“Art and social justice are powerful allies, and this is as good an example as I’ve ever seen”
JDPP Ensemble
Known for its innovative fusion of dance, text, music, and visual design, the JDPP Ensemble delves into the darkness to discover the light, drawing audiences into worlds that illuminate understanding and reflection. The company’s award-winning work can be seen throughout New England in theaters, at colleges and universities, prisons, and inner-city schools. Its collaborative repertory has been performed in major cities across the United States and Europe.
“Absolutely captivating—left me speechless!”
Current Repertory
Book Dances
Against a backdrop of increasing challenges to intellectual freedom, Book Dances celebrates the power of books to widen vision, open possibility, and create connection through solo and group dances and a sound collage of spoken word with music composed by Robert Een. The story follows four dancers through a kaleidoscopic series of vignettes that shift from innocence, joy, and wonder to fire and destruction, and finally to renewal. The visual journey is framed by three book towers that, moved by and with the dancers, suggest joy and sanctuary, constriction and destruction, and finally resiliency and hope.
In the Presence of Trees
In the Presence of Trees is JDPP’s first dive into environmental justice comprises a series of seasonal works that speak to the wisdom of trees and the urgent need to preserve them. Focusing on themes of community, care for others, metamorphosis, legacy, rebirth and hope, In the Presence of Trees is innovatively installed in various parks in the Greater Hartford region. The dancers move elegantly and authentically through the life cycle of the canopy and its importance as a model for humans and for preserving the earth. The symbiotic bond between forest and dancer is also captured through the incredible eye of videographer PJ Brockett of Mindspin LLC in an accompanying film series for the project.
“So many teachings…the importance of giving back, the relations between us all (seen and unseen), the beauty and peace to be found in nature, art, ourselves…”
Stepping Out
Stepping Out performances explore the experience of incarceration through the lens of those who have lived it or been directly affected by it. Their personal stories, written both in prison and in the community, ask us to keep the human side close as we consider the collateral effect of the carceral experience. The performances feature returning citizens and JDPP artists who collectively bring voices of those impacted by incarceration into public view through dance, spoken word, and song. Recent performances include Unmuting and With These Hands, and reflect JDPP’s 20-year history working in Connecticut state prisons. Each Stepping Out performance concludes with a post-performance talkback with members of the cast and Artistic Director Judy Dworin.
“I have never seen such a rapt audience… Everyone I spoke with after the performance only had good things to say including how touched by it they were…” (Presenter Unmuting at Congregation Beth Shalom Rodfe Zedek)
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JDPP, Inc. is a 501c(3) organization.