Emerging Choreographer Series 2026 - ECS Highlights
Event Description
As a celebration of Mare Nostrum Elements' 25th Anniversary in 2026, we are pleased to present the "Emerging Choreographer Series (ECS) - Highlights Festival," a unique program that revives iconic works from past ECS productions, honoring the organization's legacy while propelling its artistic community into the future.
2026 CHOREOGRAPHERS & THEIR WORK
The Devil's Advocate
by Rohan Bhargava
“The Devil’s Advocate” presents a raw and visceral transformation from human to beast, through a chaotic unravelling of capitalistic desire, greed, addiction, and stifled queerness.
Tilted Glass
by Isaac Iskra
The work serves as the introductory chapter to the world of Autism. It touches on circular movement, rocking back and forth, light sensitivity, and the anxiety surrounding social interactions.
Euphonic Connection
by Mikaela Morisato
What could movement look like if our interactions were solely controlled by musical influence? What if music had the authority to diminish physical limitation and detachment?
Body Disappears
by Tomislav Nevistic
Body Disappears is a conceptual, poetic dance based on the imagery of the American novel The Catcher in the Rye. At the end, we start thinking of the beginning.
resonant;remnant
by Ameeya Singh
Told through the choreographer’s lens as a biracial, second generation Punjabi- American woman, resonant;remnant is an exploration of the negotiations and in-between states she finds herself navigating. Be it the relationship between the traditional and the modern, or the ways aspects of the self interact with each other– an interplay of the dancers, movement vocabulary, and Punjabi folk music demonstrate the juxtapositions, in between moments, and alignments that emerge.
Otra Manera de Medir (aka La Figura)
by Laura Peralta
“Otra Manera de Medir” (Another way to measure) emerged during the pandemic from a sense of outsiderness in flamenco and the solitude of the bailaor/a, questioning how “flamencura” is defined and who gets to belong. The piece unravels time and form, testing impulse against tradition.
Event Date:
April 20 & 21 at 7:00 pm
Location:
Mainstage Theater
Tickets:
General Admission $30 / Student $10
About Mare Nostrum Elements & Their 25th Anniversary -
Established in 2001, Mare Nostrum Elements (MNE) is a Woodside-based non-profit dedicated to the expression of human experiences through dance, theater, and movement. Its mission is to both create and support the making of emotionally driven stage productions that utilize dance and theater to enrich local communities.
In 2026, MNE is celebrating its 25th Anniversary through a dynamic, year-long roster of events and opportunities with a focus on its alumni artists. This includes a Masterclass & Professional Development Series in partnership with Gibney Dance, a Work-in-Progress Residency Program in partnership with LaGuardia Performing Arts Center (LPAC), and the upcoming ECS Highlights Festival at LPAC & Flushing Town Hall (FTH). Additionally, we are facilitating networking events, informal artist gatherings, satellite events self-produced by ECS alumni, and presentation opportunities in collaboration with mission-aligned organizations such as the International Human Rights Arts Festival (IHRAF).
About the Emerging Choreographer Series (ECS) -
Through the years, ECS has been established as a one-of-a-kind mentoring program that has provided over 70 NYC choreographers with the tools and resources to create new works. It is conceived and administered by Mare Nostrum Elements (MNE).
ECS provides funding, rehearsal space, fully produced performances, professional photography and videography and logistical support - at no cost to the artists. No application fees, production costs, or rental expenses are involved; we believe in paying artists!
Our commitment to equity, inclusion, and diversity guides all aspects of our program. Fair pay is fundamental, ensuring compensation for every artist and staff member involved in ECS, including hourly pay and performance fees for dancers.