What lifts you? What makes your heart sing? What do you do when you feel lousy? Sad? Lonely? Music is what does it for me, it can change my mood instantly. And of course, for me, music then becomes dance.

Some may ask, how can we dance when the world is as it is? How can we not? Dance is necessary, dance is medicine, dance is resistance. It’s about living life and giving life – not by making babies but by making art, art with history in resistance, in healing, and helping people rise and celebrate in the worst of times, and escape, or forget for a moment. And remember as well, what is important, what is the point. I believe a path to getting out of the mess we are currently in, is by coming together, sharing experiences by dancing and making music.

So, as you plan your path for the next several months, why not join us for a beautiful season of new work? We passed our 40^th milestone last year and now we blast into the future with bold new ideas, movement and music.

First up – Rare Beauties – I’ve begun creation on a new transformational cinematic work danced with passion to a score made up by sounds of past and present, what do you choose when you can have any great jazz recording to create to? It is tough, and I have chosen some doozies.  Rare Beauties includes collaboration with lights and textures, working closely with Steve Isom (lights) and Hannah Fisher (costumes) we play with beauty and what that can mean as it is most definitely in the eye of the beholder.

Our second offering is called Matters of Rhythm & Harmony – this double feature performance offers a first act created by longtime company dancer Sabrina Naz Comănescu. Sabrina is ready to stretch her wings and bite off something bigger in an exciting new piece. Act 2 will have a different kind of intimacy, focusing on conversations between the bandstand and the dancefloor. Carsten Rubeling is back with a mighty quintet, creating music for Sabrina and for this second act adventure I’ve convinced Vicki Adams Willis to direct with me. It will be something special.

Our 25/26 season promises many new delights! I hope you will come see these performances, I hope they will lift you and make your heart sing. I hope you will dance too, whether it is with us at the DJD school, in a nightclub, or in your living room. Get inspired, escape, celebrate, resist, delight, think, groove, engage, tap your foot and bob your head with us.

As always,

In the spirit of jazz,

Kim Cooper

Artistic Director