Jacksonville Dance theatre (jacksonville, fl) Founded in 2012, Jacksonville Dance Theatre is a contemporary modern dance company dedicated to creating and promoting excellence in the field of professional dance on local, national, and international stages. JDT is committed to creative innovation and exchange through choreographic projects, concert dance performance, movement intervention outreach, and dance education. Led by Artistic Director, Rebecca R. Levy, and Executive Director, Katie McCaughan, the company has produced 10 robust local seasons as well as touring and festivals internationally and throughout the country. JDT co-produces its annual repertory concert each Spring with the historic Florida Theatre in downtown Jacksonville.

JDT has commissioned new and existing works from choreographers Eboné Amos, Jonah Bokaer, James Boyd, Emily Cargill, Bryn Cohn, Roberto Forleo, Lana Heylock, Jay Jackson, Bliss Kholmeyer, Lisa D. Long, James Morrow, Brian Palmer, Mikey Rioux, Talani Torres, JoAnna Ursal, and Pioneer Winter, among others. Jacksonville Dance Theatre performs repertory works choreographed by the company’s artistic director and resident choreographers, and frequently commissions its performers and local artists to create new works on the company.

JDT sees the power of the human body as a canvas for art, education, storytelling, performance, entertainment, and wellness. With a diverse group of company members, JDT is constantly broadening its style to form new cohesive performances that reach a wide range of populations. JDT is committed to creating opportunities for all people regardless of race, gender, age, ability, sexual identity or orientation, cultural or socioeconomic background, and feels strongly that dance is a universal art form that is meant to engage and inspire all people. JDT runs weekly dance, fitness, and movement awareness classes at the Florida Ballet as well as a week-long summer dance intensive each July.

In 2015, JDT launched the first annual Jacksonville Dance Film Festival to bring dance for the camera to the First Coast. Curated by Tiffany S. Santeiro, the festival screens films from all over the globe and challenges and expands the way we see both dance and film.

JDT is supported in part by funding from: the City of Jacksonville and the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville Cultural Service Grant Program; the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture; the Beaches Women’s Club; and ruckus. advertising + public relations. JDT is a 2021 Here to Be grant recipient from the lululemon corporation. Here to Be is lululemon’s social impact program that disrupts inequity in well being through movement, mindfulness, and advocacy. Jacksonville Dance Theatre is Here to Be an agent of healing, change, and wellness equity in the City of Jacksonville.

JDT was a recipient of the 2016 and 2018 Florida East Coast PNC Arts Alive grant program and was supported in 2016 and 2020 by grants from the Art Ventures Endowment Fund at the Community Foundation for Northeast Florida. Past support also includes performer grants from StageFund, corporate sponsorship from Harbinger, Kress Agency, and Community First Credit Union, and major gifts from Jeff Chartrand, Nancy Chartrand, Mark & Meredith Frisch, in addition to a decade of support from private donors. For more information visit www.jacksonvilledancetheatre.org