sheena Rose of Barbados. Additional faculty and guests will be listed as confirmed.

The 2018 edition of New Waves!, which was first developed in 2011, will feature 40 workshops, master classes and must-see performances. Trinidadian performance artist, Michelle Isava, is set to present a highly anticipated new performance work, and Sheena Rose will present a special performance of “Island and Monster” on Friday, 27 July at 7pm. Returning New Waves! Surfer (as participants are affectionately called) Alanna Morris-Van Tassel, one of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch” for 2018, will present a showing of “Yam, Potatoe an Fish!”.

In additional to a continued partnership with the University of Trinidad & Tobago/Academy for Performing Arts, New Waves! offers programming in partnership with Jouvay Ayiti’s Emancipation Mas Camp 2018 - “Faces of Freedom”. A new partnership with Art on Purpose will formalize its children’s program, with UHURU Movement and Music Workshops for Children led by Jamie Philbert.  

“We’re thrilled to be back in the Caribbean this year, after last year’s successful programming in the U.S. This New Waves! is unparalleled in its artistic quality, with its triple focus on “Caribbean Futurisms”, “Caribbean Dance” and “Performance Art”. There’s much to look forward to”, says Founding Director, Makeda Thomas.

FULL PROGRAM TUITION & FEES:  International - $875 USD for International; Local/CARICOM $500 USD. Includes registration for all workshops and master classes, special events, and local transportation. Housing and meals are not included. Financial assistance is available. The online application can be found here: https://form.jotform.co/80626445712860. Applications are due 16 April 2018.

New Waves! 2018 kicks off on Wednesday, 25 July at 10am with a Keynote Address by Scholar-in-Residence, Dr. Sheron Wray and an Opening Party at 7pm. For an up-to-date schedule of events, to register for New Waves! 2018 or purchase performance tickets, visit www.makedathomas.org/institute.newwaves.