Something unprecedented is about to go down at the Victoria Theatre. For the first time, Dayton’s two powerhouse dance companies, Dayton Ballet and Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, are sharing the same stage for Rhythm of the City, a celebration of the funk music born right here in the Gem City.
Running April 10th through 12th, the production brings together choreographers Alia Kache, Gary W. Jeter II, and Brandon Ragland, who have each crafted new works set to the sounds of Dayton funk legends like Ohio Players, Zapp, Heatwave, Lakeside, Faze-O, and Shirley Murdock. The evening also features a world premiere composition by LaFrae Sci.
This isn’t a concert, and it isn’t a traditional ballet, it’s something entirely new. Dancers from both companies will perform together, translating Dayton’s musical DNA into movement. And between every act, Deron Bell & the Time To Groove House Band will be right there on stage keeping the funk live and loud.
The collaboration is a landmark moment for both organizations. DCDC, founded in 1968, and Dayton Ballet, one of the oldest ballet companies in the country, have operated in the same city for decades but have never come together on stage quite like this. Rhythm of the City is part of DCDC’s 57th season, themed “Dancing in Our Light,” and it feels like the kind of event that only Dayton could produce — a city where funk was invented now watching its two greatest dance institutions honor that legacy side by side.
HOW TO GO?
Performances are Friday, April 10 and Saturday, April 11 at 7:30 PM, with a Sunday, April 12 matinee at 2:30 PM. Tickets are available through Dayton Live.
Ro Nita Hawes-Saunders, CEO of the internationally acclaimed Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (DCDC), announced her intention to terminate her tenure, effective December 31, 2022.
Ro Nita believes that DCDC is a community trust and cultural treasure, whose reason for being is to recreate and celebrate the African American heritage and experience.
The board of directors, will begin the daunting task of filling her position, in order for DCDC to continue its excellence that it represents in the arts world-wide.
In February, there are two opportunities to experience the
Performances will be held on February 26 at 7:30pm and February 27 at 4:00pm, LIVE at the Victoria Theater. For tickets call 937-228-3630 or 
The holiday rush may be in full swing, but it’s not too late to experience a meaningful holiday tradition with your friends and family. 
The world-renowned 
After a year that’s kept us all at home, streaming our entertainment, I think it’s safe say we’re feeling a little Netflixed out. We’ve seen it ALL. Well, if you’re looking for something holiday themed, original, fabulous and local – check out the 
After the performance, there will be a special feature where DCDC’s dancers perform their favorite holiday fireside stories. The company invites you to follow along with their special craft making session, which is perfect for the entire family. This is an up close and personal way for the dancers to share their memories of hope and joy with the community.
Dayton’s own world renowned 
Dayton is birthplace of amazing artistic as well as engineering feats. That spirit of innovation blossomed during the late 1960s-1980s in a couple of unique ways: the invention of funk music and the birth of modern dance. In 1968, 
From dynamic performing arts centers to rare copies of ancient books, Stuart and Mimi Rose’s support of the arts spans a diverse array of fields. In May 2015, the city of Huber Heights celebrated the opening of its 4,200-seat covered amphitheatre, named the Stuart and Mimi Rose Music Center in honor of the couple’s generous donation. In its inaugural season, the center presented 29 performances and welcomed thousands of visitors to the city. Their recent support of The Dayton Art Institute, where Mimi served on the board, pays homage to the museum’s upcoming centennial in 2019, allowing many exciting projects that further strengthen the Institute to take place.
Writer Sierra Leone is the president and artistic director of OFP Theatre Company, co-founded with her husband Robert Owens, Sr. For more than a decade, Ohio has benefitted from Sierra’s vision of creative urban arts as a powerful artistic medium to bring communities together across racial, cultural, ideological, and economic divides. Her project “The Signature: A Poetic Medley Show” presents a hybrid of urban poetry, music, dance, and visual arts from local, regional, and international talent. The show later expanded to include an energetic poetry competition called The Last Poet Standing.
The world-renowned Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (DCDC) is the oldest modern dance company in Ohio. Founded in 1968 by Jeraldyne Blunden, DCDC is one of few American dance companies of international reputation located outside a major U.S. metropolitan area. Having the world’s largest repertoire of classic works by African-American choreographers, the company continues to celebrate dance art around the world. Executive Director Ro Nita Hawes-Saunders created collaborative partnerships between the dance company and area universities, and the company delivers extensive education and outreach programs and services to elementary, middle, and high schools, both locally and while on tour.
An Ohio native, David was raised in Rocky River and attended University School in Shaker Heights before moving to Cincinnati. He received a B.A. cum laude in Honors History from Williams College and an M.S. from the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University. He served as an administrator at George Washington University and at Ohio University, where he earned his Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration.
Celebrating his 16th year as director of orchestral studies at Miami University, Brazilian conductor Ricardo Averbach has also served as president of the College Orchestra Directors Association (CODA) and guest conductor of orchestras all over the world. His concerts have been broadcast on radio and television in more than 50 countries. As a dedicated advocate of contemporary music, Ricardo has performed and recorded several world premieres for major labels, which have sold more than half a million copies around the globe. The American Prize has recognized his work in the College/University Division in many different categories, including the American Prize in Conducting, which he won in 2010.
Howard Parr has more than 30 years of professional experience in the arts and entertainment industry. He has served as executive director of the Akron Civic Theatre since September 2007, having served as its director of development and planning from 1998–2004, during which the theatre completed a $22.5 million expansion and restoration project. In addition to his work with The Civic, Howard provides booking assistance to the City of Akron’s Lock Three Park and to the University of Akron’s E.J. Thomas Hall.
Founded in 1953, the Center for Arts-Inspired Learning (CAL) creates innovative learning experiences that close learning gaps, teach creative thinking and problem solving, and help students succeed in school, in their first jobs, and beyond. CAL annually provides close to 7,000 arts-in-education programs for 200,000 young people from 150 schools across Northeast Ohio. CAL’s vision extends beyond schools through ArtWorks, a year-round arts-based college and career readiness program for teens, which has provided more than 2,300 high school students with jobs that teach important life skills since its beginning in 2005. CAL continues to be the leading provider of arts education in Northeast Ohio. In 2017, CAL moved to University Circle to provide onsite arts education programming for underserved neighborhoods.
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