MARIE HOFFMAN
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
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Marie Hoffman, Co-Artistic Director of AkomiDance, has been a driving force in the Southern California dance community since her arrival 20 years ago. She has spent a lifetime studying classical and contemporary ballet along with multiple methods of modern dance. Her pedigree spans 30+ years of educational training and professional performance experience. Her work has been showcased, adjudicated, and honored domestically and abroad. Ms. Hoffman has been recognized by the Huntington Beach Allied Arts Board and by the Orange County Music and Arts Administrators for her outstanding contributions to dance education.
Marie Hoffman received her BA in Dance from Radford University, and her MFA in Choreography and Performance from the University of North Carolina. In the interim between the two, she spent a summer as a student of The Ailey School Summer Intensive, Professional Division. While working in North Carolina, Marie toured and performed professionally with the Jan Van Dyke Dance Group. She also choreographed for numerous community theater organizations. Some of her credits include: “West Side Story,” “Crazy For You,” and “My Fair Lady.” Marie relocated to Southern California in 2000 and founded the Accidental Dance Company. Her work with this group of dancers was awarded the Virginia Waring Grand Prize at the Dance Under the Stars Choreography Festival in 2001. Ms. Hoffman’s work has been showcased in the SOLA Festival, in the New Perspectives High School Invitational, in the Youth America Grand Prix, in the Dance Under the Stars Choreography Festival, at the American College Dance Festival, and in numerous faculty concerts at Cypress College, Irvine Valley College, Moorpark College and Huntington Beach High School. She has accompanied her dancers to Cape Town, South Africa, where they performed in three separate venues to sold out audiences. In November 2008, Marie’s work was again awarded the Grand Prize at the Dance Under the Stars Choreography Festival in Palm Desert, CA. In Summer 2008, she traveled to Edinburgh with her dancers to participate in the renowned Festival Fringe. Ms. Hoffman and her dancers have participated in the New Prague Dance Festival four times, taking the Grishko International Award, two Contemporary Dance Commendations, and ultimately the Festival Grand Prize. In addition, Marie was awarded the Pedagogy of Dance Award in recognition for her outstanding work as a dance educator. |
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Ms. Hoffman co-founded AkomiDance with Anthony Aceves in 2016 and the two have been collaborating ever since. To date, their proudest accomplishment is the Orange County Dance Festival (OCDF), which they co-host with the Rose Center Theater every Spring. In addition, Ms. Hoffman is the founder and producer of the New Wave Dance Festival, held in Manhattan every Spring and featuring AkomiDance, with select dancers from the Academy for the Performing Arts. The festival brings Akomi and APA together with local dancers from the New York tri-state area for three days of master classes and concerts.
Marie places significant emphasis on encouraging her student and professional dancers towards the continued pursuit of dance careers, regularly reinforcing the fact that it is possible to achieve success and financial stability without sacrificing their passion. She is constantly providing opportunities for her dancers in the commercial and concert industries in a continued effort to promote dance as a viable and lucrative career. Her career in the dance profession brings her constant fulfillment and her work with her dancers is what defines her as an individual. |