“Start spreading the news…” Company d was a part of it, New York, New York

New York New York recently became the motivating theme song for Company d. After seven years of weekly classes, long rehearsals, summer and winter workshops, performances, performances, performances, dancers were ready “… to be a part of it, New York New York”. The desire for the dancers to perform publically at a national level, to receive master level dance instruction, and to expand the dancers’ aesthetic education and cultural experience “in a city that never sleeps” was part of a vision and became a dream come true in September 2008. It is impossible to rate the best part of the dancer’s four day trip to New York. Every step the dancers took was with excitement, pride and their confidence grew taller and taller.

The dancers first night in the city struck a high note with their performance at the Dicapo Opera Theatre, an official off-Broadway venue, hosted by Luigi Jazz Centre. It was overwhelming to see the Company d dancers step-up to a New York audience, deliver a perfect performance and honor Luigi with their révérence to the song Somewhere.

Company dancers, who “never stopped moving” took classes with Luigi, the father of jazz dance and Francis J. Roach, choreographer and world renowned teacher. Dancers were comfortable and confident taking class with a varied group of New York dance students and professionals. On the third morning Liza Minnelli, one of Luigi’s long time students shared mirror space with Company d. It was class as usual stretching, bending and moving to the “rhythm of the body” with Luigi. However at the conclusion of class it was a show-stopper when Company d was extended the invitation to perform a piece for Liza and she in turn sang and danced New York New York for the class! WOW what a way to start the day.

Not to miss a beat the dancers not only attended several Broadway shows but toured the Metropolitan Opera and were invited backstage at Mary Poppins and Altar Boys. They interacted with the cast and crew and learned about the behind the scenes technology of theatre.

Bringing the curtain down, to a perfect weekend, the dancers were part of the featured entertainment for the National Down Syndrome Society 14th Annual Buddy Walk. “The audience was floored by their artistic talents and their chemistry together and the NDSS staff was equally as impressed with their professionalism and graciousness”, stated Pamela Sandonato, Director of Development for the NDSS.

Applause, standing ovation and a choir of bravos for the Company d dancers and our generous supporters who made it possible. A grateful heart to the DSAM Board who had the confidence that Company d could make this great leap.

-Darlene Winters

Artistic Director

Company d Dance Workshop 2008

“Determined to dance through life” Amanda Cash, Company d dancer

Company d dance workshop 2008 was hosted for the second year at Hutchison School for Girls, June 9 -20. A beautiful, state of the art campus that was a perfect venue for Company dancers and guest artists. Dancers were able to utilize the theater, dance room and art room for their classes. Summer workshop emphasis was on using the focus, determination, commitment and artistic expression that is cultivated in dance class and applying those elements to aspects of daily life.

Francis Roach, from New York returned for his second summer workshop with Company d. Francis is a 30 year master teacher of the Luigi jazz technique and travels world-wide as a guest artist. In 2004 Francis received the Dance Teachers of America “Presidents Award”. He has appeared on network television with Gene Kelly, Shirley Maclaine, Liza Minnelli, Patti LaBelle and the pointer Sisters. On Broadway he has danced with Ben Vereen, Liza Minnelli, and Elaine Stritich. Francis shares his passion and commitment for the Luigi method with Company d. We are so excited to have Francis as our guest artist for week one of summer workshop. Welcome Back Francis !!

Emma Crystal is a native Memphian and a certified Teaching Artist with the Memphis City Schools. She spent more than 15 years, however, in New York City working as a performing artist. Musicals include Dreamgirls, Sophisticated Ladies, Sweet Charity, Hair, Boy Meets Boy and Sister Rabbit Takes Harlem. Since moving back to Memphis, she choreographed and directed Sophisticated Ladies for Circuit Playhouse, and served as choreographer for The New Ballet Ensemble, The Memphis Links Annual Debutante Ball, world-renowned singer, Kallen Esperian, Al Green’s benefit for the American Heart Association and Opera Memphis’ Porgy & Bess, just to name a few. Emma directed They Sing Christmas Up In Harlem for the Hattiloo Theatre, and played Elaine in a production of Neil Simon’s The Last of the Red Hot Lovers for the same company. There’s Something About Big Women is a show that Emma wrote, directed and choreographed that made its world premier in the Fall of 2007. Most recently, Emma choreographed a commercial for the Fred’s Dollar Store chain, and continues to perform with New Ballet Ensemble & School. We are so excited to have Emma as our jazz dance teacher for the second week of workshop and look forward to learning a lot of new techniques from her.

Zoe Barton, teaching assistant, a New York City native, is a senior Dance and Psychology major at Oberlin College. She is a member of the Oberlin Dance Company and choreographed and danced in Oberlin’s Fall Forward and Springback dance concerts this past school year. She is especially interested in modern dance and multimedia work. She is excited to work with the company and incorporate some modern dance techniques into the dancers’ strong jazz repertoire. We are excited for Zoe to share her spirit and love of the arts with us during summer workshop.

