Compton Dance Theatre Foundation: Home
MISSION STATEMENT
Compton Dance Theatre Foundation is a non-profit organization that is comprised of a training program and a professional performing company. Its mission is to provide professional training in classical, contemporary, and cultural dance forms to youths that are between the ages of 5-18 years old.
The professional company provides a venue for continued artistic development and employment opportunities in instruction and performance for professional artists that reside within Los Angeles County.
ORGANIZATION HISTORY
Carol Bristol-Henry founded Compton Dance Theatre Foundation while working as a dance instructor for the Compton Unified School District. The organization was an outgrowth of what Mrs. Bristol-Henry identified as an obvious need to create after-school and summer recess dance programming to serve as a positive and creative alternative activity for “at risk” youths in the City of Compton.
For the past 5 years, Compton Dance Theatre Foundation has provided quality instruction with guest instructors and choreographers from around the country presenting professional dance concerts to hundreds of young people throughout Los Angeles County. Our dancers have been invited to perform for the “Legislative Black Caucus” and Tavis Smiley’s “Road to Health Conference”.
DESCRIPTION OF DANCE PROGRAM
The following dance classes concentrate on professional technical training. The in-class instructional hours cover performance studies for beginner, intermediate, and advanced level dancers. These classes also emphasize learning that (generally) culminates in a performance featuring choreography by Mrs. Bristol-Henry.
Dance Genres – Ballet (Vaganova), Modern (Horton), Choreography Workshop (Guest Repertoire), West African, Caribbean Folk and Salsa / Merengue
Division I – Ages 5-7
Division II – Ages 8-12
Division III – Ages 13-18
SPONSOR RECOGNITION
Our program is made possible through the financial support of the following sponsors and partnerships.
CORPORATE: Harold & Stephanie Bronson of the Liberty Hill Foundation, Care 1st Health Plan, City of Compton, City of Los Angeles - Department of Cultural Affairs, Compton Fashion Center, Home Depot - Paramount, Jet Blue Airways, Los Angeles County Arts Commission, and Target (Compton Store).
PRIVATE: Clarence Bristol, Adrian Henry, and Nicole Factory.
PARTNERSHIPS: American Ballet Theatre in conjunction with the Music Center, City of Compton, and West Los Angeles College - Dance Department