UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS

Central State University

CSU

The partnership between Central State University (CSU) and Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (DCDC) began over fourteen years ago. Former university President Dr. John Garland and DCDC’s current Chief Executive Officer Ro Nita Hawes-Saunders represented their respective institutions when the special partnership was inaugurated. Today, university president Dr. Jack Thomas has expanded the relationship.


The partnership has deep roots in the African American community. Since its founding in 1968, DCDC’s mission expresses the African American experience and CSU is an Historically Black College and University established in 1887.

Partnership Highlights

Community:

• DCDC is housed in the CSU’s Dayton branch in the Wright Dunbar neighborhood of Dayton, Ohio.
• DCDC has performed at CSU’s student orientations.
• Joint community programs are planned involving health and dance initiatives.
• A DCDC coloring book is being designed by CSU graphic design students for distribution in the community.
• Podcasts involving DCDC and national arts leaders will be produced in CSU studios.

Academic:

DCDC participated in CSU’s initiative Movement Makers, a program in which company dancers provide free one-on-one dance classes for children up to age 22 in the Miami Valley community.

Representation:

•Three university officers sit on DCDC’s board of directors.

The partnership between CSU and DCDC serves as a national model for its uniqueness. Both institutions are trend setters rooted in our joint Dayton history. The relationship can only grow as each impacts the Dayton community in so many ways.