Spectrum Dance Theater's mission is to make dance accessible - without limitation - to the community. This is done by providing world class dance performances and the highest quality dance education via classes and community engagement.

Description:
Spectrum Dance Theater (SDT) was founded in 1982 to bring dance of the highest merit to a diverse audience composed of people from different social, cultural, ethnic and economic backgrounds. Spectrum's principal objective is to make the art form of dance accessible through contemporary dance performances and high-quality dance training in a variety of dance styles. Spectrum honors its commitment to accessibility by ensuring its dance performances and classes are affordable and broad reaching, thus making its dance programs available to non-traditional arts audiences.
Three organizational components comprise SDT: the professional Company, the School and Outreach Programs. Spectrum provides full season, 23 week contracts to 8 dancers and 5 apprentices each year and strives to provide these artists an employment package which allows them to focus on process, performance, and training. The School at SDT provides quality dance education to students of all ages and abilities. Spectrum's Community Outreach consists of workshops, lecture/demonstrations, and performances in both SDT's studios and on-site in schools and community spaces throughout Seattle, including performances at the Intiman Theatre given exclusively for school-age audiences. The Company and the School are fully integrated into the Outreach program, providing instruction and performance-based learning tools to audiences from diverse sectors of the greater Seattle community. Spectrum Dance Theater serves not only schools, but also adults, businesses and corporations with its Outreach efforts.

History:
Spectrum Dance Theater was founded in 1982 by a group of dancers intent on creating works of ballet, jazz, modern and tap dance collaboratively. In 1985, Spectrum assumed management of the Madrona Dance Studio and began to develop a dance education program accessible to all ages and abilities, alongside the work of the company, which came to focus on presenting jazz dance performances in the Seattle community. From the mid 1990s onwards, Spectrum was able to hire dancers on contract for the majority of the year, to commission works from a range of nationally celebrated choreographers and to tour in the US and abroad. The founding Artistic Director, Dale A. Merrill, left the organization in 2002, and was replaced by the choreographer, Donald Byrd, whose international reputation, commitment to community engagement, and understanding of Spectrum's mission make him the ideal choice to lead the organization into its next twenty years.

Contact people:

Anne Derieux, Executive Director, (phone), (email) Catherine Hillenbrand, Resource Development Director, (phone), (email) Shirley Wong, Studio Manager, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (206) 325-3056

Address:

800 Lake Washington Blvd. Seattle, WA 98122 This location is handicap accessible (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.spectrumdance.org

Directions:

From South of Seattle 1. Merge onto I-5 N toward SEATTLE. 2. Take the DEARBORN ST./JAMES ST. exit- EXIT 164A- toward MADISON ST. 3. Take the DEARBORN ST. exit. 4. Turn RIGHT onto S DEARBORN ST/WA-167. Continue to follow S. . . (more)

Miscellaneous Information

Liability
	No
Does your organization welcome court-ordered community service volunteers?
	No
Does your organization have volunteer positions for youth 12-18?
	Yes