NH Dance Accelerator
Grants, mentorship, and practical support for a thriving performing arts community.
The NH Dance Accelerator helps New Hampshire performing arts organizations and solo artists build sustainable futures through financial support, mentorship, and practical training.
How does it work?
The NH Dance Accelerator is more than a program—it’s a catalyst for change. Selected Fellows—individual artists and organizations recognized for their vision, creativity, and readiness for growth—receive financial support, mentorship, and tailored training in nonprofit development. From strategic planning and board development to grant writing, corporate sponsorships, and website optimization, Fellows gain essential skills to navigate the challenges of the arts landscape. NHDC’s unique approach emphasizes entrepreneurial thinking, with a focus on earned income strategies that foster financial resilience in a state where government arts funding is limited.
How Fellows Build Capacity
This year, the NH Dance Accelerator emphasizes strategic capacity-building for its Fellows. Through programs like “The Art of Gratitude,” Fellows learn how to meaningfully engage donors, volunteers, and community supporters, cultivating the connections necessary for sustained impact. NHDC also facilitates deep-dive dialogues and informal audits to align each Fellow’s mission and vision with actionable goals. By the end of the accelerator, participants emerge with foundational assets: a strategic plan, updated website, grant proposals, sponsorship packages, and the infrastructure for long-term success.
At NHDC, we believe in the power of dance and performing arts to inspire, connect, and transform lives. Through the Accelerator, we are building a vibrant future where New Hampshire’s artists and organizations thrive as cornerstones of our cultural landscape.
Our Fellows
Ellen Smith Ahern
25/26 Fellow
Ellen Smith Ahern is a dance artist and community organizer/MSW living with her family on Abenaki lands in N’Dakinna/New Hampshire. As a 2023 Creative Community Fellow with National Art Strategies and 2024 Artist in Residence with the National Park Service, her dances explore the intersection of movement, storytelling and nature, creating interdisciplinary performance projects that aim to include a wider array of people than might otherwise feel welcomed into traditional dance spaces."I'm thrilled and honored to be included in this fellowship, to build relationships with other dance artists and a wider community of audiences throughout the state and the region," she said. "I'm excited to be in dialogue with the NHDC team, to have thinking partners and co-conspirators."Visit Ellen Smith Ahern
Lila Productions
24/25 Fellow
"We want to provide a space where dancers could collaborate together and create professional work to showcase to our community," said Nathan Moyer, who co-founded Lila Productions with wife Elyssa.
"We are excited to work with the NHDC team because of the professional expertise and financial support that they offer," added Elyssa. "Producing dance and maintaining an authentic artistic vision, while also operating as a sustainable business, is extremely challenging."
Visit Lila Productions
theatre KAPOW
24/25 Senior Fellow
Founded in 2008, theatre KAPOW puts stories on stage to create a safe space for conversations that can begin to heal communities, families, and hearts. Based in Manchester, NH, theatre KAPOW explores “the truths of human experience through the passion and electricity of live theater.
“This collaboration with NHDC provides us with the opportunity to assess what we have been doing and how,” remarked Matt Cahoon, Artistic Director and co-founder of theatre KAPOW. “Through this partnership, we hope to strengthen our ability to collaborate with like-minded creators and our administrative capacity.”
Visit theatre KAPOW
NSquared Dance Company
22/23 Fellow
First fellow Zackery Betty (co-founder of NSquared Dance), has built a dance organization with name recognition and a clear and creative mission. He simply needed a welcoming and supportive environment in which to thrive and the opportunities to share his craft.
Visit NSquared Dance CompanyNH Dance Accelerator News
New Hampshire Dance Collaborative Welcomes Ellen Ahern Smith as New Fellow
The New Hampshire Dance Collaborative (NHDC) has selected Ellen Smith Ahern as its newest Fellow in the NH Dance Accelerator program. The selection marks another significant step in NHDC’s mission to make dance and the expressive arts better understood and more accessible to the public.
Lila Productions Hires Part-Time Staff Member
Lila Productions has brought on a part-time staff member—an essential step in strengthening their infrastructure and expanding their capacity. This added support allows the company to better manage operations, pursue new opportunities, and focus more deeply on their creative work.
Lila Productions Completes Strategic Plan
Lila Productions has successfully completed a comprehensive Strategic Plan. This milestone positions the company for intentional growth, long-term sustainability, and deeper community impact. It’s a clear step forward in strengthening their role within New Hampshire’s vibrant arts ecosystem.
theatre KAPOW Expands Audience
theatre KAPOW expanded their audience base, increasing both their visibility and their connection to the community.
theatre KAPOW Launches New Website
theater KAPOW has launched a complete website makeover to elevate their digital presence and enhance audience engagement.
Lila Productions Receives Grant Writing Mentorship
Lila Productions received guidance in grant writing and successfully secured their first grant—a significant achievement in their growth journey.