Ekundayo Bandele, a New York native, is the Executive Director and Founder of Hattiloo Theatre, a Black Repertory located in Memphis, TN. Hattiloo was founded in March 2006 by Bandele (who named the theatre after his daughters: Hatti - Hatshepsut, and Loo - Oluremi. Hattiloo Theatre has received generous financial support from the Jeniam Foundation, Hyde Foundation, Turley Foundation, and over 150 individuals. Ekundayo left Tennessee State University and returned to New York City to pursue his ambition of becoming a writer in 1992. Over 5 years he wrote 7 plays, 3 of which were produced: Streets, If Scrooge Was A Brother, and The Ghost of Soapbox Artist. His plays have seen stages in Nashville, Atlanta, and Cleveland. In 1998 he began writing a historical novel titled Tales Go Round, which he completed in 2004. In tandem with his writing, he has started and operated businesses such as Threads Vintage Clothing, Bandele’s Washworks, and the Speakeasy. In 2007 he returned to playwriting with Forget Me Not Christmas. Ekundayo”s objective for the dancers is: stage direction, the elements of successful storytelling and working to expand expression, both verbal and physical. Ekundayo has taught the dancers about the importance of clarity, pronunciation and projection in an actor or dancers speech. Ekundayo has been a source for enthusiasm, humor and energy at the end of a long and arduous day.

Jamie Goldring, teaching artist for Jr. Company. Jamie is the creator of Discover ME, has been developing and teaching the Discover Movement Education program since 1989. She is an experienced teacher and has been working with children for more than 30 years. Ms. Goldring also provides training sessions and workshops in Movement Education. She currently teaches at the Memphis Jewish Community Center, the Harwood Center for Children with Developmental Delays, and the Memphis Oral School for the Deaf. Ms. Goldring received her B.A. in Sociology from California State University and earned her M.A. in Speech Pathology from the University of Memphis. Ms. Goldring emphasize the importance of focus, self-control, spatial awareness and committing to learning movement phrases with Jr. Company for week one of Summer workshop.


Courtney Sharp Rivers, part-time staff assistant, is a graduate from The University of Memphis with a degree in theatre performance and communications. She has worked for two years with the Department of Education and Outreach at Theatre Memphis as an instructor and actor. She is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Speech and Language Pathology at the University of Memphis School of Audiology and Speech. Courtney has been working to blend her love of dance, especially jazz, with her interest in speech and language. She has been working with the junior company to develop and incorporate movement and vocal phrases into their dance. Courtney will continue to work with the company to improve language and speech skills during their theatre activities. We hope that she learns as much from us as we do from her.

Bess Griffin, part time assistant, is a wonderful woman that will be spending time with the dancers and using her skills in education, the arts and fitness to connect with and teach the dancers.

Darlene Winters, artistic director, choreographer and heart and soul of Company d has used her skills in language, dance and drama to create performances pieces for Company d. Throughout her career, her commitment to students with special needs has compelled her to create projects that reflect the strength and gifts of these individuals with disabilities. Darlene loves to dance and share that experience with others. Her love of dance and commitment to her dancers is inspirational and contagious.

Peter Barton from New York is a writer, producer and director. He will spend two weeks with Company d dancers capturing every step they take as they stretch their abilities to grow as artist. Peter will interview parents and dancers for an all inspiring documentary profiling the individual dancers and their artistry. There is no short draft of Peter’s resume. As a professor at NYU, Columbia, and Bennington he taught moviemaking. Peter has received three Emmy nominations for his work a TV special created for the World of Difference, "Names Can Really Hurt Us,". This film earned the Edward R. Murrow prize and is still widely used in the classroom to combat prejudice.
Peter’s "Hatebusters" PSA's were syndicated nationwide. Here young people rap, rhyme, sing, dance, and speak out to reduce bigotry and discrimination.
Peter produced a video for the Agency for Instructional Television on dance therapy with developmentally challenged young adults.
Peter is the author of the non-fiction book on performing artists, Staying Power, which illustrates how a person can craft a productive life in the arts without being rich and famous; published by Dial Press.
Also the creator of a short video about Laura Ferguson, an artist with scoliosis who incorporates her curved skeleton into her art, was premiered at the National Museum of Health and Medicine at Walter Reed Hospital in D.C.

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The objectives and benefits of Company d as the subject for a documentary:
Disabled viewers everywhere will feel a thrill watching these dancers strive and flourish. They will feel proud, emboldened, and motivated to stretch their own limits.
General audiences will share that thrill, and they'll have their awareness raised about a group of "different" people who suddenly don't seem so different, and a lot less "disabled" than most people imagine them to be.
The movie will reinforce the work of everyone dealing with the special needs population, encouraging them to keep fighting, advocating, organizing and educating.
The project will suggest to some workers in the field new ways to energize and transform their constituents. Art can be powerful therapy for everyone as well as a way to connect with the spiritual, intuitive facets of our personalities. Special needs teachers and staff will feel supported in including unconventional paths in their therapeutic strategies.
Company d has universal lessons to teach the general population about challenges far beyond dance.
Opening hearts and minds to differently abled people is a step toward a much broader enlightenment that can help us all prepare for a future that's shifting under our feet, where it is not only morally right but pragmatically wise to be flexible and open in our thinking.
The movie will give the Company a mirror, a chance to take stock, feel proud, keep moving forward.
It will be an internal motivator as well as a way to extend Company d's positive influence on the world as a whole.
For me, their message is:
that all individuals have talents and gifts;
that we can all grow, change, and challenge ourselves;
that there are many ways to express yourself;
and that if we look past our preconceptions, we can make discoveries that enrich our lives.
The movie will also make Memphis look good, burnishing the image of the city as a place where many good things happen, not just music, including this innovative program.


Funding for this project will come through Groundswell, Inc., a 501(c)3 not-for-profit, EIN#13-2953116.