DCDC 2
“And when the audience rose to offer DCDC2 their second ovation of the night, we seemed ourselves to be expressing something with our bodies gratitude.”- William Orem, Dayton City Paper
Founded in 1975, by Jeraldyne Blunden, and led by Program Director, Shonna Hickman-Matlock, DCDC2 is the repertory-training ensemble of the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company. This culturally diverse modern dance company is committed to arts education, community outreach, and the professional development of college graduates and undergraduates preparing for professional dance careers. DCDC2 provides a platform for emerging performers, teachers, and choreographers to hone their technical skills and showcase their artistic talent.
DCDC2 plays an integral role in DCDC’s education and community outreach initiatives, reaching thousands annually through public performances, lecture demonstrations, residencies, and workshops, enabling students, educators and diverse populations to experience live dance in a community and school setting. The company has performed throughout the Miami Valley and Midwest Ohio, including its annual spring concert at the University of Dayton Boll Theatre. DCDC2 has also performed in Indiana, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Michigan, Illinois and Kentucky.
DCDC2 opened to a sold out crowd with Ms. Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Maya Angelou in a fundraiser, held at the Schuster Center, to benefit the historic Wright Dunbar Business Village. The second company also had the honor of sharing the stage with the world - renowned poet, writer, commentator, activist, and educator Nikki Giovanni during the Taft Museum Duncanson Artist in Residence Honors Performance in Covington, Kentucky. They have collaborated many times with DCDC’s main company in the soul stirring production of In The Spirit Of….
DCDC2 has established partnerships and performing opportunities with organizations and institutions such as Muse Machine, Culture Works, University of Dayton, Grandview Foundation’s Diabetes and Obesity, Wellness Opportunity Plan (DO-WOP), as well as other universities and arts organizations.
DCDC2 continues to be a resource for new dancers for DCDC’s main company, and maintains an impressive record of successfully transitioning dancers into other professional companies, Broadway, film, television, media and graduate schools.
Preserving and building upon the traditions of its parent company, DCDC2 continues to uphold its founder’s vision by providing an esteemed training ground for emerging artist, extensive performing opportunities, sustained artistic excellence, and a heighten visibility of modern dance in the community.
SHONNA HICKMAN-MATLOCK , DIRECTOR OF DCDC2
Originally from Louisville, Kentucky, Ms. Hickman-Matlock’s introduction to dance began her freshman year of high school at the Youth Performing Arts High School, later studying at the University of Louisville Dance Academy and the Louisville Ballet. She continued her studies at the Katherine Dunham Dance Company, Emerging Choreographers Workshop, Point Park College and the University of Louisville, where she performed with the dance ensemble Sphere I.
From there Ms. Hickman-Matlock went on to become a principal dancer with the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, appearing in most of DCDC’s repertory including feature roles in Ulysses Dove’s Vespers and Urban Folkdance, Eleo Pomare’s Las Desenamoradas, Doug Varone’s Home, Alvin Ailey’s Streams, and Donald Byrd’s Dark Joy and Bamm.
Dayton has now become Ms. Hickman-Matlock’s home for more than two decades. A product of DCDC, her roots are firmly planted in the company. Since retiring from the stage, Ms. Hickman-Matlock accepted the position of Director DCDC2 in 2000, which has provided her the opportunity to use the knowledge, training and artistic success she profited from her mentor, Founder Jeraldyne Blunden.
For the past twenty years, Ms. Hickman-Matlock has taught, performed and choreographed for the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company. She has been responsible for the artist development, artistic programming and the education and community outreach programs of DCDC2. Under her leadership many dancers have transitioned onto DCDC’s main company and other professional companies.
Ms. Hickman-Matlock has also created original works for the Arts From Every Angle Series, the University of Dayton Dance Ensemble, the Quagmire Dance Company, the SMAG Dance Collective, the Dayton Opera’s production of Aida, Muse Machine’s production of Only Heaven, and for both DCDC’s professional and pre professional companies. She has taught for Jeraldyne’s School of the Dance, Terre’s Dance Workshop, Northmont Schools, Buckeye Trails Girl Scouts, and for both DCDC and DCDC2.
DCDC 2 AUDITIONS
DCDC2 - Saturday June 1, 2013
Check-in: 11am-12pm
Audition: 12-2pm
Audition fee: $20.00 (non-refundable), Please bring headshot, full body photo & resume. Ballet & Jazz shoes will be needed.
For more information, please contact Shonna Hickman-Matlock, Director of DCDC2 at (937) 228-3232 x110 or shonna@dcdc.org
DCDC2 2011-2012 DANCERS
Hannah Aicholtz Cincinnati, OH
Allison Allen Slyvania, OH
Martha Allen ST. Louis, MO
Monica Biener Annapolis, MD
Emily Caudill Morgantown, WV
Siera Dance Dayton, OH
Jordan Daugherty Louisville, KY
Alexis Evans Krueger Madison, WI
Taylor Ferguson Douglassville, GA
Anna Handelsman Cincinnati, OH
Paige Hanshaw West Lafayette, OH
Chelsea Hupalowsky North Royalton, OH
Stevie Lamblin Dayton< OH
Abby Leithart Gahanna, OH
Kailyn Mack Cleveland, OH
Vanae Pate Dayton, OH
Taylor Ramos Toledo, OH
Travis Robinson Key west, FL
Amber Rutledge Wapakoneta, OH
Kelly Spicer New Carlisle, OH
Nicole "Nikki" Wetter Chicago, IL
Countess Winfrey Nashville,TN
Lianne Zydowicz Cleveland, OH
Performances
coming soon!
