Today we’d like to introduce you to Martheya Nygaard Scott.
Hi Martheya, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
kNOwBOX dance is a Dallas-headquartered nonprofit founded in 2018 by Co-Creators/Founders Martheya Nygaard Scott and YeaJean Choi to explore how artists can stay connected, create new work, and share ideas globally through dance, film, and technology. Rooted in Dallas, early initiatives included the Dance Film Workshop at the Dallas Public Library and a partnership with the Dance Council of North Texas to produce the Dallas Dance Film Festival, alongside international presentations such as the Prague Quadrennial.
In 2019, kNOwBOX dance launched the kNOwBOX dance Film Festival (NBFF) and the Dance Behind the Screen Podcast (DBS), expanding opportunities for Dallas artists while building global dialogue around dance on film. Following nonprofit incorporation in 2021, the organization grew into a multi-program dance think tank with program partnership hubs in South Korea and Mexico that connect Dallas-based artists and audiences to international collaborators and exchange.
Today, kNOwBOX dance champions dance as a driver of innovation, collaboration, and learning through festivals, performances, education initiatives, digital media, and global creative exchange. Its work expands access to contemporary dance beyond traditional venues while strengthening Dallas’s role as a center for interdisciplinary arts.
The organization is powered by a dynamic leadership team: Martheya Nygaard Scott serves as Executive Director and Co-Creator/Founder, YeaJean Choi serves as Co-Creator/Founder and Director of International Relations & Programs, Reyna Mondragon is Director of People & Community, Wilber Mendoza is Manager of International Relations & Programs, and Azaria Hogans Baggett serves as Lead Art Agent.
By linking local communities with international networks, kNOwBOX dance supports artists, engages audiences, and contributes to the cultural vitality of Dallas and beyond.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t been a smooth road, and honestly, that’s been part of the growth.
One of the biggest shifts was becoming a nonprofit. Moving from an artist-driven idea into a formal organization meant learning an entirely new language: governance, budgets, compliance, fundraising. It required us to think beyond creating work and into building systems that could sustain artists long-term. That transition came with a lot of trial and error.
Another major challenge has been reframing dance as both an artistic and entrepreneurial practice. The field doesn’t always support that mindset, so we’ve had to actively push against the idea that dance only exists on stage or within traditional structures. We’ve had to build new models for distribution, compensation, and visibility, especially through film, digital platforms, and partnerships. That takes time, persistence, and a willingness to operate without a clear roadmap.
There have also been very real resource challenges. Funding isn’t always consistent, and much of our work has been built while navigating limited capacity. We’ve had to be strategic, scrappy, and deeply committed to our values, especially our commitment to paying artists.
At the same time, those challenges have shaped kNOwBOX dance into what it is. They’ve pushed us to think differently, collaborate more intentionally, and stay rooted in why we started: to support artists, build community, and imagine new futures for dance.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
kNOwBOX dance is a Dance Think Tank—a global hub for innovation, creative exploration, and the advancement of new ideas in dance and the arts. Through our multi-country dance festival, thought-provoking podcast, and international partnerships, we say NO to the BOX and YES to the future of dance by amplifying diverse voices and pushing artistic boundaries. We create platforms that connect artists and audiences worldwide by incubating bold ideas and fostering entrepreneurial thinking.
At our core, we design systems that support dance beyond the stage. We specialize in dance film, digital distribution, and interdisciplinary collaboration, creating pathways for artists to share their work across museums, universities, theaters, and nontraditional spaces globally. Our work lives at the intersection of art, technology, and community, with a strong focus on access, equity, and sustainability for artists.
We’re known for reimagining how dance is experienced and valued. From the kNOwBOX dance Film Festival to the Dance Behind the Screen podcast, we create spaces where artists are not only seen, but supported, paid, and in conversation with a global network. Our model challenges traditional hierarchies by centering artist voice and experimentation while building real infrastructure around it.
What we’re most proud of is our commitment to artists. Every official selection in our festival is compensated, and we actively build revenue models that continue to support filmmakers beyond a single screening. We’re also proud of the international community we’ve cultivated—bringing together artists, curators, and audiences across countries to engage with dance in new and meaningful ways.
What sets us apart is our approach: we don’t just present work, we build ecosystems. We think like artists and entrepreneurs at the same time, creating platforms that are both creatively rigorous and structurally sustainable. kNOwBOX dance isn’t just responding to the field, we’re actively shaping what the future of dance can look like.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Finding a mentor or building a network is less about collecting contacts and more about building real relationships.
What’s worked for us at kNOwBOX dance is leading with a question, not an ask. Our guiding question is: How can we honor dance’s rich history and physical and embodied nature while embracing tools that expand its reach and impact? When you share what you are exploring, you invite conversation, and that is often where mentorship begins.
A few things that help:
Be in the room: This can be festivals, talks, rehearsals, or online spaces. Go where ideas are being shared.
Lead with curiosity: Focus on what you admire in someone’s work. Let the connection grow from there.
Follow up: Send a note, share something relevant, or invite them into your work. Relationships build over time.
Create your own space: We built platforms like our festival and podcast to connect with others. Sometimes you meet mentors by creating what you wish existed.
Align with values: Look for people who think in ways that resonate with you, not just people with titles.
Mentorship grows from shared ideas, consistency, and community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.knowboxdance.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knowboxdance/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/knowboxdance
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@knowboxdance/
- Other: https://www.knowboxdance.com/podcast
