Want to go?
WHAT: “In the Spirit of…Joy”
WHERE: Dayton Masonic Center, 525 W. Riverview Ave., Dayton
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 12; 3 p.m. Sunday, March 13
COST: $15-$25
TICKETS/MORE INFO: Call Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com
WHAT: “Kaleidoscope”
WHERE: University of Dayton’s Kennedy Union Boll Theatre, 300 College Park, Dayton
WHEN: 8 p.m.; Friday, March 18 and Saturday, March 19
COST: $15
TICKETS/MORE INFO: Call Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com
As the Easter season beckons, the time has come for themes of praise and spiritual uplifting as Dayton Contemporary Dance Company presents its ninth installment of “In the Spirit of…Joy” this weekend at Dayton Masonic Center.
Back by popular demand, the concert primarily spotlights the African-American experience rooted in the African-American church. In particular, the community-driven concert features a community choir and instrumentalists who will heighten the gospel-themed program to roof-raising proportions.
“This has always been a very popular concert for us,” said DCDC Artistic Director Debbie Blunden-Diggs. “It has so many moving pieces and always captures the audience on a personal level. It really does a wonderful job of bringing the community into what we do as well. The choir as well as musicians from local churches are heavily involved which is very different than a typical, main stage DCDC performance.”
Choreographers for the concert include Blunden-Diggs, Crystal Michelle, Marlayna Locklear, Amy Renee Jones, Qarrianne McClellan and Quentin Sledge.
“This company was established in the community for the African-American community, and I never want the gap to be wide,” Blunden-Diggs added. “I always want the African-American audience to know we depend on them for our source of strength. We are here for them.”
In addition, DCDC2, the repertory training, pre-professional ensemble of DCDC, will collaborate with the University of Dayton’s Dance Ensemble for a spring concert titled “Kaleidoscope” slated March 18 and 19 inside UD’s Boll Theatre.
“We are excited to blend both worlds of DCDC2 and UD,” said Blunden-Diggs. “The DCDC2 concerts normally take place at UD so it’s great to be able to partner with UD’s dance program under the direction of Richard Mosley. Naming the concert ‘Kaleidoscope’ allows us the opportunity to present dance in many ways and many facets. Shonna Hickman-Matlock has particularly created the work that is the collaborative piece that will showcase both ensembles together. It’s going to be a very nice program.”
“Having a meaningful collaboration with DCDC has been a goal of mine since I began at UD,” added Michelle Hayford, UD Theatre Program Director and Associate Professor of Theatre. “I am a huge fan of DCDC and a proud subscriber to their season. I feel strongly that our students benefit greatly from the experience of working side by side with DCDC2 as many of them may aspire to a professional dance career and the collaboration gives them an inside view into what it takes to be a professional dancer. DCDC is my favorite dance company so this collaboration with their pre-professional company is a great asset to our new BA liberal studies theater, dance and performance technology program.”
About the Author