about.
Demetrius Klein Dance Company has been a staple of the regional arts scene — and South Florida’s oldest modern dance company — since 1986. Mr. Klein is a celebrated choreographer whose awards include the Hector Ubertalli Award for Artistic Excellence, a Choreographic Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and several grants from the MacArthur Foundation.
events
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Demetrius Klein Dance Company To Perform
Their Newest Work “You/Me Us/We” This Fall
By Breeze P.S.
August 1, 2024
West Palm Beach, Fla– Demetrius Klein Dance Company (DKDC), led by Artistic Director Kristen Vencel, is set to open its 38th season this fall. DKDC will perform the newest work in its repertoire titled You/Me Us/We on Oct. 19 at Memorial Presbyterian Church in West Palm Beach, Fla. The evening will also include a performance of Vencel’s previous work, Pinturas; five dances based on paintings at the Norton Museum of Art.
The music of You/Me Us/We was hugely inspirational to the process of creating this piece. Each of the nine dances corresponds to each song of a single album, which in turn is inspired by the nine personalities of the Enneagram. “It is about nine different personality types but we could all relate to this in some way. I think even though each song is different in a lot of ways, the way that the artist put it together is so cohesive. And that was really compelling to me as a choreographer,” says Vencel.
Vencel leads the company of about 15 experienced dancers from the local community as they bring this modern dance performance to life as well as premiering her second season as artistic director for DKDC. When asked about You/Me Us/We, she describes it as “a piece about people. Really a look at the different ways we relate to others in the world… and it’s also a deeper look at the redeeming qualities in ourselves. When we really step into those redeeming qualities we actually become more of who we are meant to be. Hopefully from that [audiences will] be spurred to think about who they are and how they relate to the community around them. And I think that leads to more compassion too, not just compassion for ourselves but compassion for others as well; seeing people for who they are.”
Founded in 1986, South Florida’s oldest modern dance company seeks to make dance accessible to all and defy boundaries of age, space, and movement in dance. They do this through dedicated dancers from the local community, utilizing unconventional venues for more intimate performances and talkbacks, and making all ticket fees pay-what-you-can so no one is ever held back by the barrier of cost.
You/Me Us/We and Pinturas
Saturday Oct. 19 at 8:00 pm
1300 S. Olive Ave. West Palm Beach, FL
Admission is Pay-What-You-Can, collected at the door
For more information, please call (561) 758-8726
projects.
New Artistic Director Takes Helm of Beloved
Modern Dance Company
Photo by Florida Film Co. Photo by Brandon Parker
For the first time in its 37 years, Demetrius Klein Dance Company (DKDC) has appointed a new Artistic Director. Founder Demetrius Klein, who has been the Artistic Director since the company’s inception, has stepped back from this role and named Kristen Vencel as the company’s new Artistic Director.
Vencel began her career with Demetrius Klein over twenty years ago and has served as Rehearsal Director and then Associate Artistic Director. When asked about this new role she said, “It’s been something I’ve been preparing for over the years, but still it is bittersweet. I am thankful to be able to lead and grow into this next season as a company.”
For Klein, the change is also bittersweet but he says he knows the company is in good hands. He will still be involved and working behind the scenes and added “It was always intentional that I set the company up to be beyond me. The philosophy of the company hasn’t changed, even as we have adapted through different seasons throughout our history. This is just another season in the life of the company, and it’s one that has been in the works for years. It’s time.”
DKDC plans for a regular season of two performances in October, a concert in March, and appearances in local projects and performances throughout the Fall and into the Spring. Follow them on social media or at diydance.org to stay updated and be a part of their audience. You won’t want to miss what they have ahead.
mission\vision.
Demetrius Klein Dance Company exists to promote and foster the work of choreographer, teacher and performer Demetrius Klein.
DKDC works in three distinct areas:
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Creation and Performance - DKDC presents new choreography and performance works by Demetrius Klein. These works seek to establish new artistic directions and circumstances. These works also seek to move outside the established boundaries of traditional dance performance.
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Education and Outreach - DKDC works to inform the community through the use of traditional dance classes, residencies and outreach. A specific emphasis will also be placed on using movement education in nontraditional methods and venues.
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Collaborative Arts Presentation - DKDC seeks to work with other artists and arts groups in the collaborative and affordable presentation of original art works.
Everyone dances, anywhere, all the time!
