CHECK OUT OUR 25/26 KNOCKOUT SEASON!
Matters of Rhythm & Harmony
April 23-May 10, 2026
Join us for an exciting double-bill performance celebrating our first 10 years in the DJD Dance Centre.
The show features the beautiful DJD company of 9 dancers, live original jazz music composed by Carsten Rubeling and played by an ensemble of 5 remarkable musicians, spectacular costume design by Hannah Fisher, and magical lighting by Steve Isom.
Act 1 is a vibrant journey inspired by sounds and images from the most southern and northern parts of the Caribbean—Trinidad and New Orleans. Carne Vale is a brave new piece by longtime DJD dancer Sabrina Naz Comănescu, exploring the transition of the spirit into the afterlife and how, in this story, the spirit flows like water from the river to the sea.
Act 2 explores the crucial, rooted and sacred relationship between jazz dancer and musician. Created by Kimberley Cooper, Between the Bandstand and the Dancefloor dives deep into this relationship through improvisation, spoken word and fabulous physical and musical conversations between the dancers and musicians.
Special Events
Join us for one of our special events throughout the run — including Opening Night Celebrations , a Post-Show Talkback with the artists, and a Relaxed Performance designed for a more inclusive audience experience.
Rare Beauties
January 15-25, 2026
Rare Beauties is a highly theatrical dance piece exploring extreme emotional states and transformation. The piece is danced to a score featuring a multitude of jazz music from various eras. Created in collaboration with Hannah Fisher (costumes) and Steve Isom (lights) the piece uses costume and light to morph and sculpt the space, themes and dancers throughout the work. Danced by the DJD company, rare beauties themselves, choreographed and directed by DJD Artistic Director Kimberley Cooper, this new piece is part of One Yellow Rabbit’s High Performance Rodeo and promises to be physical, groove driven, moody, strange, and of course, beautiful.
Special Events
Join us for one of our special events throughout the run — including Opening Night celebrations and a Post-Show Talkback with the artists.
DJD PERFORMANCE HISTORY
Now in its 41st season, DJD has presented an incredible range of jazz dance
performances for our Calgary audiences.
"Such energy, such originality, such freshness."
Audience member, Victoria BC
"A masterpiece in carnivorously creative colours… I couldn’t take my eyes or my ears off the stage for a second."
Calgary Herald
"The dancers are as theatrically versatile as they are athletic. They sashay and stomp, seduce and threaten, tease and preen, moving seamlessly from playful and funny to fluid and sensuous to wild and spectacular."
Anne Georg blog
"…entertains simply by the ingenious way it moves through an amazing variety of styles…and the audience…gave standing ovations both nights."
Dance International Magazine
"We were absolutely blown away – what a stunning production…your dancers were marvellous – thrilling to watch. Ms. Richardson is a national treasure – what a treat to hear her sing. Your work is so engaging, so fundamentally humane, it makes me feel I can dance – that dance is the logical natural form of human expression."
Audience Member
"Plenty of ‘wow’ in DJD production… DJD forges ahead into bold new territory…"
Calgary Herald
"The quartet of sneaker-clad dancers were captivating, diving in and out of the music and swishing their jewel-toned skirts."
Penelope Ford, The Globe and Mail
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