junction dance theatre ... history

i.e. harmony ... lignes History

Junction Dance Theatre, founded in 1998 by artistic director and choreographer Melanie Miller, is a non-profit multimedia dance company. The multi-generational company consists of dancers, actors and musicians, including frequent collaboration with guest artists, scientists, psychologists and social service workers. Interpreting contemporary themes, history and real-life stories through movement, text and music, their socially-relevant performances and residencies have conceptualized man's search for meaning, memory and memory loss, and the cycle of violence with equal amounts of poignancy, irony and humor.

JDT's work has been commissioned and presented throughout the country from Pennsylvania's Philadelphia Fringe Festival to First City Players in Ketchikan, Alaska. Their diverse repertoire for adult and youth audiences includes more than twenty-five original evening-length, shorter, and site-specific or portable works performed in a variety of settings, including theaters, storefront windows, supermarkets, sidewalks, cafeterias and houses. Some of the company's repertoire, such as "Between Minutes" and "Forget/Everything," has been inspired by their community residency projects and outreach work, including their work with scientists, social workers, victims and offenders of violent crimes, seniors, and reading and writing challenged youth.

"A feisty and inventive dance company."
-Pittsburgh Tribune Review

JDT is a Roster Artist with The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts in the Arts in Education Division. In 2003, JDT's Forget/Everything was chosen as one of the top 10 dance performances of the year. That year, the company also premiered its Renegade Performance Series, an annual portable public performance project, which has transformed the city with more than 115 free surprise performances in supermarkets, lobbies, nightclubs, restaurants, sidewalks, parks, 5K races and more. JDT also partners with the City of Pittsburgh and Tickets for Kids in creating free opportunities for underserved communities to participate in the arts.

Photo credits this page: Jim McClory

Philadelphia:
Kumquat Dance Center, 3500 Lancaster Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19104
215.387.2000

Pittsburgh:
Junction Dance Theatre, 423 Noble Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15232
Tel: 412-608-8535