Dance 9000

Mission Statement

Dance 9000 is dedicated to creating a palette of world-class dancers to perform traditional and original choreography.   The ethnically diverse dancers will reflect both Los Angeles and the esthetics of beauty, elegance and technical excellence.

Dance 9000 History:

9000 stands for the zip codes of Los Angeles.   Jennifer Nairn-Smith, former protégé of Balanchine and Fosse, founded the company in 2002 in an effort to address the absence of a world class professional dance company in the region.   Her diverse community of the mid-Wilshire district is surrounded by Koreatown, downtown Los Angeles, Little Tokyo, Chinatown, Crenshaw’s African American community, the business community of Miracle Mile, the cultural area of Museum Square, The Jewish Fairfax District, Little Ethiopia, and the affluent Westside.   By pulling from these diverse zip codes, she hopes to raise generations of world-class dancers to revive important classical choreography from the great masters of which she learned firsthand and develop new works.   Her vision is to bring back the esthetics emphasizing grace, beauty and technical ability often lacking in today’s dance scene.   They currently work under the fiscal receivership of The Dance Resource Center until they receive their non-profit status (in progress).

Artistic Vision Statement:

We intend to grow by:

•  Creating cultural educational opportunities through affordable neighborhood classes for 2-12 year-olds and their parents.

•  Nurturing a company by a Junior Company of 12-18 year-olds that performs on tours of schools and festivals.

•  Developing a company of 16-18 technically excellent and ethnically diverse dancers.

•  Producing of an annual concert containing 3 classic works and one new work in a 900+ seat venue.

•  Producing an annual recital of short pieces choreographed for small groups in a 99-200 seat venue.

•  Holding two fundraisers each year produced by board members and volunteers.

•  Promoting and developing our artists with scholarships to classes, salaries, health benefits, principal roles, and industry showcasing opportunities to breed loyalty among dancers.