Credit: DAYTON PERFORMING ARTS ALLIANCE
Credit: DAYTON PERFORMING ARTS ALLIANCE
“Just being here in Dayton, I can feel the energy, the revitalization of art that’s going to take place,” Ragland previously said. “I don’t take this opportunity lightly. I do believe representation matters, and there are people of color who love ballet and want to see ballet move forward. I’m looking forward to all future collaborations with multiple dance organizations here and abroad, bringing the best to Dayton and showing the world the best of Dayton. I’m very excited.”
Dayton Contemporary Dance Company celebrates its 55th anniversary season with a return to the Victoria Theatre in October, December and February. “In Good Company” will highlight Denver-based Cleo Parker Robinson Dance along with a new work created for DCDC by Charles Anderson, The Ohio State University Dance Department Chair. In time for the holidays, “In the Spirit of… Grace,” featuring “In My Father’s House” choreographed by DCDC Artistic Director Debbie Blunden-Diggs, will stir emotions as company members perform alongside the Community Gospel Choir under the direction of DCDC Music Director Deron Bell. “Modern Moves,” slated during Black History Month, will showcase DCDC as the first majority African American company to perform legendary choreographer Paul Taylor’s “Esplanade,” an acclaimed modern contemporary dance work spotlighting pedestrian movement that premiered in New York in 1975. The anniversary season, which includes touring engagements with Arbogast Performing Arts Center and Clark State Performing Arts Center, concludes in April with DCDC2, the pre-professional ensemble under the leadership of Artistic Director Shonna Hickman-Matlock, exploring themes of what it means to live with and without freedom.
Credit: Contributed
Credit: Contributed
“I am so excited to enter into the 55th season and what that means for a Black company in the Midwest,” Blunden-Diggs said. “We look forward to inspiring both audiences and dancer artists creating transformational experiences for everyone. Make DCDC a part of your living Black history.”
Elsewhere: Arbogast Performing Arts Center will host Dayton Playhouse and Miami Valley Symphony Orchestra’s presentation of “West Side Story” choreographed by Paulio Sóvári; Clark State Performing Arts Center supplies 360 ALLSTARS, a “supercharged urban circus” combining BMX, basketball, breakdancing, acrobatics, drumming and more; Dayton Live will present “Cirque Dreams Holidaze”; Gem City Ballet’s 32nd season will include fall, winter and spring repertory; Pontecorvo Ballet Studios and South Dayton School of Dance will mount “The Nutcracker”; and Wright State University’s Nutter Center will bring back Cirque du Soleil’s North America arena tour of “Corteo,” a stunning display of athleticism and theatrical magic. First produced in Montreal in 2005 and outstandingly presented at the Nutter Center in 2019, “Corteo,” which means cortege in Italian, centers on a clown who imagines his own funeral taking place within a festive carnival atmosphere.
Also, area colleges will offer many premieres. Wright State University’s spring concert will showcase a varied program of classical ballet and cutting-edge contemporary dance. University of Dayton’s Dance Ensemble will take the stage for the aforementioned “In Freedom,” created in partnership with DCDC2.
Arbogast Performing Arts Center
500 S. Dorset Rd., Troy
937-418-8392 or arbogastpac.com
The Arbogast Performing Arts Center’s goal is “to bring added value to regional schools and the greater Miami Valley area with enhanced programs in performing and visual arts.”
Nov. 10-12, 2023: “West Side Story”
Dec. 3, 2023: “Le Petit Cirque – Christmas Show”
Feb. 24, 2024: “Motown with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company and The Deron Bell Band” Mar. 2, 2024: “Fairytales on Ice: Peter Pan”
Clark State Performing Arts Center
Clark State Performing Arts Center, 300 S. Fountain Ave., Springfield
937-328-3874 or pac.clarkstate.edu/events
Clark State Performing Arts Center delivers national tours and concerts annually.
Feb. 4, 2024: 360 ALLSTARS
Apr. 13, 2024: Dayton Contemporary Dance Company with Springfield Symphony Orchestra
Credit: Robert Robbins
Credit: Robert Robbins
Dayton Ballet
Victoria Theatre, 138 N. Main St., Dayton, and Schuster Center, 1 W. Second St., Dayton
937-228-3630 or daytonperformingarts.org
One of the oldest ballet companies in the United States, Dayton Ballet has become known for producing new works as well as traditional ballets. The organization is also the only dance company to establish a fund specifically to create new, full-length 21st century ballets.
