Led by Artistic Director Hannah Garner, 2nd Best Dance Company creates, performs, and teaches physically rigorous, sometimes virtuosic, almost always slapstick dance-plays. Based in New York City, the company believes in art-making that is exploratory, empathetic, and goofy; values feeling over reality and seeks our truest sensations over absolute truth; blends humor and tragedy while tackling “topics like death and queer identity through rigorous, inventive movement and wit” (Dance Magazine); and grapples with big ideas in very human (aka messy) ways.

Since its founding in 2016, 2nd Best has used its practice and platform to play out absurdist scenes: moving, performing text, singing, utilizing props, unconventionally handling proscenium spaces, and asking the audience to play active roles or even perform in the work. 2nd Best tackles big topics, plays very seriously, and leans into hunches that take us to uncertain and often ridiculous places all to ask: what does it mean to be alive? @2ndbestdance