BRUCE WOOD DANCE CO INC

Nationally acclaimed Bruce Wood Dance Dallas (BWDD) is a contemporary dance company with the mission to present high-caliber, contemporary choreography that harnesses the power of dance to entertain, enrich, and heal. Hailed as Dallas’s “shining star” by Arts and Culture Texas, BWDD was founded in 2010 by the late award-winning Texan choreographer Bruce Wood (1960-2014), whose dance career spanned 35 years of performance and choreography worldwide and whose works form the backbone of BWDD's repertory. Former company member and current Artistic Director/Resident Choreographer Joy Bollinger, named one of the “78 Women Who Make Dallas Great” by D Magazine, leads the company of 15 dancers. Recognized as Best Dance Company by D Magazine six times since 2013, BWDD offers programming described as “emotionally charged and highly kinetic” (Art&Seek.org), including major productions in the Dallas Arts District annually, as well as other Dallas performances, touring activities across the US, masterclasses and intensives for pre-professionals, and outreach/engagement initiatives. Built on Wood’s prolific choreography, the repertoire features innovative works including 35 commissions by acclaimed choreographers like Omar Román De Jesús, Norbert De La Cruz III, and Yin Yue, and masterworks by legendary artists like Lar Lubovitch, Jiří Kylián, and Twyla Tharp. BWDD collaborates with artists from diverse backgrounds, creating programming that addresses critical themes such as racism, inclusion, social injustice, grief, and joy. We collaborate with many organizations, including Crow Museum of Asian Art, TITAS/DANCE UNBOUND, Jin-Ya Huang, Grupo Pakal, Anita N. Martinez Ballet Folklorico, Mariachi Santa Cecilia, Business Council for the Arts, Attorneys for the Community, SMU Hunt Institute for Engineering and Humanity, Lumedia Musicworks, Verdigris Music Ensemble, Uptown Players, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and others.

In 2024, we changed our name to Bruce Wood Dance Dallas to deepen our commitment to contribute to the Dallas arts landscape and bring more attention to Dallas as we tour.

Touring activities include inspiring programs such as movement classes, lecture demonstrations, films, repertory workshops, and performances for audiences of all ages and sizes. A member of the Texas Commission on the Arts Touring Roster since 2016, BWDD has performed across the US in esteemed events like Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Joyce Theater’s American Dance Platform, Palm Desert Choreography Festival, Battery Dance Festival, Works & Process at the Guggenheim, and more.

BWDD expands dance access to underserved Dallas residents through free movement classes annually and hundreds of complimentary show tickets in collaboration with many Dallas-based nonprofit social services including Vet Tix (veterans/military), Resource Center (LGBTQIA+), Nexus Family Recovery Center (women’s addiction recovery), Mosaic House (abuse survivors), local dance schools, and more. In spring 2025, we launched an ongoing partnership with Dallas ISD to offer free dance classes to Dallas middle schoolers and high schoolers in several schools across our city. Additionally, BWDD offers many educational opportunities such as open company class, multi-week dance intensives, masterclasses, and pop-up classes, for pre-professional dancers in our region and beyond. In recent years, we have performed at many free and low-cost community events, including the City of Dallas Valentine's 214 | Show Love for Dallas, the Changing Perspectives Block Party, and the Dallas Arts District Pride Block Party.

We are funded by individuals, foundations, corporations, and government entities including National Endowment for the Arts, Texas Commission on the Arts, Heritage Auctions, City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture, Dallas Tourism Public Improvement District, Communities of Foundation of Texas, TACA, and many more.

Bruce Wood Dance Capacity, Strategic Planning, and Sustainability

Bruce Wood Dance Dallas (BWDD) is led by a dedicated and impassioned staff: Executive Director Gayle Halperin, Artistic Director Joy Bollinger, three administrators with extensive experience, a veteran rehearsal director, and a company of 13 dancers and two apprentices of exceptional caliber. Our Board of Directors (BOD) is dynamic, responsive, dedicated to our mission, and committed to ensuring the success and longevity of the organization. Our BOD holds a biennial retreat to strengthen and accelerate the growth of the company. We assess the current state of the organization, identify the highest priorities for impact, recommend strategies for further strengthening the organization, and establish milestones to ensure progress. BOD Committees include Executive, Governance, Strategic Planning, Nominating/Onboarding, Development/Finance, Marketing, and Education. Staff and BOD meet regularly throughout each year to stabilize, strengthen, and accelerate the growth of the company. We contract 30-40 key individuals known for their artistic/technical excellence in dance and theater for production, videography, and branding. Responsible stewardship has allowed BWDD to fulfill its mission, continue to serve the community, and increase our operating budget. From 2024 to 2025, our budget grew by 11%. We also have two dancer liaisons who meet weekly with staff to ensure that our company members feel supported in a safe and healthy workplace. In 2025, we began offsetting dancer and staff health insurance costs through QSEHRA, and in 2025-2026, our goal is to offer complete healthcare insurance to our dancers and staff.