Our Mission:

Mendocino Dance Project is a dynamic and athletic dance company on the Mendocino Coast that creates dances inside theaters and in outside spaces, on and off the ground. We are committed to helping art thrive in small, rural communities, bringing inspired and original work to local and regional audiences, and providing opportunities for people to participate and engage in the arts.

Our History:

Mendocino Dance Project was founded in 2015 by Kara Starkweather with the goal of bringing professional dance to rural communities in Mendocino County. Under Starkweather’s artistic direction, the company continues to grow and expand. We blend various dance forms, creating a unique style that is influenced by our sense of place.

In addition to performing, Mendocino Dance Project teaches technique classes, creative dance-making practices, and vertical harness workshops in redwood trees. We offer local dancers and students the opportunity to train as professionals and find their own creative voice.

Photo credit: Allen Francis

Our Programs:

Our dancers are dedicated to the community, working as professional artists, living in a beautiful, rural environment. The connection to the local environment and community guides the art-making process and the programming that we offer.

Live Performances:

Mendocino Dance Project brings live dance to rural communities throughout Mendocino County and Northern California. The subject matter of our work reflects the unique beauty of our region and our performances help to bring people together around dance during a time when a connection to the arts and community is absolutely essential.

We love collaborating with local organizations and have presented performances in partnership with Flynn Creek Circus, Symphony of the Redwoods, Mendocino Film Festival, Flockworks, Mendocino College, Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, Gualala Art Center, and Mendocino Theatre Company.

We have an upcoming performance on December 9, 10, & 11 at the Mendocino Theatre Company. Our most recent work titled “Phases” is a reflection of the past few years as we have weathered the pandemic. Please visit https://mendocinotheatre.org for showtimes and ticket information.

Photo credits: Larry Wagner Photo Art

Workshops:

Mendocino Dance Project offers workshops and classes throughout the community. Our Dance the Redwoods workshops were born from a Dancing with the Redwoods event that we held in October of 2019 during which Mendocino Dance Project received many inquiries to learn this unique art form from local residents and people from surrounding counties. Our Dance the Redwoods workshops have been well attended and serve as a wonderful opportunity to connect the community with the power of dance while honoring our redwoods and inspiring environmental protection.

Photo credit: Larry Wagner Photo Art

Dance Education:

In addition to performing and creating original shows, Mendocino Dance Project teaches dance in schools with the support of the Get Arts in the Schools Program (GASP), a program run through the Arts Council of Mendocino County and local school organizations. Our programming with schools in the region familiarizes students with movement and provides an outlet for students to explore their own emotions while making something beautiful.

Photo credit: Carmen Constantin

Support our Work:

Your donation would help to support our live performances, community workshops, and dance education programming in local schools. Specifically, donations are utilized to support the following expenses:

Community Performance Expenses: Donations help to support expenses associated with presenting live community performances. Mendocino Dance Project was invited to present work at the Mendocino Theatre Company on December 9, 10, and 11, 2021 in Mendocino, CA, and at the Gualala Art Center on February 11, 2022, in Gualala, CA. The February production will be a collaboration with visual artist Anne Leveque during her month-long residency at the art center. This will be an interactive collaborative evening with dance and live painting and we are working towards an original music score with composer John Simon Burnett.

We’re excited to build upon this momentum and partner with local community organizations throughout 2022 as we work to connect our remote region of Northern California with the power of dance and movement.

Annual Studio Space Rental: Mendocino Dance Project rents a small studio in Fort Bragg where our dancers practice and prepare for upcoming performances.

Equipment Expenses for Vertical Tree Dancing Workshops: The popularity and desire for our outdoor harness workshops is growing and we can accommodate additional students if we expand our rigging to more trees and increase our supply of essential equipment.

General Operating: Donations help to support our organization’s general operating expenses such as dancer stipends, travel expenses, and insurance coverage.

To learn more about our work, please visit our WEBSITE.

Thank you so much for your generosity! We’re so grateful for the love and support of our community!

-Mendocino Dance Project

Photo credit: Mackenzie Rain