Three components comprise our organization:
company | school | community
Click below to access relevant information about upcoming events, Company performances, dance instruction, class offerings, and how to stay in touch with us regarding ongoing programming!
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Our mission is to create and showcase contemporary dance of global caliber that challenges expectations and evokes strong emotions, deep feelings, and thoughtful responses. We aim to offer expert instruction in various dance styles to everyone. Additionally, we are dedicated to educating the community about dance as both an art form and a means of social and civic engagement.
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Our vision for SDT is to elevate dance and the arts from a marginal or ancillary role to a central position within community activities. We aim to make dance and the arts essential partners in civic dialogue, fostering healthy communities. We want dance and the arts to be recognized as a vital part of the solution to the challenges our communities face.
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We believe that contemporary dance aesthetics can effectively communicate socially relevant themes. We support creativity, the creative process, and innovation. We recognize that exposure to, education in, and training for the performing arts can transform individuals and communities. We assert that the arts—especially live performing arts—are essential to healthy communities. Additionally, we believe that promoting arts literacy enhances access to the arts. Our programming, education, and training aim to bridge some of the disconnects we see in our communities.
sdt company season 2025/26 announcement
sdt company season 2025/26 announcement
2025/ 2026 season announcement
We are thrilled to unveil the upcoming season at Spectrum Dance Theater, titled “MEMORY as Archive, History, Warning, Protest, Resistance, Prayer: TRUTH in a TIME of DISTORTION.”
This season is not just a series of performances; it is an exploration of the themes that resonate deeply in today’s world. As we navigate an era marked by cultural and historical erasure, our new season reflects the urgency and importance of preserving truth.
Each performance is designed to engage, provoke thought, and inspire dialogue, offering a powerful commentary on the times we live in. We invite you to join us in this journey of introspection and expression, as tickets are now on sale for all performances hosted by Spectrum Dance Theater.
MEET THE COMPANY
At Spectrum Dance Theater, we believe our dancers are the heartbeat of our work. For the 2025/26 season, we are thrilled to introduce a company of extraordinary artists whose talent, dedication, and artistry embody the spirit of our mission.
The dancers of Spectrum Dance Theater are a select group of unique dance artists individually chosen and trained in Donald Byrd’s singular approach to dance/theater – physically demanding and emotionally charged. They are virtuosi of a new order.
SEASON PERFORMANCES
UPCOMING:
La Création du Monde
in collaboration with Music of Remembrance
March 15, 2026
Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall at Benaroya Hall
Darius Milhaud’s La Création du Monde was inspired by the composer’s trip to Harlem. For this daring ballet work, he drew on a blend of jazz and classical idioms to imagine the creation of the world according to African myths. Few details remain of the original choreography, but Music of Remembrance has commissioned Spectrum Dance Theater’s award-winning Donald Byrd to create new choreography for this captivating work, which evokes the experimental aura of Paris in the 1920s. This will mark the sixth commission/collaboration between Music of Remembrance and Donald Byrd.
The Insidious Trilogy:
A Theatrical Event
May 20 – May 24, 2026
On The Boards | 100 W Roy St. Seattle, WA
The centerpiece of the season will be the complete Insidious Trilogy. The Trilogy contemplates Jim Crow, its history, and its contemporary manifestations; it confronts America’s history of racial violence, systemic oppression, and deliberate forgetting. It is not merely a series of dances—it is a cultural intervention. The three works that make up the trilogy are Strange Fruit, Grief, and Targeted.
The complete trilogy performs over five days in a 2-act or 3-act rotating repertory format:
Wednesday, May 20, 2026, Strange Fruit/Grief (two acts)
Thursday, May 21, 2026, Strange Fruit/Targeted (two acts)
Friday, May 22, 2026, Targeted/Grief (two acts)
Saturday, May 23, 2026, Strange Fruit/Grief/Targeted (three acts, with a dinner break)
Sunday, May 24, 2026, Targeted/Grief (two acts)
The School of Spectrum Dance Theater
DANCE FOR ALL
The School of Spectrum Dance Theater is a reflection of our motto, “Dance For All.”
While we recognize that there are certain physical attributes that are necessary to rise to the highest levels of being a professional dancer, at the center of The School’s values is a belief that dance is for all. We believe that an “ideal body” for dance is one that moves well and not one that necessarily conforms to a visual representation of an “ideal.”
bridging the gap between ballet and contemporary dance
Browse the variety of Spring Session classes (and Summer camps, intensives + classes) for ALL ages and ALL experience levels below!
