Company Time

Before her days as the head of Northampton’s School for Contemporary Dance and Thought, Jen Polins directed the Catalyst dancers at South Hadley’s Pioneer Valley Performing Arts charter school for 17 years. In September, craving a return to that rewarding work, Polins founded Hatchery, the valley’s only independent pre-professional dance company for teens ages 13-19. In addition to studying with internationally acclaimed artists, students choreograph their own work, receive mentorship from experts in the field, and create their own performances. Hatchery’s 2016 company dancers are Rose Cole-Cohen, Ashira Devi Dalomba, Sonai Donnell, Amelie Fisher, Seraphina Forman, Lila Gaffney, Clara Gudran, Zev Lane, Melle Lowenthal, Gabriella Mack, Sade Murray and Georgia Weaver. Come see them perform this weekend in SCDT’s beautiful loft studio space on Main Street.

Hatchery: Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. $10 general; $5 students and seniors. School for Contemporary Dance and Thought, 25 Main St., Northampton. (413) 570-4491, scdtnoho.com.

— Hunter Styles