The Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, one of the largest companies between Chicago and New York City according to www.dcdc.org, offers its expertise to University of Dayton students at no cost every Tuesday from 8-9 p.m.
Established in 1968, DCDC, is the oldest modern dance company in Ohio. With its African-American background, the company integrates traditional culture and spirituality into movement.
DCDC is the current artist-in-residence at UD. Through the artist-in-residency program, the company is able to teach and learn in an entirely new setting.
Assistant Director of Artstreet Adrienne Niess said that the relationship between the company and the university has lasted three years.
The class is available to all students: no experience, no pre-registration and no fees required. The sessions range from traditional African dance to hip-hop.
“As part of the residency, we wanted to make [DCDC] accessible to students. They have some connections with the theater program, but we wanted to also have an informal dance environment available,” Niess said.
Although the classes are geared towards beginners, skilled dancers can learn from these professional dancers as well.
“The modern dance master class appeals to me most because I am a dancer and that’s a style I really like,” freshman discover arts major Krista Bondi said.
Labeled “a testimony to endurance against great odds” by the DCDC website, the company has expressed its art and creativity for 43 years and students have the advantage of experiencing this culture for free.
The next class is DCDC fit, Oct. 9 at the McGinnis Center, 301 Lowes St.
For more information, call ArtStreet at 937-229-5101.
