Margaret Jenkins Dance Company

The Margaret Jenkins Dance Company (MJDC) is a prominent dance institution based in San Francisco, renowned for its significant contributions to the world of contemporary dance. Founded in 1973 by choreographer, teacher, and mentor Margaret Jenkins, the company commemorates its 50th anniversary in 2023, marking half a century of influential presence in the dance community both locally and internationally. With its inception, MJDC quickly established itself as a hub for innovation and creativity, providing a platform for both emerging and established artists to experiment and present their work. The company's founder, Margaret Jenkins, began her dance training in San Francisco before moving to New York to study at Juilliard and later at UCLA. Her career included performing with several notable dance companies and teaching at the Merce Cunningham Studio, where she also restaged Cunningham's works for European and American companies. Upon returning to San Francisco in 1970, Jenkins formed MJDC and opened one of the West Coast's first studio-performing spaces, which became a central venue for the dance community. The company has been instrumental in revitalizing the West Coast as a major center for dance, offering training for professional modern dancers and a space for artistic expression. Over the years, Jenkins has created an impressive repertoire, with over 90 works for her company, as well as commissions for national and international arts presenters and cultural institutions. Her choreographic work has been recognized with numerous awards, including a Guggenheim Fellowship, an Irvine Fellowship in Dance, and multiple Isadora Duncan Awards. MJDC is characterized by its collaborative approach, working closely with dancer/collaborators, writers, composers, and visual designers to produce art that challenges and provokes deeper inquiry. The company has been involved in cross-cultural collaborations with international artists and has developed multi-disciplinary works that integrate various art forms. The company's commitment to the transformative power of dance is evident through its outreach and mentorship programs such as CHIME (Choreographers in Mentorship Exchange) and Encounters Over 60, which foster creative exchange and dialogue within the dance community. MJDC also launched the National Dance Lab (NDL) and has been involved in the formation of Choreographers in Action (CIA) and the Center for Creative Research (CCR), initiatives aimed at supporting artistic research and addressing issues faced by working artists. The Margaret Jenkins Dance Company's activities are supported by a variety of foundations and individual donors, reflecting the community's recognition of its artistic and cultural significance. As MJDC celebrates its 50th anniversary, it continues to be a driving force in the dance world, dedicated to the evolution of the artistic process and the enrichment of the cultural landscape.