About
We strive to educate the Sedona community about the vital role of dance as an art form in shaping our culture. Through collaborative work with local dancers, musicians, drummers, makeup artists, costume designers, choreographers, photographers, and videographers, we aim to enhance and highlight the beauty of dance. By creating immersive artistic experiences, we bring the community together to celebrate and enjoy the transformative power of the performing arts."
Vision
The vision for the Sedona Dance Project is to use education to help the Sedona community gain an artistic appreciation of dance through collaborative performance experiences, choreography workshops, and dance workshops. Creating an opportunity for "dance as art" to be more accessible to the community and to celebrate authentic movement by showcasing dances created on our Sedona dance community. The focus is to create a performance platform (live & video) that highlights the strength, allure and grace that lies within all movers ( with or without classical training). Providing an opportunity for people of the community to participate in and learn how impactful dance can be when exhibited as art.
Misson
"The Sedona Dance Project is committed to enriching community life through the transformative power of dance. Our mission is to inspire and educate by offering a diverse range of performances, workshops, and artistic experiences. We strive to enhance cultural vitality and provide a platform for both emerging and established artists, fostering creativity and engagement within our community and beyond."
Danielle McNeal , Visionary / Artistic Director
Choreographer, performer, educator, and arts leader dedicated to expanding access to dance through innovative, community-centered programming. As the Artistic Director of Sedona Dance Project, she creates multidisciplinary performances that connect artists and audiences in meaningful and accessible ways. Her early training in New York was supported by scholarships to the Alvin Ailey School and Nanette Bearden Contemporary Dance Theatre, along with mentorship under jazz master Luigi. She holds a BA in Dance from Arizona State University.
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Her choreographic work has been presented in New York, Arizona, Las Vegas, and New Mexico, blending modern, jazz, contemporary, and musical theater to create work that is both engaging and thought-provoking. She is a longtime company member of Desert Dance Theatre, where she continues to perform in Sister Moses: The Story of Harriet Tubman as an original cast member, with recent performances in Cuba and Austin, Texas, and plans to bring this work to Sedona through future collaboration.
For over 15 years, Danielle has trained pre-professional dancers and created pathways for emerging artists to gain professional performance experience. Through her leadership, Sedona Dance Project supports both local and visiting artists while building sustainable opportunities for artistic growth in Northern Arizona.
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A signature example of this work is her ongoing community collaboration at Tlaquepaque, developed in partnership with sculptor John Henry Waddell. This free public event invites audiences to move through the space from sculpture to sculpture, creating an immersive, site-responsive experience. By guiding audiences physically through the environment, the work fosters active participation and a dynamic convergence of dance, visual art, and place—expanding how audiences experience performance beyond a traditional stage.
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In addition to her nonprofit work, Danielle is the owner of Sedona Dances, a creative hub offering dance, wellness, and movement-based experiences for diverse populations. She also serves on faculty at Sedona Dance Academy, where she is committed to nurturing the next generation of dancers through inclusive and high-quality education.
