Choreographic Diplomacy™

Cultivating global community through the choreographic process

As a young organization, SCDT is in a perpetual state of innovation, constantly re-thinking new methodologies for the creation and international presentation of its work; both through the Main Company as a stand-alone repertory ensemble and in the execution of the Main Company’s Choreographic Diplomacy™ program. Since founding and commencing the Choreographic Diplomacy™ program in 2018, SCDT has undertaken an ongoing partnership with choreographer Joseph Kim and Choomna Dance Company of Seoul, Korea. This initiative has enabled the two companies to create collaborative work and tour this work to each organization’s respective countries. Since 2018, SCDT has performed two times in Seoul, Korea, toured to Arnhem, Netherlands and through an award from MidAtlantic Arts Foundation toured to Colombia, South America by invitation of the Asia-Iberomaerica Cultural Foundation. SCDT toured a third time to Seoul, Korea for its Seoul International Dance Festival in Tank debut and commenced a new relationship with Lyricist Dance Company in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and the UWC-Inspired Vietnam Campus Project. In its tenth anniversary season, SCDT is a headlining ensemble for Submerge Dance Festival in Berlin, Germany at Lake Studios Berlin where the Main Company was in residence for one week in January 2026.

SCDT employs the choreographic process to bridge the gap between disparate people and cultures, fighting xenophobia through the universal language of movement.

Historical Timeline

International tours, creative residencies and collaborative exchanges since the program’s founding.

2025-2026

SCDT was a company in residence at Lake Studios Berlin in January 2026 and performed as a headlining artist for Lake Studios Submerge Dance Festival in August 2026 as part of both organizations’ 10th anniversary celebrations.

2024–2025

  • Tour to Seoul, South Korea and performance at the Seoul International Dance Festival in TANK.
  • Tour to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam for a United World Colleges benefit concert.

2023–2024

  • Bogotá, Colombia: South Chicago Dance Theatre and Choomna Dance Company tour with support from the Mid Atlantic Arts USArtists International Grant, the Los Andes Cultural Center and the Asia-Iberoamerica Cultural Foundation in October 2023.
  • Learn more about Mid Atlantic Arts.

2021–2022

  • Chicago, Illinois Residency #3 at Hyde Park School of Dance in November 2021.
  • Seoul, South Korea Residency #3 at Choomna Art Center in January 2022.
  • SCDT’s first peer-published Choreographic Diplomacy™ essay was announced for July 2022.

2020–2021

  • Chicago, Illinois Residency #2, presented virtually during the second annual South Chicago Dance Festival in November 2020.

2019–2020

  • Seoul, South Korea Residency #2 at Choomna Art Center in November 2019.

2018–2019

  • Seoul, South Korea Residency #1 at Choomna Art Center in November 2018.
  • Chicago, Illinois Residency #1 at the Rebuild Foundation and Hyde Park School of Dance from April through May 2019.

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