A devoted group of independent dancers, the Dancing Legacy Ensemble performs in showcases, as guest performers with other companies, and as a company-in-residence at partner sites. Our performing repertory includes Repertory Etudes, full works, and new choreography representing the dance legacy being created in our own time. Because of a distinct emphasis on the process by which dances are passed on, the Ensemble provides a trustworthy and living archive for dances, particularly for artists without their own active companies.
In addition to performing, Ensemble members conduct teaching residencies with dance students across the country and play a central role in Repertory Etudes development. While dance as a field tends to celebrate the creation of new work, Dancing Legacy recognizes the equally crucial need for existing works to be preserved and shared authentically. Our teaching approach highlights the role the performer plays in bringing choreography to life, instilling in dancers the sense of responsibility both to the original choreography and their own individual relationship with it. We have a strong commitment to guiding learners in understanding the intention behind the movement, rather than an imitation of the effect of the movement.
In addition to performing, Ensemble members conduct teaching residencies with dance students across the country and play a central role in Repertory Etudes development. While dance as a field tends to celebrate the creation of new work, Dancing Legacy recognizes the equally crucial need for existing works to be preserved and shared authentically. Our teaching approach highlights the role the performer plays in bringing choreography to life, instilling in dancers the sense of responsibility both to the original choreography and their own individual relationship with it. We have a strong commitment to guiding learners in understanding the intention behind the movement, rather than an imitation of the effect of the movement.
Although Dancing Legacy is based in Rhode Island, the Ensemble maintains a flexible format, similar to a jazz music ensemble, with members living across the USA and guest artists joining for selected projects and performances. The company maintains ongoing programming with partners at Brown University, New York State Summer School for the Arts, and Bak Middle School of the Arts.
Photo credits top to bottom: Lydia Huibregtse, Lucia Lopez, Julie Adams Strandberg