Full-Session YOUTH Programs
Ages 5 - 18
Teen + Adult Drop-In Classes
Ages 13 - 18+
Summer Camps, Intensives + Classes
Ages 5 - 65+
summer classes
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summer classes ☀️
spectrum summer camps + Intensives
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Dance Day Camp Theme: “Ferngully, Save the Planet!”
Carlos Roman | Ages 5-7
June 29 - July 3 | 9 AM - 12 PM
$300 / $250 Early-Enrollment by April 30th
This camp offers a great entry point for our young community members to experience all that The School of Spectrum Dance Theater has to offer. Through encouragement, praise, care, creativity, and fun, young students get their first taste of expressive movement and all its benefits. Friendships and memorable lessons are sure to highlight their encounter. Pack a water bottle and a light snack, and get ready to have fun! Please pack only necessities for each day: water, a light snack, and a light sweater in case the room is chilly.
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Ages 10 - 17
July 6 - July 10 | 11:30 AM - 4:30 PM
$350 / $300 Early-Enrollment by April 30th
Minimal Level requirement: Ballet III/ Beginner Intermediate
SSDT Summer Intensive offers young and aspiring dancers five days of immersive dance training, providing an inclusive space for them to focus on their technique and craft. Students begin their daily study with 90 minutes of either of the following classes. Ballet classes/ to deepen the focused student’s knowledge of classical vocabulary. Donald Byrd Contemporary Technique/ to sharpen the focused student’s ability to work in a highly technical manner. Conditioning for Dance/ to strengthen and balance the under- and overused muscles of the concentrated student’s body. Afterward, students will participate in one-hour sessions across various genres and lectures focused on the art form. Spectrum will provide a half-hour break through the day.
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July 13 - 17
Ages 8 - 12
11:30 AM - 2:30 PM
$350 / $300 April 30th
Great for new and exploring dancers to try something new, various genres are covered.
This camp allows young, new, and curious movers to sample various dance styles with Spectrum Dance Theater instructors. Students experience the basics across styles ranging from ballet and jazz to modern, making new friends and staying active during the summer—every day's schedule includes three dance styles.
YOUTH
Weekend summer classes
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Monday/ Wednesday/ Friday *year-round
Ages 18 - 65+
9 AM - 10 AM
$12.50 Seniors / $15 Adult
Fitness For Living (FFL) is a fun-filled, socially engaging fitness class for seniors in The School of Spectrum Dance Theater’s community. ACE Certified Group Fitness Instructor and class creator Angie Bolton safely leads students through cardio and bodyweight resistance work. You will move, sweat, and feel great!
There’s no need for special equipment if students take the class remotely! Instead, grab two cans of soup or beans if you don't have weights. Angie will provide meticulous instructions if you have hand weights and bands at home. You will need a hand towel for stretching (and sweating) and water. Please bring a yoga mat if you are attending the in-person class. SSDT no longer provides them for hygienic reasons.
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Tuesday/ Thursday *year-round
Ages 18+
10 AM - 11:30 AM
$15 Seniors / $21 Adult
Join this classic Jazz class based on the timeless Luigi technique! The incredible Jerry Tassin guides participants through the stylized warm-up and general stretching of hamstrings, backs, necks, and arms, along with some abdominal work. Every class has different dance combinations, using every pop, jazz, or theater music genre. Expect to sweat, move fluidly, and express your artistry! Beginner to intermediate dance experience is necessary.
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Tuesday
Ages 18+
6 PM - 7:30 PM
$15 Seniors / $21 Adult
This class is perfect for those who haven’t attended a ballet class since childhood! We take pleasure in welcoming back students with patience and grace. Keeping the Beginnng to Intermediate Ballet dancers in mind, there’s an emphasis on the fundamental principles of classical dance: leg rotation, posture, balance, and weight transfer. We encourage questions so that all attendees receive as much feedback from the instructor as they seek. This class provides a safe and inclusive environment for exploration and the joy of motion!
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Stephanie Guiland
Friday
Ages 18+
11 AM - 12:30 PM
$15 Seniors / $21 Adult
Free and fun for those interested in catching the beat
Intro to Funk Jazz is taught in the same Jazz Dance tradition and style of Master Frank Hatchett. The difference is that students will spend time learning the basic steps and movements used in all jazz classes. Any level is welcomed but this class is specifically geared toward the novice dance student. Just because it’s a beginner level, though, doesn’t mean the groove will be any less. Come in with an open mind, a bottle of water, and get ready to move
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Friday
Ages 18+
Beg/Intermediate Jazz experience helpful
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
$15 Seniors / $21 Adult
Taught in the Jazz Dance tradition and style of Master Frank Hatchett, this class offers a fun spin on the art form. Students rediscover their love of dance through polyrhythmic beats, technique, coordination, urban dance influence, and self–expression. It’s also meant for those who want a slight challenge without feeling overwhelmed, want a safe space to try, and a sense of community. Get ready to smile and laugh again as you dance. Don’t worry, no one is watching.
