Decidedly Jazz Danceworks

06/06/2026

The Crystal Ballroom is where the party keeps going.
We're excited to welcome an incredible lineup of guest artists who'll be performing throughout the evening at the Black & White Ball:

✨ Christopher Gamble
✨ Vogue YYC
✨ Carifest
✨ BattleZone
✨ JazzClub
✨ The Masses

From music and dance to unforgettable performances, these artists bring even more energy to a night already packed with entertainment.

Come for the performances, bid on incredible auction items, and celebrate with Calgary's arts community, all while supporting DJD.

06/05/2026

The Black & White Ball Silent Auction is officially OPEN!

Browse and bid on an incredible lineup of auction items from local businesses, including wellness packages, dining experiences, shopping, entertainment, and more, all while supporting DJD!

Can't make it to the Ball? You can still participate in the auction and support DJD from wherever you are.

🔗 Bid now: https://can.givergy.com/campaign-9aapv8of/?controller=home

⏰ The silent auction closes Monday, June 8 at 8:00 PM, so be sure to get your bids in before it's too late.

And if you haven't secured your ticket for The Black & White Ball yet, there's still time to join us tomorrow for an unforgettable evening of live performances, dancing, fundraising, and celebration!

🎟 Get your tickets: https://www.decidedlyjazz.com/experience/events/the-black-white-ball/

Every bid, ticket, and donation helps support DJD's artists, programs, and future seasons.

We can't wait to celebrate with you!

06/04/2026

Curious about the relationship between costume and movement?

Join Generative Fabrics – Textile and Movement Workshop, a free workshop led by one of DJD's current Creative Residency Artist Natalia Martineau, exploring how textiles can become generative tools for movement creation. Through discussion, improvisation, and sensory exploration, participants will investigate the connections between costume, sensation, imagination, and transformation.

Read the full workshop description below and reserve your spot—capacity is limited to 12 participants. This workshop is FREE!

Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdsCiH_YapsgoCYA5C7glZybktwC0RU1y0jatdyFiDlgimOag/viewform

Using textiles to ignite new sensory pathways in the body, this free workshop will explore the relationship between costume and dance; questioning how garments can act as generative tools for movement creation. Engaging in a series of improvisational prompts and explorations, we’ll work on deeply tuning to our felt senses and igniting our imaginations. The workshop will begin with a discussion about becoming and transformation, and participants will be invited to build their own sensory garments. Through improvisation we will explore how costume and sensation can interact to create feelings of tension, compression, and release in the body, that through our imaginations might allow for new understandings of self to emerge.

This workshop is open to pre-professional and professional dancers, as well as movement practitioners of any form.

Free • Maximum 12 participants

Stay tune for more info on Natalia's Work-in-Progress Showing of 'slug' on June 12th!

Photo credit: Josh Stasik Prince

06/03/2026

This week’s walk features DJD Artist in Residence Randy Plain Eagle, whose work bridges movement, storytelling, and lived experience. Randy brings his unique artistic voice to the 12th Ave with an improvisation to Electric Pow Wow Drum by A Tribe Called Red.

Randy’s current work, SUGAR, premieres tonight and tomorrow night as part of the IGNITE! Festival. Created during DJD’s Artistic Residency, this interdisciplinary solo performance explores addiction, survival, recovery, and the ongoing impacts of trauma through Indigenous storytelling, theatre, and movement. At its core, SUGAR is about survival and the process of finding a way forward.

Stay tuned as we continue sharing more about Randy’s time in our Artist in Residence Program in the coming weeks.

✨ Improvisation by: Randy Plain Eagle
🎥 Filmed & edited by: Maddy Faunt
🎶 Tune: Electric Pow Wow Drum – A Tribe Called Red
📍 Location: 12 Avenue SE, outside DJD Dance Centre
🎨 Artistic Direction: Kimberley Cooper

SUGAR
June 3 & 4 | 8:15 PM
Part of the IGNITE! Festival
🎟️ Tickets available through the link: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?calendar=sts

This week’s walk features DJD Artist in Residence Randy Plain Eagle...

06/02/2026

One of the highlights of our Black & White Ball fundraiser is the opening improvised performance, where musicians and dancers come together to create something completely unique in the moment.

This year's artists include:

• Nate Chiang (Drums)
• Fraser Calhoun (Saxophone)
• Jonny Chavez (Trumpet)
• Carsten Rubeling (Trombone)
• Danny Nielsen (Tap Dancer)

Joined by DJD company members, they'll kick off the evening with a spontaneous collaboration inspired by the spirit of jazz, listening, responding, and creating in real time.

