SCDT presents HATCHERY YOUNG ARTIST PROJECT in ECHOES- Dec 19-20, 2025

What happens when you hand a group of teens the creative reins—and pair them with professional artists who treat them like collaborators, not students?

You get HATCHERY- THE YOUNG ARTIST PERFORMANCE PROJECT

HATCHERY'S ECHOES is more than a performance—it's a window into the inner lives and imaginative power of the region’s youth.  Our program combines dance, music, theater and visual art to create an inspiring evening of live art for all!

We would love to connect you with teen performers, parents, and the artistic team for interviews. Their stories illuminate how the arts can shape identity, support mental health, and cultivate community resilience at a moment when young people need it most.

Performances:
Fri, Dec 19 at 6 PM
Sat, Dec 20 at 2 PM ( with the Hatchlings ) & 7 PM
at A.P.E.'s Workroom Theater, 33 Hawley St, Northampton

Tickets + Info: TICKET LINK HERE
Press Contact: info@scdtnoho.com | scdtnoho.com

Please consider covering ECHOES- the Hatchery Teen Performance Project’s winter showcase, and a powerful story about how young people in Western Massachusetts are using dance, music, theater, and film to process the world, build community, discover their creative voice and share powerful art that connects communities!

At the center of this story are the teens themselves: young artists from Northampton, Amherst, Greenfield, Springfield, Holyoke, and the wider Valley who come to Hatchery looking for connection, challenge, and a place to be fully seen. Many of them are navigating intense social and academic pressures; others are seeking expressive outlets they can’t find in traditional dance school settings. What they discover at SCDT is a creative home where their ideas lead the way.

One student describes Hatchery as “the place I learned to trust my voice.”
Another: “This is where I realized I could create something that matters.”

In ECHOES, these teens premiere original works alongside pieces created with acclaimed choreographers like Ashirah Devi Dalomba, Molly Rose-Williams, Katherine Kain, and Jennifer Polins. The show becomes a living portrait of who they are—curious, brave, collaborative, and deeply engaged with the world around them.

This year’s cast includes youth who:

-compose original live music as part of the Hatchery Pit Band

-create choreography rooted in cultural identity, storytelling, and social connection

-discover leadership, confidence, and community through making work together

For many families, Hatchery provides stability, mentorship, and a community of belonging; for the teens, it’s a chance to create work that feels personal, urgent, and entirely their own.