Season & Series
Telling the stories of our time
As the foremost African American performing arts institution in Dayton, OH, our performances are designed to resonate with people from all walks of life.
DAYTON CONTEMPORARY DANCE COMPANY
The Dayton Contemporary Dance Second Company (DCDC2) April performances are included in the season’s offerings. Artistic Director Shonna Hickman-Matlock will commission young and seasoned choreographers to explore themes of living with and without freedom. DCDC2 concerts remain an immensely popular means of enjoying the next generation of dance artists.
Be prepared for more Black history to be made during Black History Month as Dayton Contemporary Dance Company presents “In Modern Moves” Feb. 17-18 at the Victoria Theatre.
In one of the biggest coups in its 55-year history, DCDC is the first African American dance company to receive Paul Taylor’s 1975 masterpiece “Esplanade” into its repertoire. Taylor’s acclaimed routine features everyday, pedestrian movement — standing, skipping, sliding, falling, running, walking — set to the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. Called “a masterpiece of physical joy,” the work serves as the concert centerpiece and will be performed to live music by the Springfield Symphony Orchestra under Peter Stafford Wilson’s direction.
Established in 1968, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company brings phenomenal artistry to the stage, the classroom and the community. In the 2023-24 Season, the bar is set higher as new works continue to be created and uplift Black choreographic Voices and restoring historic modern dance works. This year, DCDC exemplifies the legacy set forth by Jeraldyne Blunden and continues to root itself in the Dayton community.
As the foremost African American performing arts institution in Dayton, OH, our performances are designed to resonate with people from all walks of life.
Click to learn more about one of our four mainstage performances here in Dayton, OH.
OUR HISTORY
Founded in 1968 and rooted in the African-American experience, the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company is a culturally diverse contemporary dance company committed to reaching the broadest audience through exceptional performance and arts-integrated education.