🩰 Meet the founder bringing world-class dance to WNC

Hello Buncombe County!

Some of Western North Carolina's most striking art exists for only a few weeks a year. Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance, founded by Heather Maloy in 2003, gathers dancers from top companies around the country, gives them about three weeks to become one troupe, and puts them on an Asheville stage. We sat down with Heather to talk about how it began and what she's built here.

I founded Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance in 2003 after spending many years performing, teaching, and working with dance companies around the country. I wanted to create a company that brought exceptional artists to Western North Carolina while also helping people experience dance in a different way.

One of my goals has always been to make dance feel welcoming and accessible. People often hear the words "dance" or "ballet" and immediately think of tutus, Swan Lake, and The Nutcracker. While those are wonderful traditions, dance can also be contemporary, thought-provoking, funny, emotional, and deeply connected to the world around us. Terpsicorps was created to explore those possibilities while bringing world-class artists and performances to our community.

I believe that dance has the ability to speak directly to our souls through body language, creating a visceral, almost primal reaction that dissolves language and cultural barriers, getting to the root of what makes us human.

Western North Carolina has always inspired me creatively. The natural beauty, the strong sense of community, and the area's appreciation for the arts make it a special place to live and work. Asheville offers the rare combination of a vibrant arts scene and a genuine connection between artists and audiences. I felt there was an opportunity to build something meaningful here and contribute to the cultural life of the community.

Most people are surprised to learn that Terpsicorps is a summer-only professional dance company. Each year, we bring together dancers from some of the nation's most respected companies, many of whom have never worked together before arriving in North Carolina.

In just three weeks, these artists learn repertory, create new work, build relationships, and prepare for performances in Asheville and Winston-Salem. By opening night, audiences see a cohesive company on stage, but what they may not realize is that just weeks earlier many of those dancers were complete strangers.

That transformation is one of the things that makes Terpsicorps so special. What audiences experience is the result of months of planning, fundraising, and coordination, combined with an intense and highly collaborative creative process that unfolds over just a few short weeks each summer.

Because Terpsicorps performs for just a few weeks each summer, the work of producing the season happens year-round, and that comes as a surprise to people. In fact, I am the organization's only full-time, year-round employee, so on any given day I might be thinking about fundraising, rehearsal schedules, donor relationships, community partnerships, marketing, ticket sales, and artistic programming all at once.

One of our ongoing challenges is balancing artistic ambition with available resources. We have ideas for additional programming, educational opportunities, and expanded performances, but maintaining the level of excellence our audiences expect requires significant planning and support. Fundraising is an important part of that equation.

The challenge is bringing all of those moving pieces together while preserving the quality and artistic integrity that define Terpsicorps. Seeing the dancers arrive each summer and watching audiences connect with the work reminds me why it's worth the effort.

The most rewarding moments are hearing from audience members who tell us that a performance moved them, challenged them, or helped them see something in a new way. Last year's Appalachian Phoenix was especially meaningful because it drew inspiration from the stories of people affected by Hurricane Helene and demonstrated how dance can help communities process difficult experiences, build empathy, and find hope together.

I'm also continually humbled by the artists who return to Terpsicorps year after year. When dancers from respected companies across the country choose to spend part of their summer creating work with us, it's a reminder of the special community we've built together over the last two decades.

We're preparing for our annual summer season, AscenDANCE, which comes to Asheville July 23-25. This year's program explores themes of release, resilience, joy, and human connection through a mix of new works and beloved repertory. We're also continuing our partnerships with organizations such as MANNA FoodBank and expanding opportunities for families and young people to experience dance.

Every season, our goal is to create work that is artistically inspiring, emotionally meaningful, and deeply connected to the communities we serve.

Terpsicorps belongs to this place, from last summer's Appalachian Phoenix, inspired by neighbors hit by Hurricane Helene, to its ongoing work with MANNA FoodBank. This year's season, AscenDANCE, hits Asheville July 23–25. For three nights, audiences can experience dancers from some of the nation's most respected companies performing together on an Asheville stage.

For more information and to purchase tickets for “AscenDANCE” in Asheville and Winston-Salem, visit www.terpsicorps.org | @terpsicorps

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