ABOUT DJD

IN THE SPIRIT OF JAZZ, WE DANCE.

JAZZ ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Jazz is born of Black American culture and its roots lie in the turbulent history of the African American experience. We acknowledge this history and recognize ourselves as guests in this form. We are inspired by and benefit from traditions born of a culture that is not our own. We strive to be respectful in honouring the roots and history of jazz, we dance with reverence for those who came before us, we dig deep to go forward, we strive to appreciate rather than appropriate.

OUR VISION

We are 21st Century jazz people. The DJD Dance Centre is a home for jazz dance to live and thrive. We exist to contribute meaningfully to the future of jazz dance. We are a dance hub in our city. Our community is wide and inclusive. We believe in human connection, personal expression, and the dignity of all people. We believe in dancing to music, with bent knees and movement in our torsos, we embrace improvisation, rhythmic sophistication, the individual, and the community.

OUR VALUES

  • Movement

  • Creativity

  • Authenticity

  • Equity

  • Honesty & Integrity

  • Community

HISTORY OF DJD

In 1984, Vicki Adams Willis who had founded the jazz dance department at the University of Calgary, and two of her graduating students, Michèle Moss and Hannah Stilwell, co-founded DJD to help keep the spirit of jazz alive.  

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ANNUAL REPORT

Learn more about all our activities, events and programs from the last season in our 2022/2023 Annual Report.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE REPORT

THE DJD DANCE CENTRE IS A HUB FOR THE COMMUNITY

DJD is a home for jazz dance and community dance hub. The DJD Dance Centre offers performances, training, outreach, rehearsal, creation and social space for all who enter. The centre has been designed to inspire creativity for the users within and to be a source of creative energy for the district. 

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