Oct. 27-29, 2023: “Dracula: Bloodlines”
Dec. 8-17, 2023: “The Nutcracker”
Feb. 16-18, 2024: “Swan Lake”
Apr. 12-14, 2024: “New Beginnings”
Dayton Contemporary Dance Company
Victoria Theatre, 138 N. Main St., Dayton
937-228-3232 or dcdc.org
Dayton Contemporary Dance Company has provided artistry rooted in the African-American experience while drawing from diverse, nationally recognized and emerging choreographers.
Oct. 14-15, 2023: “In Good Company”
Dec. 2-3, 2023: “In the Spirit of… Grace”
Feb. 17-18, 2024: “In Modern Moves”
Apr. 27-28, 2024: “In Freedom” (University of Dayton Boll Theatre)
Dayton Dance Initiative
PNC Arts Annex, 46 W. Second St., Dayton
Completely dancer-driven, Dayton Dance Initiative strives to bring together dancers and the Gem City community through collaboration and creativity.
TBA: Spring Concert
Dayton Live
Victoria Theatre, 138 N. Main St., Dayton
937-228-3630 or daytonlive.org
Dayton Live provides a variety of performances on its Project Unlimited Star Attractions lineup including dance-themed shows.
Dec. 15-17, 2023: “Cirque Dreams Holidaze”
Credit: BARBARA PONTECORVO
Credit: BARBARA PONTECORVO
Gem City Ballet
Stuart Sebastian Performance Space, 20 Commercial Way, Springboro
937-550-9245 or gemcityballet.org
Founded by Barbara Pontecorvo in 1992, Gem City Ballet, originally known as Ballet de Jeunesse, was conceived to educate young dancers in the joys and rigors of ballet, to make quality ballet performances available to a wide audience, and provide new and experienced choreographers a chance to create new works.
Oct. 20-21, 2023: Fall Repertory Performance
Dec. 10, 2023: Holiday with the Miami Valley Symphony Orchestra (Dayton Masonic Center)
Feb. 16-17, 2024: Winter Repertory Performance
Apr. 19-20, 2024: Spring Repertory Performance
Miami University Performing Arts Series
119 Center for Performing Arts, Oxford
513-529-3200 or miamioh.edu
Miami University’s programming prides itself on diverse, thought-provoking works.
Mar. 1, 2024: Celtic Angels, Ireland
Pontecorvo Ballet Studios
Stuart Sebastian Performance Space, 20 Commercial Way, Springboro
937-550-9245 or pbstudios.com
Spearheaded by Barbara Pontecorvo, Pontecorvo Ballet Studios trains young dancers to enter the world of professional dance.
Nov. 11-12, 2023: “The Nutcracker”
June 2, 2024: “Cinderella”
Sinclair Community College
444 W. Third St., Blair Hall Theatre, Building 2, Dayton
937-512-2808 or sinclair.edu
Sinclair features students in multiple genres of dance.
TBA
South Dayton School of Dance
101 E. Alex Bell Rd. #130, Centerville
937-435-5052 or southdaytonschoolofdance.com
South Dayton School of Dance specializes in classical ballet, jazz, modern, tap, pre-ballet and other disciplines.
Dec. 2-3 2023: “The Nutcracker” (Dayton Masonic Center)
University of Dayton
Kennedy Union Boll Theatre, 300 College Park, Dayton
937-229-2545 or udayton.edu
UD Dance Ensemble continues its annual collaboration with the repertory training ensemble of Dayton Contemporary Dance Company in addition to contributing to an original dance theatre production.
Apr. 27-28, 2024: “In Freedom”
Wright State University
Creative Arts Center, 3640 Col. Glenn Hwy., Dayton
937-775-2500 or liberal-arts.wright.edu/fine-and-performing-arts
Wright State will present world premieres by WSU faculty and guest artists.
Apr. 18-21, 2024: Spring Concert
Credit: Maja Prgomet
Credit: Maja Prgomet
Wright State University Nutter Center
3640 Col. Glenn Hwy., Dayton
937-775-1000 or nuttercenter.com
Nov. 16-19, 2023: Cirque du Soleil’s “Corteo”
FALL ARTS PREVIEW
The fall arts season is underway. Throughout September, we’re bringing you season schedules and highlights for arts groups throughout the region.
Sept. 3: Fall Entertainment Guide Theater
Sept. 10: Fall Entertainment Guide Music
Sept. 17: Fall Entertainment Guide Dance
Sept. 24: Fall Entertainment Guide Visual Arts
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