history
Leymis Bolaños Wilmott and Rachael Inman began working together in Florida State University’s graduate program in 2000. Not only did the two share an Arabic heritage, most importantly, they shared a vision to collaborate, create and celebrate through life experiences. They both spent time developing programming for the FSUdanceSARASOTA initiative, and in 2002 Bolaños Wilmott and Inman founded Fuzión Dance, the first professional contemporary dance company in Sarasota. In 2006, they formed Fuzión Dance Artists as a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation. After a decade of establishing its presence under the continued Artistic Direction of Leymis Bolaños Wilmott, Fuzión Dance Artists became Sarasota Contemporary Dance. The organization felt it was time for a change, and under this new name have become a mainstay arts organization in the region.
Sarasota Contemporary Dance (SCD) is recognized for its extraordinary level of high-energy, contemporary dance and collaborative performances. In addition to a variety of community collaborations and performances at local venues, SCD has also been presented at the Alabama Ballet Center for Dance, John F. Kennedy Center, Dennis C. Moss Theater, Merce Cunningham Studio Theatre, and the Ailey Citygroup Theatre. The company presents a combination of works by the Artistic Director and Guest Choreographers such as Gilliane Hadley, Lisa del Rosario, Melissa Cobblah Gutierrez, Tania Vergara Pérez, and Alyson Dolan. Recent collaborations include "SCD+EnSRQ," the expansion of "Jehanne" with composition by Mark Dancigers, and a regional tour of "The Cuban Project" to Miami and Bradenton.
2023-2024 marks the company's 18th season. Additionally, the company offers a variety of physically integrated dance and movement modalities to people in different stages of their lives and abilities, including an established ongoing weekly Dance for Joy class at Parkinson's Place and Aviva.
The company celebrated five years in its state of the art, dance studio and performance venue - located in the Rosemary District of Downtown Sarasota. The company now offers over 20 ongoing weekly classes to the community for all levels and ages and is in its fifth year presenting SCDE, SCD's pre-professional training ensemble.
