Jazz Spectrum Dance Company
Founded in 1982 by jazz dance luminary Christine Baltes (1951–2018), Jazz Spectrum Dance Company (JSDC) is a dynamic ensemble dedicated to the celebration, preservation, and evolution of jazz dance. With a foundation rooted in classical technique, JSDC combines style, precision, sound methodology, and expressive artistry to create performances that are powerful and deeply moving.
Throughout its decades of performance, JSDC has held acclaimed concerts across the United States and has toured nationally and internationally. The company has been featured at numerous festivals, including LA Dance Invitational, Jazz Dance World Congress, Arts in Tank Dance Festival Korea, Jazz Dance LA, Pushfest Global, and many more. Known for its technical mastery, the company also embodies a “sensuous side” and performs with “great clarity” and an “abandon only the most accomplished can render,” as lauded by the LA Dance Chronicle. Inspired by the profound connection between the human body and music, JSDC explores how movement can serve as a seamless extension of musical expression.
Rooted deeply in classical technique, JSDC embraces a philosophy articulated by founder Christine Baltes: “We find freedom in the form.” This approach is raw, sensual, and profoundly human—radiating a sense of universal, gender-free movement. The company’s work harks to the ethos of jazz music—breaking traditional boundaries, embracing improvisation, and pushing the limits of the body, all while maintaining a purity of technique and a deep respect for form.
Ms. Baltes’s legacy lives on through public classes, performances, and educational outreach led by current Artistic Director Janell Burgess. Her pioneering choreographic art has built a foundational technique essential for the training of dancers today and crucial to the historical legacy of jazz dance.
JSDC’s work is inspired by a love for innovation, diversity, and heritage. Its performances not only captivate audiences worldwide but also serve as a platform to empower others by honoring the rich history of jazz dance and exploring new realms of contemporary artistic expression.
At its core, JSDC embodies storytelling through movement—blending strength, vulnerability, and artistic freedom—affirming that dance is a universal language that transcends limitations and unites us all.
