The Downtown Dance Conservatory, planted in the heart of historic downtown Gadsden, Alabama, offers quality classical and contemporary dance education for the primary to pre-professional level dancer. Located in the historic Kyle Building of the Hardin Center, the facility houses four well-equipped studios with an eclectic atmosphere for dancers to learn and develop their skills. With an enrollment of more than 400 dedicated students training on a weekly basis, the Conservatory’s influence also spans throughout the surrounding community with programs such as Downtown Dance Artists’ Ensemble, “Dancing with a Heart of Giving” annual charity effort, dance history projects, and other various outreach programs and exhibitions. Artistic Director, Linze McRae, holds the Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies of the Royal Academy of Dance, graduating in London, England. The Downtown Dance Conservatory is in association with the internationally recognized Royal Academy of Dance, The Alabama Dance Council, and is a full member of the National Guild of Community Schools for the Arts through the Gadsden Community School for the Arts. The Conservatory is dedicated to preserving the art of dance through technique, expression, and innovation, taking pride in its non-competitive atmosphere to increase the sense of dance as a cooperative and connected form of art. Original Neoclassic Works:
Fury Piece, 2007
Muses of Gaia, 2008
Krystallnacht, 2009
Gypsy Allegretto, 2010
Lament/ Romance in G, 2011
Speigel Im Speigel: Mirror In Mirror, 2011
Precious Things, 2012
Venus in Retrograde, 2013
Infra, 2014 & 2020
Relic & Ophelia, 2017
Deadcrush, 2018
Relic & Hemispheres, 2020
Silver Wings of Seraphim, 2015 & 2022 Paris and Barcelona
Full-Length Original Productions:
A Celebration of Eden, 2002
One Midsummer’s Eve, 2005
Legend of Evenstar, 2006
Tales from Wonderland: The Hidden Chapters, 2007
Waking Beauty, 2008
Cathedrals of Winter, 2008 & 2013
Return of Spring, 2009
Vasilisa & The Ballet Suites, 2009
Prudence in Pepperland, 2010
Corbeau, 2009 & 2011
Return to the Secret Garden, 2011
Le Casse Noix Moderne: The Nutcracker, Gadsden & New York City, 2010 & 2011
Noccalula’s Fall, 2012
Echoes in the Amphitheatre, 2013
The Glass Slipper, 2013
Venus in Retrograde, London & Paris 2013
Cathedrals of Winter, 2014
Alice's Return to Wonderland, 2014
Princess of the Highlands, 2015
Swan Lake, 2016
Zelda: An American Muse, 2017
Frida!, 2018
Sisters Grimm & the Five Realms, 2019
Noccalula's Fall Returns, 2020
Prudence Returns to Pepperland, 2021
The Sleeping Beauty, 2022
The Nutcracker Princess, 2015 - Present
DDC Travels Abroad:
London & Paris, 2014: Covenant Garden Actor's Church, Chartres Fine Arts School, & Parc de Champ du Mars
Scotland, 2016: Sterling Castle, Fyfe Fine Arts Center, & Greyfriar's Kirk
Italy, 2018: Uffizi Art Gallery & Frascati Women's Festival
Paris & Barcelona, Spain, 2022: Museo de Maritim of Barcelona & Nelson Mandela Gardens
Collaborations:
West Side Story, Jacksonville State University, 2003
The Frog & The Well, Artists without Borders, 2005
Corbeau, Etowah Youth Orchestras, 2009 & 2011
Christmas Eve/Sarajevo, Etowah Youth Orchestras 2008
Le Casse Noix Moderne, Etowah Youth Orchestras, 2010 & 2011
Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker, 2011 & 2012
Gounod's Romeo et Juliette, Jacksonville Opera Theatre, 2012
Sousa's Stars & Stripes, Gadsden Symphony Orchestra, 2013
Demeter's Folly, Sanspointe Dance Company, Film, 2014
Variations from The Nutcracker Suite, Gadsden Symphony Orchestra, 2019
