Dancing a World to Live In, Celebrating African American Roots and Branches
DCDC On Tour
DCDC is known for its extraordinary artistic expression, precision, power and passion. The company receives critical acclaim for its embrace of contemporary creators and its rejuvenating restorations of forgotten works. This Dayton, Ohio modern dance company, the 10th oldest in the nation, continues to be at the forefront of the Black contemporary dance movement.
“[DCDC] has shown that it knows how to give maximum impact to little-known choreography from the past, making it burst into life.”Alastair Macaulay, The New York Times
“[Abby Zbikowski’s] Indestructible is the highlight [of DCDC’s ADF performances], a work that sends you out of the auditorium vibrating with the power of readiness and organization. […] Malcolm X said ‘Tomorrow belongs only to the people who prepare for it today.’ Dayton has taken that to heart in this stunning useful work.”Chris Vitiello, INDY Week
Residencies that inspire and transform
DCDC believes and teaches that dance is for everyone. With its commitment to arts-integrated education and community engagement DCDC encourages participants to experience the thrill of movement that contextualizes and illuminates the art form.
“Here at Frederick Douglass Elementary, we have seen a decrease in our chronic absenteeism rates since the introduction of our partnership with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company.”Principal, Frederick Douglass Elementary School, Cincinnati
“The Dayton Contemporary Dance Company gifted Tuskegee with an experience that was not only artistic, but one full of depth and inspiration. The fact that it was so eagerly received is a sign that the arts truly have a place at Tuskegee University.”Tuskegee University
Copy of DCDC-PaulTaylor-026
DCDC-Littlest-Angel-2021-0469
DCDC Gallery Esplenade -1
DCDC-Littlest-Angel-2021-0452
DCDC Gallery On The Wings of Angels -1
DCDC Gallery This I Know For Sure -2
Copy of Black by Popular Demand-06685
DCDC Gallery Splendor -1
DCDC Gallery This I Know For Sure -1
DCDC Gallery This I Know For Sure -3
DCDC Show-6967-Edit-2
Copy of Black by Popular Demand-06685
DCDC Valle -2-5
DCDC is eager to come to your city, and you want us there, too!
Read on for descriptions of DCDC’s lively touring rep and residency programming.
Current Touring Repertory
Read on for descriptions of DCDC’s current lively touring rep and residency programming.
SOON
Renowned hip-hop artist Rennie Harris’s Soon, inspired by Philly’s “G.Q.” style, draws on the choreographer’s personal journey and experiences growing up in North Philadelphia.
- Choreographer: Rennie Harris
- Premiere: April 2025
- Duration: 23 mins
- Cast: Full company
Pressed
We are excited to introduce Joshua L. Ishmon, a young, rising choreographer whose inventive artistic vocabulary boasts signature movement and thought-provoking commentary and context that will challenge and thrill audiences.
- Choreographer: Joshua L. Ishmon
- Premiere: April 2025
- Duration: 18 mins
- Cast: Five Dancers
Mental
Ray Mercer’s Mental is a metaphoric and emotional journey exploring inner battles with breathtaking athleticism, contrasting sustained introspection.
- Choreographer: Ray Mercer
- Premiere: April 2025
- Duration: 17 mins
- Cast: Full company
Splendor
Vibrant and lyrical, Amy Hall Garner’s Splendor, commissioned by the American Dance Festival for both Dayton Contemporary Dance Company and the Paul Taylor Dance Company, celebrates their joint appearance at the 2025 summer dance festival.
- Choreographer: Amy Hall Garner
- Premiere: July 2025
- Duration: 22 mins
- Cast: Eight Dancers
huMAN/NAture
huMAN/NAture takes a deep dive into the origins of man, drawing upon African fables. Danced to text and an original jazz score by Wesley Winfrey, which may be performed live by a 12-piece band.
- Choreographer: Countess V. Winfrey
- Premiere: February 2022
- Duration: 33 mins
- Cast: Full company
- Tech Requirements: Backlit Backdrop
American Mo
Dancers express the hope, unity, courage, and joy that accompanied the non-violent protest movement of the Civil Rights era.
- Choreographer: Crystal Michelle
- Premiere: September 2015
- Duration: 13 mins
- Cast: Eight Dancers
- Tech Requirements: Projection capabilities preferred
Home/ An Untitled Portrait
Through movement, sound, and enveloping digital projections, Home explores themes of bodily surrender, openness, and Black spirituality within the complicated spaces we call home.
- Choreographer: Tommie-Waheed Evans
- Premiere: February 2023
- Duration: 20 mins
- Cast: Full company
- Tech Requirements: Rear Projection
Body Talk
Drawing inspiration from 20th Century African American authors, choreographers Debbie Blunden-Diggs and Crystal Michelle explore the ever changing landscape of the struggle for black existence.
- Choreographer: Debbie Blunden-Diggs, Crystal Michelle
- Premiere: 2016
- Duration: 75 mins (no intermission)
- Cast: Full company
The Littlest Angel
Let the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company fill your holiday season with joy and love as they retell the story of The Littlest Angel by Charles Tazewell.
- Choreographer: Crystal Michelle
- Premiere: 2014
- Duration: 75 mins (includes intermission)
- Cast: Full company
- Opportunity for the inclusion of your local dance community.
- Uses minimalist set pieces, and hanging pieces
This I Know For Sure
Capturing the moment between the choreographer’s envisioning the dance and the dancers animating the vision, This I Know… explores the creative process.
- Choreographer: Ray Mercer
- Premiere: February 2017
- Duration: 27 mins
- Cast: Ten Dancers
Enrichment that goes beyond the stage
Our community engagement activities deepen and contextualize the experience of live dance with thoughtfully constructed residency activities that undergird our performances.
We look forward to working with you in designing community-enriching projects, activities, and performances.
- Master Classes
- Lecture Demonstrations
- Interactive Student Performances and Mini concerts
- Dance composition workshops
- Repertory workshops
- Pre and post-concert audience talk backs
Book DCDC
DCDC’s Touring team is eager to meet with you, and together create experiences that resound the heartbeat of your community.
Email: Touring@DCDC.org
Media Kit
Moving in the stillness
A perfectly timed click encapsulates not just a pose, but the energy, emotion, and sheer athleticism that courses through a dancer’s body.
Production and Technical
Lights, Curtain, Music… GO
Production Director and Lighting Designer Matt J. Evans will work with your theatre to create the best and smoothest DCDC production. As a basic example of what is needed to bring DCDC to your facility, we include this sample tech rider.
Book DCDC today!
This season is made possible in part by…
