DCDC opens Victoria Theatre season with SPECTRA

Dayton Contemporary Dance Company will launch its Victoria Theatre season with SPECTRA on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 in Dayton. The four-work program features artists who began their careers with DCDC and marks Artistic Directress Qarrianne Blayr’s first Victoria Theatre program leading the company.

Why it matters: - SPECTRA opens Dayton Contemporary Dance Company’s Victoria Theatre season and sets the tone for Season 58, Continuum… Legacy in Motion. - The program reconnects DCDC with artists who trained, danced or started their careers with the company, underscoring the company’s role in developing choreographic talent. - The season-opening production is DCDC’s first Victoria Theatre program under Artistic Directress Qarrianne Blayr.

What happened: - DCDC will present SPECTRA at the Victoria Theatre on Saturday, Oct. 31 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 1 at 4 p.m. in Dayton. - The program includes four works created by artists who came up through DCDC. - Blayr said the season theme, Continuum… Legacy in Motion, is reflected in the production’s return-to-roots focus.

The details: - Beyond A Cliff by Dwight Rhoden draws on his Dayton roots and his early connection to DCDC before he co-founded Complexions Contemporary Ballet. - Rhoden’s work is described as a high-energy, technical tribute to DCDC founder Jeraldyne Blunden. - For the Sake of It by William B. McClellan, Jr. was set on DCDC and serves as a joyful celebration of dance and music. - McClellan was a longtime DCDC dancer and choreographer before his death. - Urban Milonga by Alvin Rangel reflects tango music and spirit to explore human connection. - Rangel danced with DCDC for nearly a decade and is now a professor of dance at California State University, Fullerton. - Rangel returned to Dayton on Oct. 16 and 17 to work with the company in the studio. - Heaven’s Earth by Blayr is a duet about letting go and the comfort of someone waiting on the other side. - Blayr came up through DCDC2, the company’s second company, before becoming artistic directress.

Between the lines: - SPECTRA functions as both a repertory program and a statement about continuity inside DCDC. - The lineup shows how the company’s alumni have carried DCDC training into national and international careers. - Re-staging alumni works with the current company turns legacy into a live part of the season, not just a retrospective.

What’s next: - DCDC’s 58th season continues with The Littlest Angel on Dec. 18 and 19 at the University of Dayton’s Kennedy Union Boll Theatre. - (Re)Singing From The Underspace follows on Feb. 20 and 21 at the Victoria Theatre. - Ever Forward closes the announced season slate on May 1 and 2 at the Victoria Theatre. - Single tickets for SPECTRA range from $21.50 to $86 plus fees and are available through Dayton Live. - Season subscriptions remain available until Oct. 30 and include SPECTRA.

The bottom line: - SPECTRA brings DCDC’s past and present onto one stage, using alumni-created works to launch a season built around legacy, renewal and artistic continuity.