COVID has brought to light for many of us what is most important around us.
We must be citizens of the world and artists collaborating with one another in order to get beyond this pandemic and stop pervasive social injustice and economic divide.
DW has worked tirelessly to bring art to all of your homes, where we are spending unprecedented amounts of time, doing all we can to make ends meet in the shelter we [ FEEL ] most safe right now.
Effective immediately, Babs Case, Executive & Artistic Director will further adapt the organization’s structure to include a Commissioned Artist in Residence. DW will provide their space, staff resources and support to the Commissioned Artist.
We are thrilled to announce that beginning January 1, 2021 DW invites its first Commissioned Artist In Residence - David Dorfman Dance (DDD).
Contemporary Dance Wyoming (CDW)
Company Members: Francesca Romo and Michaela Ellingson
📸Todd Rosenberg
Company Members: Kellie Ann Lynch, Lily Gelfand, Jordan Demetrius Lloyd, Douglas Gillespie and Myssi Robinson
📸 Jack Beal
If DW is the left hand, DDD is the right hand, with both teams founded on the premise of making movement accessible to all. Whether a professional dancer, a student or an audience member, David and Babs, who have known each other for over 40 years, spend their livelihoods separate and together, creating, teaching and presenting dance to collectively heal and inspire.
David is a Professor of Dance at Connecticut College where he’s taught since 2004. His wife Lisa Race is current Chair of the department. Together with their son Sam, they will spend regularly scheduled intervals of time in Jackson with the DW Family.
Erin Roy, Executive Director of DDD will be relocating back to Jackson Hole to become Executive Director of DW; a role Babs Case has, to date, taken on in addition to her Artistic Director role at DW for 22 years.
Fitting with DW and its culture, Erin's previous roles throughout her long standing relationship with Babs and DW have been: a Commissioned Guest Artist, Contemporary Dance Wyoming (CDW) Company Member, JRC Director at The School and Outreach Programmer & Teacher throughout Wyoming.
DW’s motto, Let Us Move You joins hands with DDD’s mission, Get the Whole World Dancing.
Babs shared…
“As I receive news of dance company after dance company laying off artistic staff and / or folding, I have asked myself how and what is DW doing differently. The primary difference is that we are a multidisciplinary organization and our staff is not siloed into one job or role. As artists, DW staff members wear many hats so they are always adaptable for what is needed within the arts. I am very excited about this partnership as a model to sustain artists and arts organizations through the future”.
David responded with…
"Throughout my life I've built movement-based art that attempts to uplift and build bridges to joy and resilience. During these strange and importantly justice-oriented times DW has extended a warm and open invitation of shared resources toward community impact. I [ FEEL ] DDD’s unique ethos becomes even stronger with DW’s generous commitment, and I look forward to even more fervently joining the Jackson community".
We are committed to doing our part to keep everyone safe and are so grateful for your collective support now and forever. Standing cheek to cheek,
Babs, David & Lisa