Your Gift at Work

Fundraising accounts for 34% of DJD's operating revenues. On average, tickets sales cover just 40% of the true cost of mounting a DJD production. We typically create two new works every year and incorporate live music whenever possible. 

Thanks to our individual, corporate, foundation and government funders, DJD has:

• Created 42 full-length works. 
• Performed our interactive touring show Live & in Sync for over 32,700 children in 104 elementary schools since 2001.
• Enabled hundreds of children from low-income families to receive bursaries to participate in a Summer Camp or regular class at the School of Decidedly Jazz since 1997.
• Provided intensive training through full and partial scholarships for over 44 talented young dancers in our Pre-Professional Program. 

Transforming Lives...One Student at a Time!

DJD was delighted to partner with the Kids Up Front Foundation to enable children from low-income families to attend our January 2006 show, Pulse. One of the many thank you letters we received was from Spectrum Youth & Family Service Association: "Welcoming [our kids] to Pulse is more than getting them off the street or away from the televsion. It's their first experience of losing themselves in a world of rhythm and dance, of sharing the energy of an audience, of seeing that creativity is limitless and valuable. AND - not only was it a great show, but the dancers were so strong and healthy and vibrant, demonstrating the beauty of every body type and not deifying some weird, anorexic shape."

In 2004, DJD conducted a residency for the students at Cecil Swanson Elementary that focused on jazz history and also integrated math curriculum. A grade 5/6 class was assigned to explore dances from the 1930’s and 40’s swing era. The dance they learned was the Jitterbug Stroll, a relatively simple pattern dance but a good challenge for this class as most of the students had little dance experience. DJD Company member Sarisa helped the students learn the dance by having them sing the specific rhythms of each pattern. As the class practiced their dance on the final day, a teacher who was watching came up to the DJD instructors and pointed out a student who was dancing quite well. She explained that the young boy was mentally challenged and couldn’t spell his name, yet remarkably he could do the Jitterbug Stroll. Dance clearly touched his soul and spoke volumes!

To make a secure donation online please visit CanadaHelps.org.
Or download a pledge form that can be mailed or faxed to DJD.

For more information, or to make a gift, please email Kathi Sundstrom, General Manager or phone 403-228-8178.

Decidedly Jazz is a registered charity (#11888 3545 RR0001).