The Next Generation Dance Company is a youth dance company founded in 1999 through the joint effort of Tatyana Makarova, who emigrated from Russia after many years of classical ballet and dance training from some of that nation's finest teachers, and Sandy Underwood, a local performing arts photographer whose work is recognized throughout the region. The dance company was created to provide the best of Cincinnati's young dancers, from all studios, with an opportunity to perform in professional productions.

During 1999, 27 youth dancers were selected as cast members for the company's first production of "The Blue Bird". After seven weeks of classes and rehearsals the company staged it's first ballet. Working with the students were professional dancer and choreographer Alexei Kremnev and dancers Anna Reznik, Dawn Kelly and Michael Wardlaw of the Cincinnati Ballet. Our second year production was a world premiere of "The Snow Queen", successfully preformed at the Aronoff Center for the Arts. The production made such a positive impression on the audience, young and old, that the company was invited to perform pieces of the production in the months following the initial performance. Company members performed during the 2001 & 2003 Fine Arts Sampler Weekend at Kenwood Mall, for a Shriner's Foundation program for inner city children and at a special dance event at Florence Mall. In October 2001, the Next Generation Dance Company conducted a benefit performance for the Red Cross " Children Helping Children". The program included a wide variety of arts organizations: Playhouse in the Park Acting Class, the Musical arts Center and several local dance schools (including ballet tech ohio, Cincinnati Dance Academy Youth Ballet, CCM Youth Ballet, Miracle Dance Center and Dance ETC). Between the original performance and last year's successful production, the Next Generation Dance Company has entertained and brought the joy of dance to thousands of area children and their families.