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Artistic Leadership
Vicki Adams Willis, DJD Co-Founder & Artistic Director
Vicki carries on a family tradition that began when her mother, Alice (Murdoch) Adams opened one of the first dance schools in Calgary in the 1920s. Vicki’s passion for dance and jazz has taken her literally all over the globe. Besides teaching and choreographing for countless organizations, including the renowned School at Jacob’s Pillow, Vicki founded the Jazz Division in the Faculty of Fine Arts’ Program of Dance at the University of Calgary in 1978, and co-founded DJD in 1984 where she enthusiastically continues in her role as Artistic Director. She has received U of C’s Superior Teacher Award, Global Television’s Women of Vision Award, The City of Calgary’s Community Achievement Award for the Arts, and an Alberta Centennial Medal. She has also had a U of C Fine Arts Entrance Award named in her honour, and was chosen as one of the University of Calgary’s Top 40 Alumni.
Organizational Leadership
Kathi Sundstrom, General Manager
Kathi attended Decidedly Jazz Danceworks premiere production, Body and Sole, in 1984 and became an instant supporter. In 1989 Kathi joined the DJD Board of Directors and in 1992 became President of the Board. In 1993, Kathi made a courageous career move when she left the for-profit world to become General Manager of DJD. The move offered Kathi a myriad of new challenges along with a radical reduction in her annual income. She promised to work with the company for two years, and now, over 14 years later, is still at the helm. She was the proud recipient of the 2005 Rozsa Award for Excellence in Arts Management.
Before coming to DJD, Kathi worked for 10 years for three different operating divisions of TNT Express Worldwide in Western Canada, in roles in Sales, Management and as a Facilitator and Trainer in Total Quality Management. Prior to that she spent four years in Management in Western Canada for Mariposa Stores, where she coordinated the openings of their first two stores in the United States. Kathi graduated from SAIT as a Business Administration and Consumer Marketing Major with a 4.0 GPA on a scale of 4.0 and was listed on the President's Honour Roll. Kathi is presently Treasurer of the Canadian Dance Alliance, was co-chair of the Mayor’s Lunch for Business and the Arts in 1999 and 2000, and was a member of the executive committee of the Calgary Professional Arts Alliance from 1994-2000.
Board Stewardship
Catherine Bagnell Styles, President, DJD Board of Directors
Catherine discovered Decidedly Jazz Danceworks when she began working at the University of Calgary in 2002 and experienced the infectious energy of an African dance demonstration. Just 48 hours later, she was registered in her first DJD class and that was just the beginning. Now, 5 years later, she is still a DJD student and passionate advocate for ‘all things DJD’.
As the new board president, Catherine’s professional experience brings a valuable perspective to DJD. In her current role as Associate Vice President, External Relations at the University of Calgary, she understands the intersections between education, the arts and the community and most importantly how they feed and support each other. In previous marketing positions with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Canadian Airlines and Wardair, her experiences included brand awareness and reputation management.
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