OUR STORY
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Collage Dance Collective works to inspire the growth of ballet by showcasing a repertoire of relevant choreography and world-class dancers representative of our community.
Founded in New York City in 2006, Collage Dance Collective received rave reviews for its 2007 national debut at the Lyric Opera House in Kansas City, Missouri. The performance was made possible, in part, by a generous grant from the Muriel McBrien Kauffman Foundation, through one of the largest awards ever given to an out-of-state dance company.
The company relocated to Memphis in 2007 to take part in the city’s exciting artistic renaissance and to fulfill its mission of extending the reach of outstanding classical ballet training. Since its move, the professional company has presented nine full-length seasons in Memphis, plus national and international touring.
Collage Dance Collective presents a diverse range of classical and contemporary choreography. In addition to Artistic Director, Kevin Thomas, the company’s repertory includes works by Kevin Iega Jeff, Nicolo Fonte, Darrell Grand Moultrie, Sir Frederick Ashton, John Alleyne, Shawn Hounsell and Tiffany Glenn.
In 2014, Collage launched Dance on Broad, an eight-week festival celebrating the best of national and local dance and engaging community through community dance parties. The festival was made possible by a grant from ArtPlace America. Collage presented Camille A. Brown & Dancers in the festival’s inaugural launch and deepened its commitment to transforming its community through dance.
Collage believes that participation in the arts enriches communities and is critical to economic and social development. The company works to increase access to outstanding ballet training, increase diversity on professional ballet stages and increase participation by people of color at ballet and other fine arts events.
Directors
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dr. Roy Bors-Koefoed
Mid-South Maternal Fetal Medicine, P.C.
Gary Dodson
TAG Truck Center
Mary Freeman
Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation
Marcellus Harper
Collage Dance Collective
Darren Isom
Memphis Music Initiative
Jim Jenkins
Jenkins Global Capital Management
Sherita Lee
Merck & Co
Dr. Arie Szatkowski
The Stern Cardiovascular Center
Michael Lofton
Methodist Alliance Healthcare
Linda McNeil
Gaskill Strategies, LLC
Beverly Robertson
Trust Marketing
Dr. Jessica Ruffin
OB/GYN Specialists, P.C.
Dr. Monika Metzger
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Derwin Sisnett
Maslow Development Inc.
Cameron Smith
Mentor/Curriculum Coordinator, Retired Educator
Kevin Thomas
Collage Dance Collective