Fort Wayne Dance Collective was formed in the summer of 1978 when five women met at a modern dance workshop sponsored by the Fort Wayne Women’s Bureau. After the workshop, Cathy Craighead, Ranny Levy, Liz Monnier, Krista Schloss and Lisa Tsetse decided to continue the momentum of creative expression by starting a non-profit modern dance organization. Fort Wayne Dance Collective was born.
The Beginning
FWDC is founded
Incorporated in January 1979, FWDC began above Artlink, Inc. located at 1126 Broadway in the West-Central Neighborhood of Fort Wayne.
FWDC supports on-site classes
FWDC supports on-site classes, Guest Artists from New York City and San Francisco and outreach programming
Indiana Arts Commission Artists-in-Education program
FWDC was welcomed into the Indiana Arts Commission Artists-in-Education program.
Guest Artist dance companies
Began hosting national and international Guest Artist dance companies
FWDC finds a new home
Moved into a newly renovated arts space owned and operated by Arts United. The Fort Wayne Dance Collective still calls this home: the Hall Community Arts Center, located at 437 E. Berry St. in downtown Fort Wayne.
Arts United
Became a principal partner of Arts United of Greater Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne Taiko
Fort Wayne Taiko begins
“Identity Bridge” Outreach program semifinalist
“Identity Bridge” Outreach program was chosen as a Coming up Taller semifinalist by the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities, the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. This selection distinguishes the Fort Wayne Dance Collective “Identity Bridge” as “one of the premier arts and humanities based programs in the country serving youth beyond the school hours.”
Indiana Dance Festival
Hosted and produced the first Indiana Dance Festival for dancers throughout the state.
2nd Indiana Dance Festival
Hosted and produced the second year of the Indiana Dance Festival.
30th Anniversary
Celebrated 30th Anniversary!
3rd Indiana Dance Festival
2011 – Hosted and produced the third year of the Indiana Dance Festival with guest artist Hubbard Street 2 from Chicago.
Launched the Parkview Healing Arts Program
Parkview Healing Arts, in collaboration with Fort Wayne Dance Collective, integrates literary, movement, music and visual arts into patient care, healthcare facility design and esthetics, the health of the caregivers and the community. In the first 6 months this program was implemented, FWDC served over 2,000 patients, co-workers and community members.
Launched Dance for Community
Dance for Community, in partnership with Boys & Girls Club, McMillen Park Community Center, and the Renaissance Pointe YMCA, serves children, youth and teens by providing year-round, after school dance and drumming classes both onsite at FWDC and at each location being served.
Fort Wayne Dance Collective presents “Collective Expressions”
Fort Wayne Dance Collective presents first full length, community performance of original works created and performed by the Touring Company and the Pineapple Dance Project. This performance, now titled “Collective Expressions”, occurs annually.
2019 4th Indiana Dance Festival
In celebration of Fort Wayne Dance Collective’s 40th anniversary, FWDC hosted the 4th Indiana Dance Festival (IDF). The mission of IDF was to provide a diverse population with unique opportunities to experience the cultivation, presentation, discipline, and conservation of dance, movement arts, and health. The three-day community building event represented dance, wellness, and inclusion through classes, performances, panel discussions, and networking opportunities. All events were held on the Arts Campus April 12th, 13th and 14th of 2019.