Background
The DWDP mission is to present outstanding classical and contemporary dance and to nourish the cultural foundation of the regional community and ensure a rich dance legacy for Colorado children and adults. DWDP accomplishes this goal through: (1) the creation and presentation of dance performances representing the highest standards in dance quality and innovation; (2) educational programs and technical instruction for students; and (3) community outreach programs that bring opportunities to participate in dance to underserved populations.

History
Dawson|Wallace Dance Project (DWDP), formerly David Taylor Dance Theatre, was founded in 1979 by choreographer David Taylor and is Colorado’s original professional contemporary ballet company. DTDT possesses a distinguished record of performances in Colorado and the region showcasing a dramatic, original, and innovative repertoire that reaches 10,000+ people each year. DTDT has a 31-year history of increasingly diverse and dynamic productions. New works are introduced annually and DTDT’s acclaimed productions of Rainforest and The Nutcracker remain popular. In 1997, DTDT was the proud recipient of the Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts and is considered one of Denver's 25 largest cultural institutions. The Denver Post has lauded DTDT as "...the most intriguing of all Colorado dance companies..." David Taylor Dance Theatre has served as a roster artist for the regional Western States Arts Foundation Tour Guide, and locally with Young Audiences, the Colorado Council on the Arts “Artist-in-Residence” Program, Think360, the Crossover Project, ArtReach, Denver Ballet Guild, and the Colorado Artists’ Showcase. Our strong focus on children and families brings dance to audiences of all socio-economic situations while providing opportunities for exploring dance as a career.

Programs of DWDP
"The stage was filled with powerful performers, exquisite of line, drilled to near perfection and quite comfortable with even the most extraordinarily demanding piece." — Marc Shulgold, The Denver Rocky Mountain News There are many needs that we strongly believe the arts helps to meet in the community. In addition to building community through arts, offering quality activities for youth during non-school hours, and community outreach to all populations including those who have little or no access to the arts, we believe there is a strong need to augment artistic offerings in the community so all people can enhance their human experience, enrich their lives, and expand their mental and cognitive skills. In addition to our ongoing programs, we provide apprenticeships so children and teens may perform in Nutcracker for themselves – a fabulous opportunity to really experience what it is like to perform publicly in a "real-life" dance production. Programming may be divided into two categories: (1) performances; and (2) education – both of which contain a community outreach component:

• Performances
  The DWDP performance season includes the creation of highly successful multi-media, collaborative works and numerous organizational partnerships; the presentation of works to metro area audiences by nationally and internationally acclaimed choreographers; the growth of the DWDP Community Outreach Programs, which include many annual free or low cost performances for the general public, on-site school performances and workshops that reach 5,500+ metro area children each year, along with extended long-term residencies and arts integration projects.
• Education
  Educational and community service programs are central to the DWDP mission and include ongoing residencies at several local elementary schools and on-site performances at approximately 30+ other local schools per year. Touring also brings artistically excellent dance programs, educational outreach, and technical instruction to many rural communities each year. Through these and other interactive, service-oriented initiatives, DWDP presents ballet as a living, evolving art form, continually growing to reflect and respond to new needs and opportunities.

In 2010, DWDP reached 10,251 people through 97 activities, 5,530 of which were children and teens. We also served 26 area schools through on site performances. The company typically presents three on-site performance programs at metro area elementary schools and the selection varies from year to year: (1) The Nutcracker In A Nutshell which is a distilled version of the full-length production intended for youth; (2) A World of Dance which celebrates our cultural differences; and (3) A Children’s Rainforest Odyssey which teaches children about the ecological value of the rainforest. In addition, DWDP presents dance workshops and master classes through area recreation centers, area dance studios, and at elementary schools throughout the metro area. DWDP receives additional school performance and workshop engagements through Young Audiences, ArtReach, and the Denver Ballet Guild. DWDP is sponsored annually by the Lakewood Cultural Center in presenting six to eight performances of The Nutcracker In A Nutshell to area school children. Overall in 2010, DWDP reached more than 16,260 people through 130 programs, performances, and activities – thus enriching the cultural community of Denver by providing high quality dance to adults and children, and offering a valuable service to aspiring and professional dancers to develop their skills and talents and to help bring these talents to the public.