“Savage Jazz doesn’t do jazz dance, we do dances to jazz music!”

SAVAGE JAZZ DANCE COMPANY is dedicated to exploring through dance the beauty and complexity of jazz music -the authentic American form.  “.it may be the most layered, sophisticated concert jazz dance company in these Western climes,” said K.C Patrick of Dance Magazine. “The ultimate step for jazz fans for the person who likes both jazz and dance, Savage Jazz Dance Company is the best news in a long time,” William Glackin, Sacramento Bee, “the company seems to add a different dimension to the basic experience of dance, which is the pleasure and excitement created when music is made visible in dancers.”

Founded in 1992 by Artistic Director, Reginald Ray-Savage, Savage Jazz Dance Company is a convergence of artistic forces, where the energy, improvisation, and syncopation of jazz is expressed through athletic, lyrical, and explosive dance. The only all-jazz concert dance company in Northern California (and one of the few in the US!), Savage Jazz’s repertory includes works to the music of such jazz legends as Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Dave Brubeck, and Charles Mingus, as well as some of the country’s best contemporary jazz composers, including long time collaborator and award-winning jazz bassist, Marcus Shelby.

Savage Jazz Dance Company combines the fundamental movement vocabulary of contemporary dance, jazz dance, Dunham technique, and ballet to draw out the complexity of jazz music. This mixing of styles perfectly echoes the fusion of cultural influences, individual improvised expression, and classical technique that make up jazz music. Savage Jazz Dance Company and its Artistic Director, Reginald Ray-Savage have been awarded numerous grants and awards for its original and innovative blending of dance and jazz music. Some of these awards include a Creative Works Fund grant (2000) from the Haas Family Fund and a recently awarded three-year Meet The Composer residency to work with Marcus Shelby (2001-2003). In 1998, Savage Jazz’s exploration of jazz music added a new dimension when it began to perform with live jazz accompaniment. Using live music has allowed Savage Jazz to stay true to the spontaneous nature of jazz. Savage Jazz’s highly-trained dancers respond to the music in the moment within the framework of the choreography. The dancers and musicians perform with the same sensibilities, reflecting the myriad of moods and styles of jazz music. Among the jazz groups with which Savage Jazz has performed are the Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra and the Marcus Shelby Trio.

Savage Jazz currently performs two regular home seasons in Oakland and San Francisco. The company also offers touring shows and residency and educational programs throughout the year.