Mission: We dance to challenge and to connect. Donna Sternberg & Dancers envision a world in which people are inspired by challenge in ways that promote personal growth and connection with others. To fulfill our mission, the company presents compelling live performances and educational programs to audiences that are diverse in cultural outlook, economic class, ethnic background and gender. Recognizing that modern dance is an art form that many people do not fully comprehend, DS & D has an extensive community outreach program in Southern California. to unite people, fostering a sense of commonality and connection to others.

History: Artistic Director Donna Sternberg founded the company in 1985 after working and touring in the companies of Donald Byrd, Mary Jane Eisenberg, Yen Lu Wong and Dance/LA. It was incorporated in 1990, and is a federal tax-exempt organization.

DS & D has premiered over fifty-five works, including three full evening-length pieces, since its founding in 1985. The company has performed throughout the Los Angeles area in venues such as Cal State L.A., Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles County Art Museum, Skirball Museum, Thousand Oaks Performing Arts Center, Laguna Arts Museum, University of Redlands, Fountain Theatre, Loyola Marymount University, UC Irvine, Mt. San Antonio College and Moorpark College. Performances outside of the Los Angeles area include CenterStage Theatre and La Casa de Maria in Santa Barbara, Eighth St. Studio in Berkeley, New Performance Gallery and Brady St. Dance Centre in San Francisco and Riverside Community College among others. DS & D is the resident guest artist at Rancho La Puerta in Tecate, Mexico where it performs and teaches classes bi-annually. DS & D was featured in both Dance Magazine (April, 2000) and Dance Spirit (January, 2001) as one of the most outstanding companies in Los Angeles.

Ranging from 5-7 members, Donna Sternberg & Dancers is a dynamic, emotionally vibrant contemporary company. The diverse repertoire is composed of vigorous, technically demanding movement that is alternatively edgy, sensuous and lyrical. Permeating the movement is a dramatic and emotional intensity. The company has collaborated on projects with artists from other disciplines including poet Alice Walker, percussionist Steven Schick and composers Donald Knaack, Craig Kupka, Bobby Matos and Eric Ruskin.

Recognizing the importance of arts education, DS & D is committed to reaching out to audiences unfamiliar to dance. Through a variety of programs, from performances exposing audiences to dance to educational lecture/demonstrations to classes, workshops and open rehearsals, the company seeks to share its knowledge and love of dance. DS & D is currently part of the Santa Monica Arts Education Partnership Project, a curriculum-based arts integration program in schools.

Board of Directors:
Jill Jacobson-Bennett, President
Carrie Marraro, Vice-President
Ken Phillips, Secretary
Donna Sternberg, Treasurer
Chris Bradford
Lynwood Davis
Walter Kornbluh



Artistic Vision: My choreography is concerned with exploring the human experience as it relates to the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of life. The work traverses the landscape of human experience, communicating through movement experiences, impressions, feelings and ideas. My choreography is molded by my vision of the interior spiritual landscape, by life in the modern world and by the raw, passionate feminine nature. I am quite interested in collaborations with artists of other disciplines, finding this a rich source of inspiration and stimulation. My work is imbued with a love of sheer movement through space, an interest in shape and the juxtaposition of human bodies. Pieces range from pure movement explorations, to conceptual ideas, to emotional and societal issues. My aims are, to quote the film maker Krzystof Kieslowski, "to elevate the spirit, help us to understand ourselves and the life around us, and give people the feeling they are not alone."

I believe in using technical proficiency as a means to an end, not an end in itself. I am interested in the weight of movement, the use of gravity and force. I expect my dancers to bring their life experience to each dance, to enrich the movement with something that is unique to them and comes from the essence of their being.

Funding: Donna Sternberg & Dancers has received funding from the California Arts Council, California Council for the Humanities, Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department, National/ State/County Partnership, Los Angeles County and Santa Monica Arts Commissions, Culver City Cultural Affairs Commission, National Performance Network, Pacific Bell, and the Amgen Foundation.