| sjDANCEco | |
| Founders: | Gary Masters Maria Basile Melanie Doerner |
| Venue: | The California Theatre |
| Chief Executive: | Gary Masters |
| Coordinator: | Melanie Doerner |
| Company Manager: | Julia Booker |
| Ballet Staff Type: | Choreographic Advisor |
| Ballet Staff Name: | Fred Mathews |
| Artistic Director: | Gary Masters Maria Basile |
| Music Director: | Barbara Day Turner |
| Principal Conductor: | Barbara Day Turner |
| Choreographers: | Gary Masters Maria Basile Hsiang-Hsiu Lin |
| Artistic Staff Type: | Company Dancers |
| Artistic Staff Name: | Maria Basile Dominic Duong Kelisha Gardeen Katherine House Amanda Lacro Hsiang-Hsiu Lin Gabriel Mata Frankie Rivera Hannah Vaughan |
| Orchestra: | San José Chamber Orchestra |
Based in San Jose, California, sjDANCEco is a contemporary dance company founded in 2003 by artistic directors Gary Masters and Maria Basile, and Melanie Doerner.[1] The sjDANCEco is in residence at the San Jose State University.[2] [3]
The sjDANCEco evolved out of the San Jose-based Limón West Dance Project, which Gary Masters founded and directed from 1994 to 1998, with present-day sjDANCEco dancers Maria Basile, Hsiang Hsiu Lin, Raphaël Boumaïla and Robert Regala.[4] During its first 10 years, sjDANCEco has presented 42 World Premieres, six Revivals, works by master choreographers Donald McKayle and Fred Mathews, and eight works by José Limón during a five-year collaboration with the José Limón Dance Foundation.[4] In addition, sjDANCEco also provides two annual showcases for new works by professional San Francisco Bay Area choreographers through its two annual ChoreoProject Awards and through its "FESTIVAL @ SANTANA ROW", celebrating National Dance Week.[4]
The sjDANCEco is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that serves both the community of San Francisco South Bay residents and the community of local dance artists.[5] They introduce new audiences to dance and strive to install a lasting appreciation for the art form.[2]