THE JEFFERSON DANCERS is the elite dance company of the nationally known dance department at Jefferson High School. For 48 years, the company has comprised the school’s most advanced students who come for dance training. It is a multi-ethnic company of 17 dancers, ages 14–18. The program is dedicated to physically and mentally preparing students for performing arts careers. In this professional dance company environment, they begin to understand both the responsibility of their role and the rewards of contributing to a product of exceptional quality.

​

Unlike most dance companies, Jefferson Dancers perform works in many dance styles. The Company's repertoire includes more than 200 works of modern, tap, ballet, jazz, African, ethnic, hip-hop, aerial, and musical theater dances. These are choreographed by nationally recognized choreographers, including Lowell Smith, Donald McKayle, Moses Pendleton, Josie Moseley, Steve Zee, Joseph Webb, Bruce Smith, Raymond Sawyer, Royston Maldoom, Sarah Slipper, Brian Sanders, Brian Simerson, Davis Robertson, Linda Sohl-Donnell, Brenda Buffalino, Van “The Man” Porter, Derell “Sekou Soumah” Walker, Durante Lambert, Thomas Yale, Gerran Reese, Kevin Paul Clark, Sara Mishler Martins, Michael Munday, Charlotte Faillard, Kristi Bacon-Trad, Demetria Bunky Holden-Williams, Rachel Slater, and Artistic Director, Steve Gonzales. Guest artists such as Broadway tap star Honi Coles, The Dance Theatre of Harlem, and Alwin Nikolais have held workshops and conducted full-length residencies. Recent workshops include Ballet Boyz, Herve Kobi, MOMIX Dance Theatre, and Cloud Gate.

​

Dancers for the Company are auditioned in the spring, and those selected commit to perform with the group for one school year. They are expected to attend at least 1.5 hours of technique class and 3 hours of rehearsal, five days a week. To develop their technical skills to a performance level, numerous lecture demonstrations, community performances, and concerts are booked. In previous years, the Company has performed internationally in Russia, Canada, England, France, Germany, Italy, and China. By providing students with these diverse performing experiences, they are better prepared for the professional world of dance. The progress of their skills is reviewed after each performance. Students are given constructive feedback and are evaluated on how they apply the feedback, as well as their performance quality, musicality, and technical application.

​

Former Jefferson Dancers have gone on to study at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, Juilliard, SUNY Purchase, North Carolina School of the Arts, CAL Arts, Philadelphia School of Performing Arts, Alvin Ailey--through Fordham University, Cornish College, and many more. Our graduates are performing all over the world with professional companies including MOMIX Dance Theatre, Merce Cunningham, Spectrum Dance Theatre, Luna Negra Dance Theatre in Chicago, Batsheva Dance Company, and Vertigo Dance Theatre in Israel. They are also performing in Broadway productions including Guys and Dolls, Movin’ Out, Chicago, Beauty and the Beast, and Legally Blonde. The Company has come full circle since one of its former dancers, Steve Gonzales, took over as artistic director in 1999.