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sjDANCEco facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
sjDANCEco
General information
Name sjDANCEco
Year founded 2003 (2003)
Founders Gary Masters
Maria Basile
Melanie Doerner
Principal venue The California Theatre
Senior staff
Chief Executive Gary Masters
Coordinator Melanie Doerner
Company Manager Julia Booker
Choreographic Advisor Fred Mathews
Artistic staff
Artistic Director Gary Masters
Maria Basile
Music Director Barbara Day Turner
Principal Conductor Barbara Day Turner
Resident Choreographers Gary Masters
Maria Basile
Hsiang-Hsiu Lin
Company Dancers Maria Basile
Dominic Duong
Kelisha Gardeen
Katherine House
Amanda Lacro
Hsiang-Hsiu Lin
Gabriel Mata
Frankie Rivera
Hannah Vaughan
Other
Orchestra San José Chamber Orchestra
Gary Masters 2016
Gary Masters, a co-founder and artistic director of sjDANCEco.
Maria Basile 2016
Maria Basile, a co-founder and artistic director of sjDANCEco.
Julia Booker 2016
Julia Booker, the company manager for sjDANCEco.
Fred Mathews 2016
Fred Mathews, a choreographic advisor for sjDANCEco.
Barbara Day Turner at Skywalker
Barbara Day Turner, the music director and principal conductor for sjDANCEco.

sjDANCEco is a dance company located in San Jose, California. It was started in 2003 by Gary Masters, Maria Basile, and Melanie Doerner. This group specializes in contemporary dance, which is a modern style of dance. sjDANCEco is also based at San Jose State University, meaning they often work and perform there.

The History of sjDANCEco

sjDANCEco grew from an earlier dance group called the Limón West Dance Project. Gary Masters led this project from 1994 to 1998. Some of the dancers from that original project, like Maria Basile and Hsiang Hsiu Lin, later joined sjDANCEco.

What sjDANCEco Has Achieved

In its first ten years, sjDANCEco created many new dance pieces. They presented 42 "World Premieres," which means these dances were performed for the very first time. They also brought back six older dances. The company has performed works by famous choreographers (people who create dances) like Donald McKayle and Fred Mathews.

For five years, sjDANCEco worked closely with the José Limón Dance Foundation. During this time, they performed eight dances created by the legendary José Limón.

Helping New Dancers and the Community

sjDANCEco also helps new dance artists in the San Francisco Bay Area. They offer two annual "ChoreoProject Awards." These awards give professional choreographers a chance to show their new dance works.

The company also hosts a "FESTIVAL @ SANTANA ROW." This event celebrates National Dance Week and helps introduce more people to the art of dance.

How sjDANCEco Helps People

sjDANCEco is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. This means they are a group that works for the public good, not to make money. They serve people living in the South Bay area of San Francisco.

Their main goal is to introduce new audiences to dance. They want to help people learn to love and appreciate this art form.

Selected Performances

  • Tango Fatal (2013)
  • The Moor's Pavane (2012)

See also

  • List of Dance Companies