A newly created work, commissioned by Chicago Dancing Company NFP for the Chicago Dancing Festival, and inspired by the youthful commitment of the Hip Hop Culture Dance Ensemble of the After School Matters program. The Nicholas Leichter choreographed piece fuses contemporary and hip hop styles focusing the dynamics of the group and highlighting the individual personalities of the dancers. It offers a blend of bold and creative ranges from old and new school traditions.

Received a B.A. in 1995 from Connecticut College. In 1996, he founded the New York City based Nicholas Leichter Dance. He has taught and performed throughout the world on most every continent, in many specialty dance schools and festivals. Leichter has created over 25 works for his own company and commissioned works for arts renowned colleges and theater companies. Leichter received the 2006 Mariam McGlone Emerging Choreographer Award from Wesleyan University. In 2008, he received a Choreographer Fellowship from NYFA and a National Performance Network/Network of Cultural Centers of Color Artist-of-Color Residency Award at Sacramento State. He received the 2009 Copperfoot Award for Choreography from Wayne State University. Leichter is the 2012 Young Arts Choreography Mentor. In recognition of his unique approach to contemporary dance, Leichter has received funding from many distinguished U.S. arts foundations.

After School Matters® Hip Hop Culture Dance Ensemble program fuses urban dance and popular culture, as teens create performance pieces highlighting relevant social issues and work with professional artists to develop their talents, while gaining critical skills for work, college and beyond. Since its founding in 1991 by former First Lady of Chicago Maggie Daley, After School Matters has provided more than 100,000 teens with out-of-school opportunities to discover their potential and find their path to a meaningful life.