Welcome to Queensboro Dance Festival's Speed Dancing: January 24 and February 9

These are a series of various 30-minute auditions in a class setting for Queens-based dance companies to meet new dancers to potentially work with and vice versa. Dancers can experience a dance company's dance style, leadership, creative process, and aesthetics. Dance companies will see dancers' technical level, work ethic, energy, and ability to learn choreography. Dancers can sign up for as many classes as you like. All free to try! There will also be a dancer resource fair, time to network, and information about participating in the 2026 Queensboro Dance Festival summer tour.

Below is the schedule. First-come first-served, classes will be capped at 15 dancers per class. As the Speed Dancing classes are only 30 minutes, late comers will not be permitted. 

Class Audition Descriptions per Queens-based Dance Company:

Umami Playground (Street and Contemporary fusion): Dance, footwork, and freestyle skills in street dance; physically active with a basic understanding of contemporary.

Karla Florez School of Dance (Colombian Folk): Traditional Colombian dances and cumbia with some contemporary technique approaches. Seeking multidisciplinary artists.

Gotham Dance Theater (Street Jazz and Contemporary): Gotham Dance Theater (GDT), founded by Marc Nuñez in 2015 in Queens, is a contemporary street dance company that represents NYC’s rich cultural diversity. Seeking strong versatility in hip hop, jazz and ballet.

Vivarta Arts (Kathak, North Indian Classical): Led by Preya Patel, her work is in Indian classical dance, emphasizing rhythm, precision, and expressive storytelling, while allowing space for creative interpretation. Welcomes dancers with classical training as well as those who may not come from this background but are highly receptive, committed, and eager to learn.

Mala's Odissi (Odissi Classical Indian dance): Seeking dancers with experience in classical dance styles of different genre, modern dance, creative movement.

The Kingdom Dance Company (Hip-hop, dancehall, Afro-fusion): Inviting dancers of all ages, shapes and sizes to participate in hip-hop centered dancing that uplifts the foundations of hip hop. We also pull from the feel good vibes of step, dancehall, and Afro dance, highlighting New York's stamp as the birth place of hip-hop.

Kofago Dance Ensemble/Kofago Taraji (West African diaspora): Kofago Dance Ensemble exists at the nexus of African dance traditions and the Black experience in America. Our work is focused on healing and ritual through the performing arts, and are currently preparing for Black History Month performances.

Flamenco Latino (Flamenco): Flamenco Latino's choreographic style is based in solid contemporary Flamenco technique, but we embrace other dance styles and appreciate flexibility and/or knowledge of folkloric dance, tap, hip hop. Looking for dancers with rhythmic strength and adaptability.
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SPEED DANCING SCHEDULE: 2 DATES

Saturday January 24 at RWS Studios (37-12 35th St, Long Island City, NY 11101), 11am-3pm
11:00am Studio opens
11:30am-12pm Audition Class #1: Umami Playground
12-12:30pm Audition Class #2: Karla Florez School of Dance
12:30-1:30pm: Networking and QDF 2026 Info Session
1:30-2pm Audition Class #3: Gotham Dance Theater
2-2:30pm Audition Class #4 (Final): Vivarta Arts
2:30-3pm: Networking
 

Monday February 9 at Jamaica Performing Arts Center Theater (153-10 Jamaica Ave, Jamaica, NY 11432), 5pm-9pm
5:00pm Theater opens
5:30-6pm Audition Class #1: Mala's Odissi
6-6:30pm Audition Class #2: Kingdom Dance Company
6:30-7:30pm Networking and QDF 2026 Info Session
7:30-8pm Audition Class #3: Kogafo Dance Ensemble
8-8:30pm Audition Class #4 (Final): Flamenco Latino
8:30-9pm: Networking

*Those who attend the JPAC Speed Dancing will also have the opportunity to book a special $5/hour rehearsal package deal at the venue's studio spaces!

Both venues accessible and near public transportation.

SIGN UP HERE: https://bit.ly/speeddancing

Happy Speed Dancing!