Testimonials
2- Emerging Companies/Audience
1-Professionals
Barbara Paige Kaplan, Pusblisher, Dance Magazine
“I am writing to express my unequivocal support for Donnette Heath and Dance Repertory’s Vision Series. As a publisher with 76 years of ties to the dance community, Dance Magazine has the opportunity to engage with an unlimited number of educational and performance programs. Clearly, we can only commit our selves to working with a tiny number of those who are making valuable contributions to our field and to the larger community. So we chose carefully.
Dance Magazine has been proud to lend our name to the Vision Series for
the past four years. The quality of contact with students and professional
dancers and choreographers, the level of artistry, and the impact on the
individual lives of new and seasoned dancers is impressive. The commitment
of Ms.Heath and those who work with her is of the highest standard.
I wish that each of our partnerships with the dance community could be
as easy and fruitful as this one. Dance Magazine looks forward to continuing
our collaboration with the Vision Series.”
Educators in the field
Lori Bryhni, Past President CDEA and Dance Program Coordinator, Modesto Jr. College
“I have been involved with CDEA for many years and through my experiences, in my mind, dRep and the Vision Series goals and mission possess the highest caliber and quality of teaching and performance. Art can inspire one to change, discover and grow. Dance is a gesture that gives voice to expression. CDEA celebrates our shared commitment of excellence in dance and education with dRep’s Vision Series and commends the extraordinary work and positive influence of the presentations.”
Alisa Rasera, AXIS Dance Company, Oakland, California
“This is a powerful program and so crucial for youth to experience. All dance audiences should be this full and supportive and diverse in age.”
Dana Nicolay, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX
“The education initiatives demonstrate a remarkable artistic vision… The company provides a vibrant and diverse resource for the community and a much-needed service to dance artists, while also giving young people many opportunities to participate in and appreciate dance. I believe your support will be making a worthwhile investment in the cultural future of your city…”
Gary Masters, San Jose Dance Project, Jose Limon Dance Foundation of San Jose
“… In this ever developing and changing technology, the opportunity to see aspiring dancers and choreographers express their hopes, dreams, fears and fantasies through the language of the Dance is indeed a time for joy and hope for the future. Not enough can be done to endow the youth of our world with the understanding of the amazing possibilities that life has to offer, especially those which can feed the spirit and inspire the soul. Whether many or few who participated in this exchange will continue with Dance and make it their life is not important. They have enriched and endowed by the experience of Vision Series…”
J.R. Glover, Education Programs Director, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival
Really appreciate the work you are doing to expose young people in their artistic endeavors. You never know what clicks and makes an impression and fuels the dream! Keep up your Vision— it's a gift to Bay Area.
Joan Lazarus, Executive Director, Dance Art, Inc., Vision Series Educator/Mentor
… I underestimated the scope of the project and offered to help fund the program… Mentor programming where young dancers/choreographers have direct interaction with slightly more experienced artists as well as very experienced “elders” is the kind of model that can make a real difference for the next generation of artists. I would never support it in this way if I did not have the highest regard for the ability of the director and for the importance of the program’s vision.”
Susan Whipp, Professor, Department of Dance, San Francisco State University
“Vision Series serves such a wide range of dancers and creative people. It is unique to the Bay Area and I have not seen anything of its kind in all of my career. I applaud you for your commitment to the project.”
Frank Shawl, Co-Founder and Director, Shawl-Anderson Dance Center
“The event was excellently organized and professionally presented. It was truly an honor to be involved in such a well run and valuable event for both the participants and audiences alike.”
Midge Kretchmer, Past President, California Dance Education Association
“I do not know of any other program in the state of California that provides this kind of sustaining support for dancers and companies…”
