Performances

Performing at the national, regional and local levels, Company d has performed for various audiences, ranging from statewide teaching conferences and faith-based ministries to business professionals within the community. In addition, the dancers have supported other non-profit organizations, as featured entertainment for fundraising events.
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‍Company d has led lecture-demonstrations for dance education majors and been included in university level dance classes.
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The Company d dancers have also received instruction from nationally recognized guest artists in collaboration with local dance companies such as Collage Dance Collective, Project Motion and Germantown Performing Arts Center. Finally, principal dancers from the Company have been included in professional level dance concerts locally, regionally and nationally.

Performance History

2003: recognized as the “Entertainer of the Year”; by the Mid-South ARC

2004-present: featured entertainment for Downtown Alive, Memphis in May

2005: VSA* (Vision-Strength-Artistic Expression) of Tennessee ; Company d selected to represent the 9th district of Tennessee in the KEYMUNICATE project “Communication through Arts,” a statewide arts initiative for individuals with disabilities to communicate their own uniqueness and the uniqueness of their communities through the performing and visual arts

2006: Company d dancers perform at the opening event of the National Down Syndrome Congress conference in Atlanta

2007: National Down Syndrome Congress conference in Kansas City, Missouri, featured entertainment for self-advocate attendees; company dancers taught workshops in the Luigi classical jazz warm-up and choreography to other self-advocates attending the conference

2007: Company d invited by the VSA of Tennessee to be one of three professional dance companies to perform at the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville, Tennessee

2008: New York, Company d dancers make off-Broadway debut at the DiCapo Opera Theatre, sponsored by Luigi Jazz Centre; Company d dancers were also the featured entertainment for the national Buddy Walk kick-off in Central Park

2009: Dollywood, Pidegon Forge, TN, VSA Arts of Tennessee young soloist concert

2010: New York, Dicapo Opera Theatre, dance ensemble from the Company was sponsored to return to New York to perform in a showcase highlighting the “Luigi” technique in choreography for the master teacher Luigi, the father of American jazz dance

2011: Middle Tennessee State University Dance Theatre concert, Company d guest performance. Area workshop conducted for Middle Tennessee individuals with Down syndrome and dance education majors in Murfreesboro

2011: Washington, D.C., Company d touring company was selected at an international level to perform at the Smithsonian Institute for the VSA International Start with the Arts Festival, sponsored by the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; the dancers represented the United States with performers from six other countries

2011: Company d produces inaugural annual show in collaboration with Buckman Performing Arts Center, local artists and Tennessee Arts Commission, Let It Be a Dance

2012: Let It Be a Dance, Buckman Performing Arts Center

2013: release of the first ever professionally produced music video in collaboration with International Down Syndrome Coalition (IDSC) and Sarah Conant , songwriter and recording artist

2014: March annual show is featured for celebration of World Down Syndrome Day in partnership with Hutchison School, IDSC and Down Syndrome Association of Memphis

*VSA the international organization on arts and disability, was founded more than 35 years ago by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith to provide arts and education opportunities for people with disabilities and increase access to the arts for all.

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