Lane Gifford is artistic director of LaneCoArts, a New York City-based multi-arts company that examines the intersecting relationship between dance, theater, and the visual arts.  After attending Purchase College Conservatory of Dance, Lane Gifford founded LaneCoArts in 2006 with a mission to create textured physical expression informed by the interplay of dance with diverse artistic mediums. In her compositions, Lane Gifford explores communication in today’s technologically driven world through a collaborative practice with other artists where the juxtaposed creative languages, engender a process of cross-pollination. This multidisciplinary approach to dance grew from Gifford’s early experiences living and working abroad as a dancer, developed with her experiments as both artist and choreographer, and later evolved as she entered the film industry with Sony Music, which heightened her interest in the moving image and music. Gifford’s goal is to connect with today’s audience through critical commentary and physically charged dance theater productions. Her works communicate current events that grow from a technique she has fostered called “successive rebound” which promotes organic sequencing of movement development.  

 

Design plays a central role in the overall shaping of Gifford’s choreography.  All aspects, from costumes to props, video projection, sculptures, and backdrops are textured into the overall fabric of the movement conversations.

 

As a Wingspan Arts teaching artist, Lane Gifford has provided movement classes to children in New York City’s public school system. She also has taught dance in several institutions including University of Kansas, Southern Utah University, and her own summer creative arts program.  Her mission as an educator: ignite the imagination of children and young adults and use the arts as a collective voice. 

 

Ms. Gifford first studied dance at The Boston Conservatory in Boston, MA.  She received a BFA in dance performance and MFA specializing in choreography from Purchase College Conservatory Dance.  Performances include: Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, NY International Fringe Festival, Dixon Place, Baruch PAC, Triskelion Arts, Le Poisson Rouge, New York Theater Workshop, Boston Center For The Arts residency and performance, Dance New Amsterdam RAW Directions, American Dance Guild, Battery Dance Festival, University Settlement, ITE Festival, The 92st Y, Bryant Park Festival, Dance Place (Washington DC), Kaatsbaan Cultural Park for Dance, Missouri Valley College Residency, and Spring To Dance Festival (Saint Louis, MO).  Commissioned projects include McKnight Artist Fellowship, University of Kansas Fellowship, Southern Utah University Residency, Northeast Choreographer Residency, Ballet Nouveau Colorado/Redline Gallery, iKada Dance Company, and Joffrey Ballet School Commissions. Lane Gifford was a finalist in Western Michigan University 2015 National Choreography Competition. Recent events: Battery Dance Festival 2022, Bryant Park Festival (NYC), Women in Dance Leadership Conference Performance (PA), Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning/Making Moves Festival (NY), Dixon Place Dance Bloc (NYC), Cove Street Arts/Site Specific Performance 2022 (Portland, ME), McCallum Theatre/Palm Desert Festival, CA 2022, Spark Theater Festival NYC 2023, and Spring To Dance Festival (Saint Louis, MO) 2023.  Cancelled invitations due to COVID: BAM Fisher Theater 2020/Brooklyn/ NimbusPRESENTS.  

 

Grants and Awards

O’Donnell Green Music and Dance Foundation 2024, a 2024 LMCC Manhattan Arts Grant, Richenthal Foundation Grant 2019-2024, Empire State Creates Grantee 2021, New Music USA 2020, Maine Arts Commission 2020 Award with Artist Margaret Lawrence, Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation for Dance Place Performances 2016 (Special Presenters Initiative program / National Endowment for the Arts and the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities), 2014 & 2020 Arts Foundation of Cape Cod Grant 2014 & 2020, Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grant 2012, Manhattan Community Arts Fund Grant 2011, BUILD Grant (Building Up Infrastructure Levels for Dance) 2011, Harvard University/Project Zero Financial Assistance Award 2004, Outstanding MFA Award - Purchase College 2004.

 

Education

Purchase College MFA – Choreography & Dance Education 

Project Zero - Harvard University Summer Program / School of Education 

Purchase College BFA - Dance

​

LaneCoArts is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.