The Company
More than a performance company, MDP serves as a home for opportunity and a cultural bridge—connecting artists and communities through creative experiences that nurture the human spirit and remind people of their shared humanity.
Mission
McKoy Dance Project (MDP) exists to break down barriers to access by amplifying the voices of BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities through bold storytelling, community engagement, and contemporary performance. As an inclusive contemporary dance company and service organization, MDP champions opportunities for people of diverse backgrounds to connect and grow through performances, youth and adult education, artist development, and public cultural events.
Vision
MDP envisions a future where the arts are accessible, community-centered, and reflective of the full diversity of human experience. We aspire to build a cultural ecosystem where artists are valued as people first, communities are strengthened through creativity and shared exchange, and contemporary performance serves as a catalyst for empathy, belonging, and lasting social impact.
Values
Authenticity
Integrity
Equity
Community
Fun
Artistic Leadership
ABOUT THE FOUNDER
Photo by Nir Arieli
Derick McKoy, Jr. (He/him), Founding Artistic Director & CEO
Derick McKoy, Jr. (he/him), originally from Miami, Florida, is an award-winning choreographer, Fulbright Scholar, educator, arts administrator, and cultural leader whose work explores identity, belonging, memory, and human connection through contemporary dance. As the Founding Artistic Director & CEO of McKoy Dance Project (MDP), he leads the organization’s artistic vision while creating opportunities that empower artists, connect communities, and celebrate underrepresented voices through performance, education, artist development, and cultural exchange. continued here
Social Media
Header Video: Short Excerpt of Glimmer in the Dusk by Derick McKoy Jr.
Slide 1: Aanyse Pettiford-Chandler, Carl Ponce Cubero and Sumire Ishige. Photo by Nir Arieli. Slide 2: Rachel Yoo in an excerpt of These Stars Are Something Heavy by Derick McKoy, Jr. Slide 3: Aanyse Pettiford-Chandler. Photo by Nir Arieli. Slide 4: Sumire Ishige and Carl Ponce Cubero. Photo by Nir Arieli. Slide 5: Tyler Choquette and Mika Greene. Photo by Nir Arieli. Slide 6: Tevin Johnson in Glimmer in the Dusk by Derick McKoy Jr. Photo by Michelle Mor. Slide 7: MDP Dancers in reborn by Christian A. Warner. Photo by Michelle Mor. Slide 8: Sumire Ishige and Richard Sayama in reborn by Christian A. Warner. Photo by Michelle Mor. Photo of Artistic Director & CEO Derick McKoy, Jr. Photo by Nir Arieli.