CONNEC(TX)IONS DANCE FESTIVAL PERFORMANCES

May 27 - June 1, 2024 – Professional and Pre-Professional Intensive Workshops (separate registration link here!)
Friday May 31, 2024 – Pro Performance, with Pre-Pro Prelude performances
Saturday June 1, 2024 – Gala Performance

On Friday evening, join us for a casual showcase of Texas-based performance art. Cocktails and parking included with ticket purchase!
Featuring: Ventana Ballet (Austin), Vitacca Ballet (Houston), Ballet Texas (New Braunfels), Red Nightfall Dance Theatre (Austin), and Sea Legs Dance (Austin)
Prelude performances by: DeCruz Ballet (San Antonio) and BHumn Arts Ensemble (Austin)

On Saturday evening, join us for a glittering evening gala performance to celebrate Texas dance and to support the expansion and subsidy of future CTXDF festivals. Silent auction, drinks, and dancing to follow. Cocktail attire highly encouraged.
Featuring: Ventana Ballet (Austin), Vitacca Ballet (Houston), Red Nightfall Dance Theatre (Austin), and TY&CO (Austin)
Prelude performance by: The Austin Dance Conservatory (Austin)

Connec(TX)ions Dance Festival (CTXDF, for short) is a week-long celebration of professional dance performance and training in Texas. CTXDF offers a 6-day intensive workshop for professional dancers and pre-professional dancers (separate tracks), culminating with two nights of performances by Texas-based professional dance companies.
We invite you to join us as we CONNECT, support other artists, and grow together in this immersive dance workshop and performance experience. Dancers will have the opportunity to study and explore ballet, modern, contemporary techniques and movement principles, as well as professional repertoire with a faculty of professional dancers and directors in the CTXDF intensive workshop classes (Monday-Saturday).
At the end of the week, CTXDF will feature two professional performances. Friday night’s performance will showcase Texas-based professional dance companies as well as some select pre-professional dance companies, offering young dancers the opportunity to share the stage with professional dancers. Saturday night’s performance will feature the CTXDF Gala, a closing-night celebration that spotlights select Texas-based professional dance companies, followed by a social with signature cocktails!

CTXDF is hosted by First Street Studio (FSS), soon to relocate and rebrand as East Side Performing Arts (ESPA), a brand new performing arts center and black box theatre in East Austin. FSS/ESPA is a staple arts organization in ATX and a vital center for Austin’s community of performing artists. The studio is an incubator for local creative and artistic collaboration, classes, and rehearsals and is home to more than 100 professional Austin-based dance and theatre companies, individual professional artists, photographers, and wellness instructors. Our mission is to provide an equitable and accessible space that embodies creativity, connection, and affordability. FSS offers an intimate and safe environment where creative risk-taking is encouraged, artistic career paths are bolstered, and local collaborations thrive. First Street Studio Owners, Dorothy O’Shea Overbey & AJ Garcia-Rameau, are committed to protecting and providing a nourishing environment that actively supports the dynamic power of performance art by making space for our community to reflect, connect, and grow.

CTXDF began in 2023 at First Street Studio as a 2-day festival of masterclasses and performances, featuring Ventana Ballet, Vitacca Ballet, and The Austin Dance Conservatory. This year, CTXDF grows into a full-week intensive, followed by performances and a gala featuring several new professional and pre-professional dance companies across Texas: Ventana Ballet (Austin), Vitacca Ballet (Houston), Ballet Texas (New Braunfels), Red Nightfall Dance Theatre (Austin), Sea Legs Dance (Austin), TY&CO (Austin), DeCruz Ballet (San Antonio), BHumn Arts Ensemble (Austin), and The Austin Dance Conservatory (Austin).

For information and registration, please visit:

[email protected]

AJ Garcia-Rameau, Kelly Yankle, Dorothy O'Shea Overbey
CTXDF Directors

Host or Publisher First Street Studio