We are thrilled to share that Andre Mazelin has been named the next Executive Director of Dance Place, a national leader in dance performance, education, and artistic development in the nation’s capital. Claire Huschle, Senior Consultant at Good Insight, partnered with Dance Place on the placement.

“Andre brings the skills and experience to lead Dance Place into its next chapter,” said Janice Marks, Board Co-Chair. “He brings a strong foundation in arts administration, and operations. We look forward to his leadership, activating our dynamic arts campus through a diverse range of community experiences.”

Rhea Norwood, Board Co-Chair also remarked, “Andre’s experiences using the arts as a tool for community engagement stood out to us throughout our interviews. We look forward to seeing how he and our talented Dance Place staff will continue to elevate our programs for national attention.” 

Mazelin begins his new role August 1st. He joins Dance Place at a defining moment, when pandemic-related disruptions underscore the need for vibrant, shared experiences through the arts. Dance Place emerges from the pandemic positioned with strength and vitality, eager to celebrate a bold new curatorial vision from Artistic Director Dani Tirrell. Evidenced by the successful in-person return of the 35th annual Dance Africa festival in June. 

“For over forty years, Dance Place has shown that the arts are more than performance, they are how diverse communities can meet under one tent to share in creative expression,” said Mazelin. “I am eager to join an organization that is so deeply rooted in its mission, and look forward to helping Dance Place and our committed team amplify the experiences of new voices, from youth discovering dance through our  classes, to brilliant performances from our community of artists.” 

About Andre Mazelin

An experienced arts administrator and entrepreneur, Mazelin comes with more than 15 years of leadership in small and large arts nonprofits. He was most recently the Senior Manager for Prince George’s Community College’s Center for Performing Arts, which he helped launch in 2019. 

Skilled in artistic programming, financial management, venue operations, and partnerships, Mazelin is passionate about the intersections between social justice, creativity, and activism.  He has held several arts leadership roles in Baltimore, Maryland, including as Managing Director of Motor House, a nonprofit arts hub, gallery, and performance space, as Operations Director of Creative Alliance at The Patterson, a multi-disciplinary community arts organization featuring theater, visual art, and films. He has also served as a  grant panelist for the Maryland State Arts Council for several years. Mazelin served as Project Coordinator for Mapping Racism, conducted in partnership with Joe’s Movement Emporium and the Hyattsville Community Development Corporation, curating performances, research, and public engagement around the history of segregation and restrictive deed covenants  in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

Born in Montego Bay, Jamaica, Mazelin immigrated to the U.S. with his family as a child. He has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Baltimore and an associate degree in Music and Video Business from the Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale. 

About Dance Place

Founded in 1980, Dance Place is an award-winning dance institution committed to strengthening the field of dance locally, nationally, and internationally. Rooted in the U.S. capital, Dance Place supports movement artists by creating opportunities for creative development, performance, and education. 

In the Brookland and Edgewood neighborhoods of Northeast Washington, DC, Dance Place includes a 144-seat black box theater, three training and rehearsal studios, a children’s center, administrative offices, the adjacent 8th Street Arts Park, two flexible-use studio spaces at the neighboring Brookland Artspace Lofts, and two condo units used for internship housing.

About Good Insight

With a mission to connect good causes to great leaders, Good Insight is an executive search firm and governance consultancy serving the social sector. They plan leadership transitions, recruit talented senior executives, and strengthen boards of directors. Good Insight focuses on leadership searches for small and mid-sized nonprofits with a nationwide reach. To learn more, visit www.good-insight.org.