Please Donate and Support NDTC'S Mission to Promote Mental Health Advocacy Through Dance in Hannover.
Neocortex Dance Theatre Company (NDTC), along with Frank J. Glab as the pianist/composer and magician (The Great Frankini), is thrilled to be invited to perform for Marianne Buchwald’s Ocean Between the 9th Annual Symposium’s “Migrating The Color Fields,” in Hannover, Germany.
We are collaborating with German artists such as Marianne Buchwa, Cem Koc, Krikrass Heike, Franz Betz, Harro Schmidt, and other dancers from Hannover, as well as other international artists from the USA who are part of the festival. The USA artists include Kevin Chatham (Filmmaker/Director/Film Artist) and Sarah Holmes (Dancer/Filmmaker/Multimedia/Video Artist).
Our Goals
-To share mental health awareness with the Hannover community through dance.
-Normalize conversations regarding mental health.
-Provide an artist talk and question and answers, after the performance (with help from a translator) to create a conversation among the audience and artists.
-To build and create an intersectionality and exchange of the USA and German cultures, thereby creating an inclusive and diverse community.
-Connect and collaborate with other artists to build artistic creations and build long-lasting partnerships and friendships.
-Create two short dance films, with collaboration from other German dancers, about mental health and awareness.
NDTC Dancers
-JUAN ENRIQUE ROQUE IRIZARRY JR.
-FRANCISCO MELENDEZ
-DEREK QUESADA
-TIMOTHY TSANG
Repertoire Works:
-Switching (The Oscillation of Polarity)
-Up Again, Down Again, Up Again —Excerpts
-Lophiiformes
Premiere of Three New Works:
-Scgatten im Nebel: Escalating Detachment — 600-900 Milligrams
-Verblassende Fäden—Longing For Touch
-Das war nicht was ich erwartet hatte/That wasn't what I expected —Improvisation
By bringing a total of NDTC to Hannover, Germany, NDTC will create a raw, visceral, immersive, and shared experience, fostering empathy, and will leave the audience with a better understanding of mental health. Given the current state of the world, our work sparks crucial conversations about mental health, aiming for the audience, who are struggling with their mental health and their loved ones, to reach out for support.
We are raising $5,000 to fund plane tickets for the five artists (JUAN ENRIQUE ROQUE IRIZARRY JR., FRANCISCO MELENDEZ, DEREK QUESADA, TIMOTHY TSANG, and FRANK J. GLAB) and to support other future works. Neocortex Dance Theatre Company (NDTC) kindly welcomes and truly appreciates any financial support and contributions!
Special Thanks and Other Recognitions:
-Music Collaboration with Allen Russell for Switching (The Oscillation of Polarity)
-Collaboration with Video Artist, Alex Yasinovsky for Up Again, Down Again, Up Again
-Music Collaboration with Frank J. Glab for Up Again, Down Again, Up Again, Scgatten im Nebel: Escalating Detachment — 600-900 Milligrams, and Verblassende Fäden—Longing For Touch
Previous Dancer Cast (collaboration)
Switching (The Oscillation of Polarity)
-Cast 2025: Self: Meg Gourley, Depression: Elisabeth Roskopf 이지영, & (Hypo)Mania: Mark Gonzalez
-Original Cast 2024: Self: Meg Gourley, Depression: Katie Speltz, & (Hypo)Mania: Kaleigh Dent
Up Again, Down Again, Up Again
-Original Cast 2025: Mark Gonzalez, Nik Graves, Audrey Hartnett, Hannah Huang, Francisco (Franky) Melendez, & Brady Neher
ABOUT NEOCORTEX DANCE THEATRE COMPANY (NDTC)
Neocortex Dance Theatre Company (NDTC) is an emerging contemporary, modern, and project-based dance company from Evanston/Chicago, IL, USA. Our goal is to create choreographic works with themes relating to mental health, mental illnesses, self-worth, and identity to help destigmatize misconceptions about mental health. We also provide a resource page featuring 34 categories on mental disorders and other mental health subjects, which lists various informational resources on our website, as well as supplying printed informational resource brochures and artist talks during and after our performances.
ABOUT OCEAN BETWEEN
Led by Marianne Buchwald and other amazing German artists, such as Cem Koc, Krikrass Heike, Franz Betz, and Harro Schmidt, Ocean Between is an ongoing international art symposium founded in 2017, fostering US-Germany cross-cultural collaborations among various artists. It intertwines visual artists, dancers, musicians, filmmakers, multimedia artists, and more to share skills, creativity, and interdisciplinary work. The symposium features exhibitions, performances, workshops, and outreach events in cities such as Chicago, Hannover, and Berlin. Ocean Between celebrates its 9th annual addition in Hannover in June 2026.
Main Highlights:
Interdisciplinary exhibitions and performances (film, dance, music, spoken word, mask theater)
Community workshops open to families, seniors, and local residents
Collaborative artmaking across cultures and disciplines
Inclusive projects such as mail art, installations, and live performance events
Continuous research, education, and access to quality resources and care are essential for treatments and aid in dispelling misconceptions and reducing the stigmatization of mental health. Let’s end the stigma!
Mental illness and mental health are individual experiences and sometimes a struggle, but you are not alone. Please take care of yourself and seek additional help and support when needed.
I'm glad you're here and sending so much care, love, and support!
Immediate Emergency Assistance or Injury: Dial 911
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (24/7, Free, & Confidential): Call or Text 988
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