Mission Statement  

The Gary Geis Dance Company’s mission is to advance the appreciation of the art of dance and to bring focus on dance education in the Springfield, Ohio community. With the wide range of experience that our artistic staff has to offer, our goal is to provide the members of this pre-professional dance company with a highly diverse curriculum.  By design, this preparation and training will act as a “springboard” into a professional career in a major dance or musical theatre company.

A Board of Directors and an artistic staff have established goals for the company.  Those goals are to provide seasonal dance concerts for the Springfield area and to appear as guests in area university dance concerts.  We will also participate in community out-reach lecture programs to introduce the art of dance to young people in our school system.

 

Gary Geis Dance Company History

The Gary Geis Dance Company is a non-profit organization founded in 1999 to enhance the performing arts by providing professional training and performing opportunities to young dancers seeking a career in dance or musical theatre. Gary Geis Dance Company strives to achieve its mission by  holding open auditions to the public and presenting quality performances at reasonable rates. It  provides in-studio lecture demonstrations free of charge to the community, and also participates in community public events, including The Summer Arts Festival, Fun Fest, Project Jericho, and The Alzheimer’s Association.  We are presently seeking further involvement within the Springfield area public school system.  The development of a scholarship program for under-privileged youth is in process.

 

G.G.D.C. Founders/Executive Board

Gary Geis/ Artistic Director

Lori Common & Mark Cummings/ Associate Directors

Board of Directors

Mike Geer | President

Lynn Rector | Vice-president

Tiffany Burks | Secretary

Jan Garrett | Treasurer

Board Members:  Sue Blackwood, Carolyn Joseph, Tina Pavlatos, Risa Speildoch, Joanie Schmidt, and Gayle Suzel.

Board meetings are held monthly from September thru June.

Founders’ Biographies

Gary Geis:  Gary is one of Ohio’s most respected dance educators.  He owns and operates the Gary Geis School of Dance and has served on the faculties of Wittenberg University, Clark State Community College, Wright State University, and currently, the University of Dayton.

He was co-director of the Ballet Theatre of the Virgin Islands where he trained dancers, performed and choreographed for the dance company.

He received extensive training in New York City with such notable masters as:  David Howard, Igor Swetzoff, Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, Matt Mattox, Bill Gary, and June Taylor.

Mark Cummings:  Mark is the Artistic Director for The University of Dayton Dance Ensemble, where he teaches ballet and jazz.  He has served on the Faculties of Clark State Community College and Wright State University.  His dance training includes: Indiana University, Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, Dayton Ballet School, and Jeraldyns School of Dance (DCDC). He currently teaches at the Gary Geis School of Dance.

Lori Weaver-Common:  Lori is one of the key choreographers for the Gary Geis Dance Company and is a ballet instructor for the Gary Geis School of Dance. Dancing her way through Dayton Ballet's second company, DBII, she eventually moved into a principle role at the age of 19 with Dayton Ballet's first company where she performed many lead roles working with some of the finest ballet and modern choreographers in the field. Her training includes Wright State University, Dayton Ballet School, Hubbard Street Dance Company and Cleveland Ballet.

Contributor’s Information

• Persons who wish to support the Gary Geis Dance Company will receive various benefits, depending upon their level of contribution.
  
  Levels are:
  Friend — $25.00-$99.00
  Family — $100.00-$249
  Patron — $250.00-$499
  Benefactor— $500.00+
  
  Friend:  recognition in programs and quarterly  newsletter
  
  Family:  above plus attend a rehearsal to watch choreography in progress
  
  Patron:  above plus complimentary tickets to instudio performances.  Also you have an opportunity to name a “work inprogress”.
  
  Benefactor:  Above plus opportunity to watch master classes with teachers and/or companies.  Four free classes at the Gary Geis School of Dance.

Master Classes

Master Classes are given on a monthly basis with noted dance professionals.