Join us on June 6 for an evening filled with live performance, incredible auction prizes, good company, and plenty of surprises, all while supporting the work that keeps jazz dance thriving at DJD.

05/27/2026

An inside look at the work of our current Artist in Residence, Rosanna Terracciano.

We caught up with Rosanna to talk about Flamenco at the DJD Dance Centre, an intimate evening of flamenco dance, guitar, piano, song, and improvisation created alongside Claire Marchand and Jane Ogilvie. We also chatted about her time in residence at DJD, the creative process behind the work, and the collaborations that have shaped this project.

Following a sold-out 2025 tour, the artists reunite with special guests Francisco Orozco “Yiyi” and Peter Mole to bring this powerful performance back to the stage.

Catch Flamenco at the DJD Dance Centre on May 28 & 29 at the DJD Dance Centre.

Tickets can be found here: https://www.decidedlyjazz.com/experience/events/flamenco-at-the-djd-dance-centre-2/

An inside look at the work of our current Artist in Residence, Rosanna Terracciano.We caught up with Rosanna to talk about Flamenco at the DJD Dance Centre, ...

05/26/2026

Join us on May 29 for a special afternoon with Creative Residency artists Amber Downie-Back and Angus Steele-Gaffney.

From 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM, community members are invited to a casual Open Studio exploring the outcomes of their residency research through projection/video, written reflections, conversation, and selections of performance and installation material developed throughout the month. Drop in, ask questions, and engage with the artists’ process. Free to attend.

Following the open studio, Amber Downie-Back (they/she), alongside live sound collaborator Angus Steele-Gaffney, will lead Immediate Ecosystems — an exercise in place, memory and movement from 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM.

Through gentle movement exploration and creative collaboration, participants are invited to reflect on how memories live within our bodies, objects, places, sounds, and images while exploring themes of nostalgia, past selves, and imagined futures.

Participants are encouraged to bring:
• A memory object
• A note-taking device
• Water bottle
• Comfortable clothes and comfort items

Workshop admission is $20 or PWYC. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. Cash and card accepted at the door.

Participants may engage as much or as little as they’d like, and all activities can be adapted to individual comfort levels and needs. Please note a participation form will be signed upon arrival.

Register here: https://forms.gle/VQ5hmaFNEWGU7yRbA

05/25/2026

Join us for African Dance with PULGA! An energetic exploration of Afro Fusion rooted in traditional dances from Mozambique alongside contemporary urban Afro dance styles from Nigeria, Ghana, Angola, Zimbabwe, and beyond.

Pulga’s classes are centred around creativity, curiosity, and personal exploration — encouraging every dancer to discover new ways of moving and connecting through rhythm and expression.

“Teaching is an endless lesson even for me as a teacher and I hope everyone who takes my classes can find that world of curiosity as well.” — Pulga

Whether you’re new to Afro Fusion or looking to deepen your practice, this class welcomes all levels and invites you to move, explore, and connect.

TRADITIONAL & AFRO DANCE FUSION with PULGA.
Friday May 29, 5:00pm-6:15pm
Price = $18/ person
At the DJD Dance Centre

Sign up here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/traditional-afro-dance-fusion-with-pulga-tickets-1990347327435?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=&utm-share-source=mobile-search-results

05/21/2026

We’re excited to help share and celebrate Honouring The Past… Restoring The Future Of Black Dance — a virtual festival presented as part of Woezo Africa’s 20-year celebration of Black arts, storytelling, movement, and cultural legacy.

Taking place this weekend, the festival brings together artists, cultural leaders, and international presenters for a powerful program of performances, panels, classes, and film presentations centred around the future of Black dance.

A meaningful space for reflection, creativity, and connection, this festival honours the voices and stories shaping the global dance community today.

Learn more and register through: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/honouring-the-past-restoring-the-future-of-black-dance-tickets-1986860952594?aff=oddtdtcreator

05/19/2026

🖤 DANCE your way to the Black & White Ball! 🤍

This is your chance to win tickets to DJD’s upcoming Black & White Ball Fundraiser and entering is easy… just dance! 💃

Take a class at DJD between May 19–30 and you’ll automatically be entered to win. The more classes you take, the more entries you earn. ✨

Use your existing class pass or drop into a class and get moving. Then get ready to show off those dance moves at the Ball! 🪩

📅 Winner announced June 1!

Contest open to ages 18+ as the event is not open to minors.