Philosophy
Nancy Evans Doede as Mae in Steinbeck’s Women
“[Evans] loves the narrative, and is an artist who enjoys investigating all sides of an issue.”
Over the years, I have learned that I am a nurturer, an explorer of the ‘what if’, and a storyteller. Nancy Evans Dance Theatre is a dance-theatre company. What we do is infused with what moves us as individual artists. It is my pleasure and my privilege to be able to provide a safe environment for dancers to ask questions with all they have to bring to the table — their bodies, their hearts, their convictions, and their souls. Art is a living thing, created by those who discover it. I am inspired every day by what these dancers bring with them. They help direct me as much as I do them. NEDT has come to define what I consider to be the most productive way to work. I look forward to doing more of that work in the future.
- Nancy Evans Doede, Artistic Director
Nancy Evans Dance Theatre is a modern-based company established in 2009 under the Artistic Direction of Nancy Evans Doede. NEDT has produced WORKS 2010-2019, Figures of Speech 2018-2021, and FRIENDS/FAMILY/DANCE/FESTIVAL 2011-2015.5. Nancy Evans Dance Theatre has performed in various festivals, including the 4th-7th Annual Pasadena Dance Festivals, TriArt Festival, MixMatch, Awakenings & Beginnings, ArtNight Pasadena, AdaptFest, ArtBark International’s Show and Tell Series, SpectorDance Choreographer’s Showcase, and has been a guest company at Moorpark College’s Motion Flux concert and Jacksonville Dance Theatre. NEDT is committed to create original works of dance theater that celebrate the value of storytelling by and for every generation; to feature typically underutilized mature artists from 30 to 60 and beyond; to expose new and diverse audiences to the beauty of life experience through traditional and non-traditional movement language; to empower our artists to be co-creators; to make lasting human connections.
Nancy Evans Dance Theatre began as a re-awakening for Nancy Evans Doede. She directed her own company 30 years ago, while also dancing with Nancy Hauser Dance Company in Minneapolis. Her inspiration came from a combination of her study in dance with modern dance pioneer, Hanya Holm, and her theatrical background as one of the original members of now world-renowned Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago. With Nancy Evans Dance Theatre, she blends her passion for dance with that of theatre, as well as creating an environment with her dancers where creative voices are explored and encouraged, resulting in a unique company of artists who not only dance and act, but also choreograph.
TETHERED (2010)
choreography by Nancy Evans Doede
music by Mozart: Adagio from the Piano Sonata in F (K. 280), arranged by Arvo Part
costumes Nancy Evans Doede
6 dancers
AUTOMATA (2017)
choreography by Jenn Logan
music by Hildur Gudnadottir, Rennur Up and Opaque, music editing by Jenn Logan
costumes by Jenn Logan
Minimum of 6 dancers
STEINBECK’S WOMEN (2021)
conceived and choreographed by Nancy Evans Doede
9 sections, Minimum of 5 dancers, 1 Storyteller
ADHERE UNTIL (2012)
choreography by Ashleigh Doede
music by Phillip Glass
4 dancers
VIGIL (2012)
choreography by Nancy Evans Doede
costumes Jenn Logan
6 dancers
THERE BETWEEN (2013)
choreographed by Nikolaos Doede
music Max Richter
3 dancers
EPISODE 8 (2019)
choreographed by Nikolaos Doede
music Nikolaos Doede
4 dancers
REPERTORY HIGHLIGHTS
EVERNESS (1978)
choreography by Nancy Hauser
reconstruction Heidi Hauser Jasmin
music by Frederic Chopin, Heitor Villa-Lobos
5 dancers
ODES (2002)
choreography by Don Martin
reconstruction Nancy Evans Doede
music by Frederic Chopin
3 dancers
HOMAGES (2002)
choreography by Don Martin
reconstruction Nancy Evans Doede
music by Frederic Chopin
3 dancers
LA CASA DE LAS SECAS (2003)
choreography by Don Martin
reconstruction Nancy Evans Doede
music by Heitor Villa-Lobos
5 dancers
DAUGHTERS OF THE EARTH (2018)
choreography by Nancy Evans Doede
costumes Nancy Evans Doede, Katrina Amerine
mask design and construction Jenn Logan
7 sections, Minimum of 7 dancers
SHIFT (2011)
choreography by Nancy Evans Doede
costumes Nancy Evans Doede, Jenn Logan
music by Blake Colie
8 sections, Minimum of 7 dancers
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Nancy Evans Dance Theatre believes its community of artists, staff and board plays a unique role in modeling the humanity in all of us. Because we value dance theatre as a universal language, we strive to create a socially just space reflective of our surrounding community that affirms the values of equity, diversity, and unbiased inclusion through the various roles and responsibilities we have in all our work. We believe that equity is crucial to the long-term viability of both the arts and culture sector and our community as a whole.
True to our mission, NEDT respects all communities with which we work and strive for ongoing reflection on patterns of racism, sexism, heterosexism, cis-sexism, classism, ableism, nativism, ageism, religious, body type and other forms of discrimination and oppression that can negatively affect our artists, volunteers, staff, board, programming participants, and the audiences we serve.
We strive to remove barriers to the making and experience of dance theatre through our open company classes, open auditions, and low or no-cost performance opportunities; and hope to evolve and expand these opportunities as the company matures.