Saint Louis Dance Theatre Emerges as the New Face of Innovative Dance in the Gateway City
Formerly The Big Muddy Dance Company, the Company Rebrands to Connect St. Louis' Cultural Legacy to Breathtaking Performances
St. Louis, Mo. (May 15, 2024) – The stage is set for a dynamic new chapter in St. Louis dance! In a thrilling reveal at the May 15th St. Louis City SC game, The Big Muddy Dance Company unveiled its bold new identity as Saint Louis Dance Theatre. The name change ignites a renewed energy while honoring the city's pioneering spirit and rich artistic tapestry.
"For too long, St. Louis's dynamic cultural heritage has remained in the shadows of other major cities. With Saint Louis Dance Theatre, we are proudly stepping into the spotlight as ambassadors of our city's narrative through the powerful medium of dance," said Erin Warner Prange, Executive Director.
The rebrand announcement came alongside a captivating video showcasing the heart of St. Louis through the eyes of the dancers. The May 15th debut kicked off the company's celebratory weekend, which includes the debut of the new brand at each performance of its 2023-2024 season’s capstone production "Identity." This spring concert celebrates the innovative voices shaping contemporary dance with boundary-pushing works from trailblazing multidisciplinary artists like 2021 Guggenheim Fellow Tommie-Waheed Evans and 2022 Princess Grace Award winner Omar Román De Jesús.
"Our dancers are the embodiment of this city's spirit - its grit, grace, and relentless drive to push boundaries," explained Kirven Douthit-Boyd, Artistic Director of Saint Louis Dance Theatre. “We channel the raw energy and passion that runs through St. Louis' veins.”
This fall, Saint Louis Dance Theatre introduces its inaugural (RE)Imagine 2024-2025 season, a bold redefinition of its mission as the company embraces its new brand, signifying global artistry, closer audience engagement, and a renewed commitment to diversity and artistic excellence. This rebrand isn't just a new chapter for us—it's a promise to ignite a shared passion for the arts within our community, making every performance with Saint Louis Dance Theatre an opportunity to define our city as a hub for dance.
Moving forward, the pillars of our mission are:
(RE)Claim our identity through the lenses of creative justice and artistic excellence
(RE)Build our brand, centering multiplicity and honoring our promise to be a safe space
for bold artistic voices from diverse backgrounds.
(RE)Fine our vision and goals to inspire longstanding and new patrons.
"St. Louis has always been a city of explorers, innovators and visionaries," added Douthit- Boyd. "With our new name, revised mission, and bold artistic direction, we are staking that claim once again and inviting St. Louisans to take pride in the Gateway City's extraordinary cultural heritage."