What Is The Garden State Dance Festival

Founded in 2001, the Garden State Dance Festival (GSDF), under the artistic direction of Suzy Zucker, quickly established itself as a cutting edge and innovative presenting performing arts organization. Suzy, with over 25 years in the dance arena (teaching, choreographing, producing and mentoring), began this non-profit community venture with a vision to share her passion for dance in the area where her own training began and was later nurtured. 

The GSDF’s mission has always been to provide opportunities for the creative and performing ends of the dance world.  It enables local, emerging choreographers could work with aspiring professional dancers and through that collaboration, showcase the very best talent and creativity that we have to offer our South Jersey audiences.

Now a much-anticipated annual event, the Garden State Dance Festival proudly presents an eclectic mix of dance genres (ballet, modern, jazz, tap, hip hop, musical theater).  After holding open auditions, each choreographer selects those performing artists that they believe will best express and execute their original pieces of work.

In addition to showcasing our regional talent, the GSDF seeks to bring in both nationally renowned and emerging guest companies.  Over the past 8 years we have proudly given over hundreds of guest artists the opportunity to perform on our stage and add to the excitement, sophistication, and diversity of the festival.

Held over a two-week period, the GSDF has several evening performances as well as matinees, some of which are geared to reach out to the schools, seniors, and disadvantaged youth in our community.  The festival also invites our military troops at Fort Dix who are waiting to be deployed or have just returned from an overseas tour of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.  We are most proud of this commitment to those particular audiences who might otherwise never experience the joy of the performing arts.  All festival-goers are given the extraordinary opportunity to enjoy a level of dance rarely seen outside of New York City and Philadelphia.

The Garden State Dance Festival is the only festival of it’s kind in the state of New Jersey.  

Joining the GSDF in its mission this year is The Rutgers-Camden Center for the Arts (RCCA), who has invited the GSDF to become their “Festival in Residence.”  This partnership with our state university is exciting to all those involved who have envisioned the great advantages and impact it would have, both culturally and economically, for the community. The 650-seat Gordon Theater, with its superior, state-of-the-art sound and lighting system will be home to the festival and is an ideal venue.  Located on the Rutgers campus with ample available parking, its location is highly accessible to both our artists and audiences from New Jersey and Pennsylvania.  The GSDF will be working closely with the RCCA’s communications, marketing and outreach program staff in presenting the 2009 festival. 

Proud Member of Dance New Jersey, South Jersey Cultural Alliance, Art Pride