Who We Are & What We Do
Mission
The mission of DASSdance is to explore the human condition through an All-Terrain approach to dance theater that engages a diverse contemporary community.​
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Offer professional level dance training to the under-served and the greater Seattle area.
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Produce inclusive programming that showcases diverse artistic voices to inspire a more conscience community.
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Consistently compensate our professional dancers for their time spent rehearsing and performing.
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Partner with peer non-profits that make dance a catalyst for positive change in our daily lives.
History Of DASSdance
Artistic Director/Choreographer Daniel Wilkins formed DASSdance in 1996 after seeing a need for daring and innovative movement in the dance community. Incorporated with the State of New York as a 501 (c)(3) in 2000, DASSdance took up residency at Diane von Furstenberg-The Theater and created a sensation in the fashion industry.
DASSdance has appeared in several publications such as Fashion Wire Daily, Flaunt, Paper Magazine, Art News, W Magazine, New York Magazine, as well as The Seattle Times, The Daily, and the New York Times radio WQXR. DASSdance has collaborated with Diane von Furstenberg, (DVF.com) on costume creation and enlisted the talent of visual artists, sound artists, and lighting directors on eleven full-length works to date as well as numerous works for festivals and showcases. Other colaborators include award winning Technical Director and Lighting Designer, Jeff Sugg, (JeffSugg.com) and Museum of Modern Art collected artist, Lyle Starr, (MoMA).
DASS has also been presented by festivals in New York and Washington State, including DanceNow Festival (New York, 2004), d.u.m.b.o. Dance Festival (New York, 2006), Move! Festival (Tacoma, 2006, 2007), On the Boards 12 Minutes Max (Seattle, 2006, 2008), the Lynnwood Family Multicultural Festival (Lynnwood, 2007). Winterfest (Seattle Center, 2008), Seattle Weekly's Artopia (Seattle, 2008), Chop Shop Festival (Bellevue, 2008), Big Bang (Velocity Dance Center, Seattle, 2009), Seattle International Festival (2009), Siteworks (Museum of Glass, Tacoma, 2009), and Bumbershoot (Seattle, 2009), South Seattle Arts Festival (2010), Boost Dance Festival (Seattle 2011) and was featured in Seattle Gilbert and Sullivan Society's production of HMS Pinafore.
In 2004, DASS transitioned into a bi-coastal company with primary residence in Seattle. The company has performed works at the Bagley Wright Theatre in the Seattle Center, Edmonds Center for the Arts, Velocity, Washington Hall, Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center among others. DASS officially became a Washington State charitable organization in 2007.
DASS has donated proceeds and partnered with Real Change, Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, Read Across America, Seattle Race Initiative, Washington Hall, Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center and the Seattle Housing Authority.
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DASSdance is now celebrating 10 years of programming focused on serving the Teens and Youth of the Greater Seattle area and Washington State. Santa Breakfast Mini Nutcracker has been a beloved tradition that brings together families to enjoy holiday music, a continental breakfast, see a wonderful performance of the Nutcracker as well as meet Santa and the Nutcracker characters.
All 4 1 dancepalooza also in its 10th year, assembles hundreds of amazing young dancers from diverse communities across Western Washington.
Along with our Spring Shows such as Alice in Wonderland and summer camps and intensives, DASSdance offers year round opportunities for dancers from toddlers exploring dance for the first time to the dynamic professionals of DASSdance Co. as well as an enthusiastic community of art patrons.