Dayton Contemporary Dance Company

In 1949, Josephine Schwarz, founder of The Dayton Ballet, established classes at the Linden Community Center in response to a need for dance education among Dayton's urban youth. Jeraldyne Blunden, a nation Daytonian, was named to serve as the director of the community center dance school in 1960. Through years of training and community performances, a small group of exceptionally talented dancers emerged with the discipline and commitment needed to create a professional dance company. In 1968, Jeraldyne Blunden founded the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company.

Under Blunden's artistic direction, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company became a significant force in American modern dance. Having studied professionally with modern dance experts, such as Martha Graham, Jose Limon and James Truitte, and having performed with Dayton Theatre Dance Company (now The Dayton Ballet), Karumu Dancers (Cleveland, OH), Antioch Summer Theatre and the Connecticut Dance Theatre Workshop, Jeraldyne Blunden played an integral role in the dance field, contributing to the development and performance of contemporary dance on a regional, national and international scale. Her artistic vision and knowledge of dance served the dance world primarily through the mission and achievements of the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company.

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