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Saturday (July 18 and 25 only)
Ages 18+
3 PM - 4:30 PM
$15 Seniors / $21 Adult
Adult students can expect grooves that eventually lead to choreography. This class is for adults with minimal dance experience but wanting to learn hip-hop. Our no-judgmental environment encourages students to learn and unlock their inner dancers. Accomplishments to expect are chuckles, smiles, joy, sweat, and a short dance combination by the end of the class.
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Saturday
Ages 18+
2 PM - 3:30 PM (3:45?)
$15 Seniors / $21 Adult
What is Contemporary Dance? Contemporary dance is a genre that incorporates a variety of dance styles, from ballet to hip-hop. Its movement can vary from flowing floorwork to dancing upright with leg and foot precision. With little restriction, students are encouraged to explore their movement, eliciting an emotional response from the watcher. The universal language of contemporary dance tells stories, fictional or not.
Teen-Adult
Drop-in summer classes
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Pre-Jazz, Ages 7-9, 9 AM - 10 AM
Jazz I, Ages 9-11, 10 AM - 11 AM
Jazz II, Ages 11-13, 11 AM - 12:15 PM
This fun, upbeat dance style is sure to excite and engage student dancers! Classes include styles from Bob Fosse and Jack Cole, hip-hop moves, and Latin infusions. All classes include a warm-up with stretching, isolations, and strengthening exercises, followed by a floor work session focusing on turns, leaps, jumps, and runs. Each class ends with a fast-paced combination. Black Jazz shoes, black Jazz pants, and a leotard are required.
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Suggested age: 6- 10 years
Attire: TeeShirt and Leggings, Pants or Jeans without holes, Tap Shoes
Building on Pre-Tap level’s foundation, students continue to clarify sound, perfect the prior step combinations, and learn to string them together to create more sophisticated sounds.
Prerequisite: Pre- Tap for a minimum of TWO years or its equivalent from another institution; evaluation may be necessary.
Graduation Criteria: Mastery of the following must be accomplished before moving onto the next level.
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Ages 5-7
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
For the little ones interested in jazz, giving room for age-appropriate free movement and exploration
Join our newest entry-level Jazz Dance! This class is the perfect fit for the 5 to 7-year-old in your life who wants to pivot step, swing their head, and move.
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Mini Hip-Hop, Ages 6-9, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
(Mini) This age’s level-appropriate class teaches simple, stylized grooves that lead to fun choreography. The variety of movement keeps the young student’s mind active while learning about a great American dance form.
Pre-Teen Hip-Hop, Ages 10-18, 1:45 PM - 2:45 PM
(Teen) This age’s level-appropriate class teaches simple to more complex grooves that lead to fun choreography. As the students grow stronger cognitively, combinations also become more intricate and dynamic.
Summer Drama/Musical Theater Camps
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Bob Gribas, Angela Rinaldi-Gribas | Ages 7 - 18
July 27 - July 31 | 10 AM - 4 PM
Alice in Wonderland. Voice and movement, rounded.
$400 or $700 package / $350 or $650 Early-Enrollment by April 30th
In this camp, students create a Musical Theater performance of Alice in Wonderland with the use of voice/ singing, dancing, theater games, storytelling, and additional crafts. A performance will be presented on the last day of camp for family and friends.
Drama/Dance has been a fun and entertaining camp at Spectrum every Summer for the past 20 years, combining acting and dance to create a performance piece for friends and family. It is for all ages 7 and up and for all experience levels.
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Bob Gribas, Angela Rinaldi-Gribas | Ages 7 - 18
August 3 - August 7 | 10 AM - 4 PM
$400 or $700 package / $350 or $650 Early-Enrollment by April 30th
In this camp, students create a Dramatic Dance performance of Androcles and the Lion using acting, dancing, improvisation, theater games, storytelling, and mask-making. Students will perform on the last day of camp for family and friends.
Drama/Dance has been a fun, engaging camp at Spectrum every Summer for the past 20 years, combining acting and dance to create a performance piece for friends and family. It is for all ages 7 and up and for all experience levels.
