Meet Dani Maloney: Director and Founder of Dani Maloney Dance Collective

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dani Maloney and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dani, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Dani Maloney Dance Collective, also known as DMD, was officially established as a nonprofit 501(C)(3) organization on September 2nd, 2020. I was determined to provide artistic experiences while COVID-19 indefinitely halted the performing arts from operating. I wanted to provide job opportunities to dancers, giving them meaningful work while paying them a fair wage. It is also deeply important to create work spaces that prioritize safety and where the rules and regulations put into place by the CDC and the state of Nevada are constantly followed and respected. DMD is a traveling contemporary dance collective that is based out of Las Vegas, NV. The collective aims to bring impactful movement and artistry to both screen and live performance, combining athleticism, acrobatics, partnering, contemporary dance, and a narrative that will carry audiences through an entire piece. From September to December 2020, I fought for grants, fundraised, and got my company’s business affairs in order. In the beginning of December, Dani Maloney Dance Collective produced it’s first budgeted production titled “Contain”, a CDC-compliant 30 minute dance film that was released on YouTube for public access. I was able to hire 10 dancers for this project, and intend on increasing my cast sizes in the future depending on finances and safety. One of the guiding principles of DMD is to increase the accessibility to the arts, reaching a wide variety of viewers and expanding on the audiences that typically show interest in movement art. The collective is working to accomplish this goal by creating free online experiences for others to witness art. DMD’s 30 minute piece, “Contain”, can still be viewed at no cost on YouTube or at www.danimaloneydance.com/contain I am committed to creating virtual experiences like “Contain” until it is safe to gather in public spaces again, and am working to adapt and find new ways of presenting art.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My dance studies began at the age of three when I started taking lessons at Long’s School of Dance in Erie, Pennsylvania. My passions translated into my college career at Shenandoah Conservatory where I received my Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in dance and choreography in December 2017. I had some health setbacks during this time of my life, but I continued to train and work hard with my eyes on the goal of becoming a professional dancer. Along with my training, I created a group titled DMD (Dani Maloney Dance Collective) that I turned into a nonprofit dance company in the year 2020. I was always passionate about choreographing, but I didn’t find my passion for the administrative side of producing art until much later. DMD produces work for live performance and film, and running it has become a full time job both administratively and creatively. There are some days that the workload can be a bit intimidating, especially logistically and financially. I have learned to take life and work day-by-day and to stay open to learning new things both with business and with art. When the work pile gets a little too high, I remind myself of why I started the company in the first place; to create art. A positive perspective can make everything seem more manageable. I have choreographed for various shows including “Cirque Du Giselle”, an Aerial and Dance Play for the Hollywood Fringe Festival, set work on different performance groups, and I have taught masterclasses and workshops across the United States. I’ve performed with various professional performance companies working as a dancer, singer, actress, acrobat, contortionist, and aerialist, and am represented by Go 2 Talent Agency. I have been seen with the LA Philharmonic in Barry Edelstein’s production of “The Tempest” by William Shakespeare, performing specialty and dance around the United States with production companies such as TMU Events, Interlaced Productions, and Belluscious, and touring as a company member with DIAVOLO | Architecture in Motion. I am currently based in Las Vegas where I perform in various corporate events, teach open classes, and manage all operations of DMD. Prior to COVID-19, I was performing regularly as a dancer/aerialist in Cherry Boom Boom, a show created in Los Angeles by one of the original Pussy Cat Dolls. I became a certified 200 hour yoga instructor with the Yoga Alliance during the pandemic, with additional training certifications as an Ayurvedic Specialist, in Yin Yoga, Chair Yoga and Restorative Yoga. My newly found love of yoga has been one of the unexpected blessings of last year. The pandemic has been challenging to art workers around the world emotionally, financially, not to mention creatively. I am working diligently to provide safe and meaningful ways to present art, training as much as I can, and practicing patience and trust that my performance career will continue when it is safe to do so. There is light at the end of the tunnel, and I am finding light throughout the journey as well.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
There is so much to do when visiting Las Vegas. Some of my favorite places to go on the strip include the Strat Casino, the Mayfair Supper Club at the Bellagio, and of course, to a live show. The Strat has a restaurant and a couple amusement park rides 800 feet up in the air. The Mayfair has delicious food, with a beautiful view of the Bellagio fountains and live entertainment. There are shows lining the strip with spectacle, comedy, music, burlesque, and so much more. Vegas also has a lot of outdoor recreational activities. There are plenty of hiking locations, lakes, and even snowy mountains to visit. It is a city with a little something for everyone. Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are many people and experiences that have heavily contributed to the conceptualization and creation of DMD. In the midst of the pandemic, I found myself unsure of what to do next as my dance career was indefinitely put on hold when I came across a quote that resonated with me. “If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.” – Milton Berle That is the exact moment that I knew that if I worked hard enough, I could be the person to provide the jobs that no longer existed in the dance field, and do it in a way that was calculated and safe. The collective would not be able to do any of the work that it does or has been able to do without the support from our incredible donors. “Contain” was possible due to the generosity of Lisa Chilelli-Rogers, Ann Clark, Our Own Candle Company, John and Nancy Dipko, the Greenberg Family, the Brodie Foundation, the Rockers on Broadway PATH Fund, the Creative Fund, the Actors Fund, Simon Greenberg, Howard and Robin Gross, Larry and Terri Gross, Maureen Johannesmeyer, Brian Johnson, Susan and Terry Maloney, Scott and Mary Owens, Peter Peden, Denny Scalise, John Schupp, Kimberly Smrcka, and Alfred Wassel. Having the support that I’ve received during this time from the incredible individuals, families, and organizations that have stood behind me has changed my life and the life of my dancers. I also would like to extend my appreciation to the members of my collective; Chris Borrero, Stephanie Brodie, Natalie D’Angelo, Courtney Friedersdorf, Simon Greenberg, Sarah Johnston, Carolyn Lajara, Sophie Ludwig, David Mayorga, Adam Moss, and Cierra Rogers. These individuals continue to share their time and talent with me, and I am so grateful to have their trust. DMD would not exist without these people.

Website: company website: www.danimaloneydance.com personal website: www.danimaloney.com

Instagram: company @danimaloneydance personal @danimaloney

Linkedin: n/a

Twitter: n/a

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danielle.maloney.9/

Yelp: n/a

Youtube: Contain: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNzKWa0hGZM&t=1683s

Other: www.danimaloneydance.com/contain

Image Credits
Carolyn Lajara Mike Perez Simon Greenberg