Rva Dance Collective sprung from the creative collaboration between artistic directors Jess Burgess and Danica Kalemdaroglu.
The co-artistic directors work tirelessly to bridge the gap between artists of all mediums in the city of Richmond. Formed under the assumption that great art cannot survive or thrive without the spirit of collaboration, rva dance collective’s artistic goal is the union of all forms of art in the Central Virginia area. Burgess and Kalemdaroglu have worked with visual artists, film artists, musicians, photographers and theatre artists in the spirit of finding absolute creativity.
The collective’s work has been seen by patrons of the arts at Jack Guidone Theatre (DC), Dance Place (DC), James Madison University and Courtsquare Theatre (Harrisonburg, Va), Mcvey Studio Theatre (RVA), Grace Street Theater (RVA), Dogtown Dance Theatre (RVA), University of Colorado (Boulder, Co.), Merce Cunningham Studios (NYC) and Triskelion Arts Theatre (NYC).
The company was the 2010 recipient of the Theresa Pollak Award for Excellence in the Arts. Theresa Pollak’s (1899-2002) contribution to Richmond’s art community was the foundation and inspiration for Virginia Commonwealth University’s nationally recognized School of the Arts. In light of her pioneering efforts, the excellence in arts awards are named in her honor. The selectors of the 2010 awards commented “rva dance collective possesses a rare ability to combine high-quality choreography with audience accessibility. As part of its performances, the troupe educates audiences through explanation, humor and insight. the group promotes not only understanding of dance but also the study of it, offering courses for performers in the Richmond community.”
As said by the late Martha Graham, “ the body is your instrument in dance, but your art is outside that creature,” rva dance collective’s ongoing mission is geared towards the inclusion of all forms of art for creative and lifelong inspiration.
Burgess and Kalemdaroglu are also teachers in the Richmond, Va. area and beyond focusing on technique, improvisation, pilates and repertory.
Rva Dance Collective is available for residencies and master classes.~