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a b o u t
the vision
founded in 2018 by husband-and-wife team Scarlett Wynne and Erik Sampson, vagabondance (originally the New Mexico Dance Project) began as an effort to bring high-quality dance experiences to their local community through vibrant original performance works. Rebranded in 2021, the company has evolved into a research platform and artistic incubator dedicated to transforming how dance is presented, accessed, and experienced.
At its core, the company believes dance is more than an art form—it is an integral part of how we process and relate to our ourselves and our world.
Vagabondance is committed to building community through ongoing classes, performances, films, and research projects that establish a shared physical language, and make movement a purposeful and accessible practice for all.
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Learn more about how you can support your community through dance by visiting our support page >
the founders
scarlett wynne (artistic director)
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Scarlett Wynne has over twelve years of professional experience as a dancer, choreographer, and instructor in the performing arts industry. She holds her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and has worked with companies across the country, such as The Georgia Ballet, Dominic Walsh Dance Theatre, Lemon Sponge Cake Contemporary Ballet, Wonderbound, The Big Muddy Dance Company, and the New Mexico Dance Project. During her time in New Mexico, Scarlett was Artistic Director and Co-Founder of the New Mexico Dance Project while serving as resident choreographer and contemporary instructor with the New Mexico School for the Arts and teaching artist for the National Dance Institute. She and her husband recently moved to Baton Rouge, LA, where she currently serves as Founder/Artistic Director of the newly established vagabondance.
erik sampson (executive director)​
Beginning his training at age 17, at the former Ballet New England School of Dance, Erik soon uncovered a passion for dance and the arts, that led to him achieving his Bachelor's of Fine Arts in Dance in 2012. As a professional dancer, choreographer, and instructor, Erik has performed across the United States and abroad. In 2014, Erik transitioned into educational development to co-found (and later direct) a statewide performing arts charter school in Denver, Colorado. In 2018, Erik returned to the stage to serve as a company member and Executive Director of the New Mexico Dance Project. His passion for the art form continues to drive his investment in the industry as he explores the intersection of performing arts and community impact. Erik currently serves as the co-founder of vagabondance and strategic consultant for a number of non-profit organizations located in Baton Rouge.
