Dayton Contemporary Dance Company; photo by Andy Snow

A Modern Dancer’s Guide to Dayton and Cincinnati, Ohio

The Dayton/Cincinnati area is home to some major aviation creation! The Wright Brothers stomping grounds offers more than just airplanes though. A thriving dance community offers a wide variety of genres including modern dance, African, and social dance forms. Due to their close proximity, dance artists in Dayton and Cincinnati collaborate and exchange regularly. 

First things first:

When in Ohio, becoming a member of the Ohio Dance Organization will allow you full access to resources for jobs and collaborations with various dance groups state-wide. Plus, being a member automatically gives you 10-15% discounts to dance festivals and concert tickets.

The Ohio Arts Council is another resource that connects dance artists to visual, musical, and theatrical artists. There are roundtable discussions, which meet once per month, and there are opportunities for artists listed locally and to the international level.

Finally, establish your name with one of the larger dance groups initially to connect, gain credibility, and establish rapport with strategic contacts.

Where to train:

Strictly modern and contemporary dancers will head straight for Dayton Contemporary Dance Company or MamLuft Dance. Both companies tour and have guest choreographers who enliven their training programs and lend access to national opportunities.If you want to brush up on your technique, try classes at Pontecorvo Ballet Studios; the efficient and highly successful ballet "factory" puts out young, talented, and aspiring ballerinas yearly and will elevate your technical abilities to new heights. Looking for training in hip hop and contemporary forms? Check out Funk Lab Dance for an excellent variety of urban dance forms. Also look into Cincinnati Dance Theater; they produce concerts fusing modern and ballet styles and offer classes for adults and children. 

Universities in Ohio and around the Dayton/Cincinnati area may also point you to visiting artists offering master classes near you. Also, try Cincinnati Ballet, Bi-Okoto, or Smag Dance Collective for additional training at their associated schools.

Dayton Contemporary Dance Company

Where to rehearse:

Many local studios in Dayton and Cincinnati have space available for rent during off-peak times, and the prices vary greatly depending on the time of day, the size of the studio, and the location. Miami Valley Dance Company in the Dayton area, for example, has offered studio space for $25-35/ hour depending on the studio requested. Look into Planet Dance in Cincinnati, the Greater Cincinnati Dance Alliance, or the Clifton Cultural Arts Center for rehearsal space as well.

Landing a performing gig:

Spread the word! In Cincinnati’s Northside and Over the Rhine Neighborhoods, both areas attract a large portion of the artistic community, and many drop-in classes are offered so people can experience different styles. Make friends with local bands and musicians; offer to perform for their next show. Take classes from other dance artists and exchange information and availability for future projects.

Looking to choreograph?

Look for requests for choreography. There are submission requests for teachers to conduct workshops and submit choreography for evaluation and inclusion in evening performances – check Ohio Dance for job opportunities. Recently, MamLuft has requested for choreographers to submit work for presentation, and other local companies are always interested in a choreographer who is local, unique, available. Ohio Dance also presents new and budding choreography in its festivals held across Ohio. Being presented in a performance with other artists and companies on the bill offers a great opportunity to connect, collaborate, and exchange with others for future engagements. Also, consider working with artists in other mediums. Check out the Oregon District in Dayton and Cincinnati’s “Northside” neighborhood to meet local visual artists, find potential collaborators, and learn what additional grant resources may be available to you.

Festivals:

Ohio Dance hosts the two main dance specific festivals in Ohio. One is held in Autumn and the other in mid-Spring. Check out the website for dates and details: www.ohiodance.org. The festivals are a great way to meet many dancers, choreographers, musicians, and teachers from all-around Ohio and in a variety of dance areas. There are opportunities to apply to teach, lecture, or perform for the festival. 

Venues where out of town artists perform and organizations that present them:

The Fraze Pavillion, Schuster Center, and the Victoria Theatre are the main venues for large performances in Dayton, but the Aronoff and the Music Hall in Cincinnati offer amazing artists for sold out performances too. Check out Enjoy the Arts, a non-profit organization that connects people to all things arts in Cincinnati, plus members receive discounts on tickets, access to arts resources, and special invitations to events. Well-known artists like Wynton Marsalis, companies like Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, and Broadway tours of Newsies and The Book of Mormon frequent these theatres. Smaller venues – the Brookville Community Theatre and the Jarson-Kaplan Theatre –  host musical theatre and smaller scale performances (200-400 seats) and may seek choreographers and dancers for upcoming productions. Check out the Cincinnati Arts Organization for more information on their rental subsidy program for new and emerging artists and organizations.

Opportunities to teach dance, ages of students, and settings for teaching: 

There is a large community of people interested in ballroom and culturally specific dances, from African to Irish clogging, in both Dayton and Cincinnati, so knowledge of these dance forms is a definite plus. If you are interested in teaching modern dance, the best opportunities for modern dance teaching are at MamLuft Company and Contemporary Dance Theatre Cincinnati, though there are pre-professional studios and schools like South Dayton Dance Company and Stivers School for the Arts that also offer contemporary and modern dance technique classes.

Local colleges and universities with undergraduate and graduate programs:

The Ohio State University, Kent State University, Ohio University, Akron University, University of Cincinnati College, Wright State University, Ohio Wesleyan University, Oberlin College, Kenyon College, Baldwin Wallace College, Case Western Reserve University, Bowling Green State University, Cleveland State University, College of Wooster, Denison University, Lake Erie College, Miami University, Otterbein University, Sinclair Community College, Wittenberg University, Youngstown State University.

Final thoughts:

Get the word out about your dance company, teaching abilities, and more by attending classes or offering classes all over the Dayton and Cincinnati areas. Concentrate your efforts at the studio, company, or venue that best represents your style and personality. Get to know artists in the area by attending local performances and submit your feedback; offer a link to your performance work or choreography. Volunteer to help in the community and with teen outreach programs and see where those opportunities take you. Cincinnati and Dayton areas are comfortable, laid back places for artists to create without the high cost of living found in larger cities on the coasts. Why not check it out for yourself?

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Joyelle Fobbs is Senior Faculty at BalletMet, a member of the Board of Directors of Ohio Dance, and a national researcher, teacher, and presenter of dance.