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creative:impact - We Are Born With Joy Of Moving To Music And Rhythm!

Jodie Randolph
Jodie Randolph Dance
/
jodierandolph.org

Jodie Randolph joins David Fair and Deb Polich to talk about the art of dance on this week’s edition of "creative:impact."  As the artistic and executive director of Jodie Randolph Dance in Ann Arbor, she is making connections through the power and beauty of dance.

Deb Polich
Deb Polich, President and CEO of The Arts Alliance

Creative industries in Washtenaw County add hundreds of millions of dollars to the local economy.  In the weeks and months to come, 89.1 WEMU's David Fair and co-host Deb Polich, the President and CEO of The Arts Alliance, explore the myriad of contributors that make up the creative sector in Washtenaw County.

About Jodie Randolph Dance

Jodie Randolph Dance (formerly Pure Existence Dance) is a professional contemporary dance company based in southeast, MI under the direction of choreographer Jodie Randolph.  Known for its distinct contemporary vocabulary, JRD consistently creates inspiring and diverse works grounded in authenticity, athleticism, and technical virtue.  Comprised of highlytrained professional dancers, the company presents full length productions both locally, nationally, and internationally. JRD offers seminars, workshops, master classes, intensives, residencies, open rehearsals, pre/post performance discussions and a growing list of community outreach programs.

As one of Michigan's leading contemporary dance companies, JRD is committed to providing an authentic experience both in the studio and on the stage.  The company produced four repertory concerts from 2014 until 2017.  JRD’s first evening length work premiered in 2016 titled which continues to tour and performing nonconventional and informal spaces.  In 2019, JRD will premiered its second evening length concert, which is a continuation of Jodie Randolph’s MFA thesis titled, which was presented in 2018.

In 2013, our pre-professional company, Young Dancers Initiative (formerly X2), was formed for serious dancers seeking professional performance opportunities.  YDI is directed by JRD Dancer, Megan Scheppelman.  The company produces an annual concert in December each year, are offered the opportunity to work with emerging choreographers, and take class with professional dancers.  YDI is heavily involved in assisting and performing for certain outreach programs.

JRD has toured throughout MI and the midwest as well as NYC engaging in performances, master classes, and workshops.  In 2018, JRD embarked on it s first international tour to the Dominican Republic.  There, the company was invited to teach master classes at Escuela National de Danza (ENDANZA), engage in a creative residency, and present an excerpt of at EDANCO.

By bringing dance to Ann Arbor and the greater Metro-Detroit area through performance and education, JRD has repeatedlyfound unique ways to increase accessibility to the art of dance and employ dance artists.  As part of our mission, JRD aims to help the community connect with dance through workshops, performances, and collaborations.  

JRD employs two directors and two administrative staff members.  JRD contracts a small group of professional dancers fromsoutheast MI and beyond.  It is assisted and operated by a volunteer Board of Directors and a growing Advisory Board.  JRD received it’s 501c3 status in July of 2015.

Jodie Randolph
Credit Jodie Randolph Dance / jodierandolph.org
/
jodierandolph.org
Jodie Randolph, founder/director of Jodie Randolph Dance

About Jodie Randolph

Jodie Randolph is a choreographer and dance educator based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  She is a recent graduate of Jacksonville University, where she received her MFA in Choreography.  Jodie has studied under many notable artists, including Frank Chavez (River North Dance Chicago), Pilobolus, Alonzo King (LINES Ballet), and Marianela Boan (National Contemporary Dance Company of the Dominican Republic).

Jodie currently serves as an adjunct lecturer of dance at Eastern Michigan University and teaches master classes throughout the country.  She has taught for many companies, colleges, conventions, and festivals including Platinum Dance Experience, Versatile Dance Company, Michigan Dance Project, Detroit Dance City Festival, Brighton Dance Festival, Wayne State University, and Escuela Nacionale de Danza (Santo Domingo).  Her students have gone on to study at The Juilliard School, Marymount of Manhattan, Indiana University, University of Michigan, Western Michigan University, and Eastern Michigan University

Jodie has presented work at numerous venues across the United States and Caribbean, including Hudson Guild Theatre (NYC), Huntington Avenue Theatre (Boston), Boll Theatre (Detroit), Palacio de Bellas Artes (Santo Domingo), among others.  Jodie's choreography has been commissioned for Brighton Dance Festival, Dance Masters of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, Oakland University, and ENDANZA, as well as multiple dance schools in the region.  Her work has been presented at Biomorphic Dance Festival (NYC), Boston Contemporary Dance Festival (MA), Brighton Dance Festival (MI), Detroit Dance City Festival (MI), Detroit Dance Race (MI), Michigan Dance Festival(MI), Oakland Dance Festival (MI), and EDANCO (Dominican Republic).

As the Founder and Director of Jodie Randolph Dance (formerly Pure Existence), Jodie aims to make professional dance accessible for audiences and artists in the Ann Arbor and Metro Detroit areas.  Her vision is for a thriving professional dance communityto take root allowing our extremely talented natives to make a home for themselves in MI while pursuing their artistic path.

Resources:

Jodie Randolph Dance

Jodie Randolph Bio

Young Dancers Initiative

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— David Fair is the WEMU News Director and host of Morning Edition on WEMU.  You can contact David at734.487.3363, on twitter @DavidFairWEMU, or email him at dfair@emich.edu

Contact David: dfair@emich.edu
Polich hosts the weekly segment creative:impact, which features creative people, jobs and businesses in the greater Ann Arbor area.
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