The coronavirus pandemic has altered everyone’s lives in various ways, but few have been affected more than performing artists. The professional dancers with the Dayton Dance Initiative had to cancel their in person performance this spring, which was scheduled to happen at the PNC  Arts Annex.

Instead of turning the cancellation into defeat, the dancer operated project decided to take their performance online. And rather than just film or livestream a static performance, they are making  an hour long “dance movie” complete with location and costume changes.

The performance premieres on Saturday August 8th at 8pm on the Dayton Dance Initiative’s YouTube page. Anyone can watch for free for up to 72 hours.  After that, the performance will be archived on their website: www.daytondanceinitiative.com

About the Dayton Dance Initiative:

Dayton Dance Initiative is an independent collective of professional dancers from the Dayton area. We strive to create a platform for artists to explore their choreographic sides, collaborate with dancers of different styles, and bring our community together through our art form. Our dancers come from many different backgrounds of training and professional experience.

DDI was founded by former Dayton Ballet dancer Jocelyn Green, who had a vision of collaboration with the other talented dancers in Dayton: the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company. Through Dayton Dance Initiative, dancers hailing from both companies have the opportunity to work together and create works on artists from different backgrounds. We are joined by Arthur Murray Dance Center: Dayton, whose leadership has provided further opportunities for our dancers to expand their repertoire, experience, and love of dance.

Professional dancers are contracted with their respective companies on a yearly basis, with a summer off-season. DDI provides further opportunity for these dancers, who would otherwise be unemployed during the summer months. Professional dancers do not often get the chance to express themselves through their own choreography. DDI offers a platform for dancers to explore their own choreographic voices, allowing these artists to stretch themselves physically, mentally, and artistically.

Dayton Dance Initiative is completely dancer led, giving our artists skills not only in choreographing, but in running an organization through financing, marketing, and leading. The support of our donors, sponsors, and community is what makes Dayton Dance Initiative possible.
Rich Reuter – Summer High

To learn more and donate to the Dayton Dance Initiative, visit: www.daytondanceinitiative.com

To listen to our first podcast with the Dayton Dance Initiative, check out episode #675: http://gemcitypodcast.com/?p=4265