About the Festival

The International Dance Festival New Orleans (IDFNOLA) brings the world to the Gulf South, pairing the city’s rhythm and creativity with bold voices from across the globe. Equal parts performance, film, and conversation, the festival transforms New Orleans into a gathering place for artists who build connection, exchange ideas, and move through the world with purpose.

Launched in 2023, the International Dance Festival New Orleans (IDFNOLA) began as an experiment in connection—bringing together artists from Chile and the Gulf South to share performance, process, and perspective. What started as a small but ambitious weekend of concerts, masterclasses, and conversations quickly became a meeting ground for local and international voices, drawing over 350 attendees and spotlighting the creative energy already thriving in New Orleans.

By 2024, the festival expanded to include a Dance Film Festival and the inaugural gathering of the Louisiana Dance Alliance, broadening its reach across the state and onto the screen.

The 2025 edition marked IDFNOLA’s most dynamic year yet, hosting artists from six countries, a full schedule of masterclasses, and a new summer residency program to support local choreographers. Each season continues to deepen the festival’s commitment to making New Orleans a destination for contemporary dance—where global exchange and Gulf South artistry move side by side.

  • Festival Director

    Leslie Scott is an artist, curator, and producer whose work bridges movement, media, and cultural exchange. As Founder and Artistic Director of the International Dance Festival New Orleans (IDFNOLA), she has shaped the festival into a platform where Gulf South artistry meets global innovation—bringing together performers, filmmakers, and choreographers from more than a dozen countries since its inception in 2023. Scott is also the Founder and Artistic Director of BODYART Dance, the producing organization behind the festival, known for its site-specific and multimedia works presented internationally in venues such as REDCAT (Los Angeles), Summerhall (Edinburgh), the National Gallery (Durban), and Rimbun Dahan (Kuala Lumpur). Currently the Associate Dean for Performing Arts at Tulane University, Scott continues to advance her vision of New Orleans as a nexus for contemporary dance, creative research, and international collaboration.

  • Director of Community Connections

    Melanie Greene is a performer, writer, and cultural strategist whose work lives at the intersection of dance, community, and social imagination. A 2017 Bessie Award recipient, she has toured nationally and internationally as a performer and choreographer, and her creative practice has been supported by organizations including the National Performance Network, Brooklyn Arts Council, MANCC, and the Contemporary Arts Center New Orleans. As Community Engagement Director for the International Dance Festival New Orleans (IDFNOLA), Greene curates workshops, dialogues, and outreach initiatives that bridge local audiences with global artists. Her commitment to access and collaboration shapes the festival’s mission to make contemporary dance an inclusive and transformative part of the city’s cultural landscape.

  • Associate Producer

    Carina Kroff is a dancer, arts organizer, and emerging producer based in New Orleans. A graduate of Tulane University with degrees in Dance and International Relations, she brings a deep appreciation for both the artistry and logistics that shape live performance. As Associate Producer for the International Dance Festival New Orleans (IDFNOLA), Kroff coordinates the technical and operational aspects of the festival, ensuring each performance and event comes to life with precision and care. Her passion for collaboration and her grounding in the New Orleans dance community reflect IDFNOLA’s mission to create meaningful connections between local and international artists.