BACKHAUSDANCE

Artistic Director Jennifer Backhaus formed Backhausdance in January of 2003. The company is a 501(c)(3), not-for-profit corporation with the mission to create excellent art and expose and educate the community about the relevance and vitality of concert dance. The company currently consists of eight dancers, four of whom are original members.

Backhausdance has an eclectic and dynamic vocabulary borrowing from many dance styles. Their movement is physically demanding and original with a wonderful sense of fluidity and strength.

Backhausdance, now in its sixth year, has performed extensively throughout California at venues and festivals including Fall for Dance at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, Laguna Dance Festival, the Los Angeles Arts Holiday Celebration held at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, and the Celebrate Dance Festival at the Alex Theatre. The company has served as artists in residence at Santa Ana College, Mount San Antonio College, Chapman University, Brigham Young University, Moorpark College, and as guest artists for the California Dance Educators Association. Backhausdance has received 15 nominations and ten awards from the Dance Resource Center of Los Angeles for achievements in choreography, design, and performance, helping propel them to the forefront of Southern California modern dance.

Backhausdance has a diverse repertory that is entertaining as well as artistic. Repertory works include powerful, athletic dances, emotionally charged dramatic pieces, and whimsical, humorous glimpses at the human experience. All works are professionally produced with beautiful lighting and costume designs. Backhausdance also offers concert pieces with a focus on younger audiences that include master class workshop components.

In 2007, Orange County Performing Arts Center added Backhausdance to the Artist Roster for their arts education programs, Arts Teach and ArtsConnect, reaching public schools throughout Orange and San Bernardino Counties. Under the training and guidance of the OCPAC education staff, Backhausdance has developed and implemented a variety of assemblies and workshops for educational performances in classrooms and theatres.