Calgary's Decidedly Jazz Danceworks is no secret to dance-loving Calgarians, but this week, the critically-acclaimed contemporary dancers are being showcased at one of the United States most prestigious dance festivals. The company were invited to perform at the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival in Becket, Massachusetts. It's the 91st season for Jacob's Pillow, making it America's longest-running dance festival. It's been described as a "hub and mecca" of dancing by Time Magazine and "the dance centre of the nation" by the New York Times, so it was quite a coup for a Calgary dance company to cop an invite to perform there.

Surrounded by the beat of their percussion and keys and the high held call of their brass, I can feel that energy out here tonight — individually and together, they move into new spaces with a rare confidence in who they are and a full-bodied pleasure in the feel of movement from their soles to their temples.

DJD has created a legacy in Calgary, with its space, its performance company, and its school. Being invited to perform in one of the U.S.’ biggest dance festivals is significant because it is also an invitation to contribute to the conversation around jazz as an art form and its credibility.