Founders: Gary Geis, Mark Cummings, Lori Common
Gary Geis Dance Company
Founded in 1999 by Gary Geis, Mark Cummings and Lori Weaver-Common, the Gary Geis Dance Company, or GGDC,
is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) performing company.
Our company consists of a first and second company with apprentices and trainees. Auditions are held each season for both companies. First company is for dancers ages 12 and up, second company is for ages 9 to 12. Performance opportunities include in-studio concerts, concerts at the Clark State Performing Arts Center, Summer Arts Festival, Springfield Symphony Orchestra, Dance for Four concerts and annual school recitals.
Our School and GGDC are separate entities. The school does not financially support the operating costs and expenses of the Gary Geis Dance Company.
GGDC Mission
The Gary Geis Dance Company's mission is to advance the appreciation of the art of dance and to bring focus on excellent dance education and training in the Springfield, Ohio, community. With the wide range of experience that our artistic staff have to offer, our goal is to provide the members of this pre-professional dance company with a highly diverse curriculum, with master classes and performance experiences. By design, this preparation and training will act as a "springboard" into a professional career in a major dance or musical theatre company.
Professional Experiences for our Dancers
Over the past few years, the dancers of the Gary Geis Dance Company have had the privilege of working with professional dance companies including not only master classes, but premiere choreography set on our dancers.
Premiere Choreography and Guest Performances
Leighann Kowalsky - Dance Artist and Director, The D'Amby Project
Thodos Dance Chicago - Melissa Thodos, Artistic Director
Dance Kaleidoscope - David Hochoy, Artistic Director
Springfield Symphony Orchestra - "Rodeo" and "Nutcracker Variations 2018"
Master Classes
Alvin Ailey II
Russian National Ballet
Doug Varone and Dancers
Dance Kaleidoscope
Thodos Dance Chicago
Rhythmic Circus (Tap)
Billy Blanken, Professional Ballet Dancer
J. Ryan Carroll, Fosse Jazz and Broadway
Kristin O'Neal, Modern
Emily Larger, Broadway, Jazz, Musical Theater
