Leadership

Jennifer Sydor, Artistic Director

“Ever since I was a young girl growing up in Dayton, I had dreamt of more collaboration between the beautiful artists of Dayton Ballet and Dayton Contemporary Dance Company.  In 2020, after dancing, teaching and choreographing in NYC for 17 years, my family and I relocated back to Dayton.  I was thrilled to learn about Dayton Dance Initiative and the positive impact it has made on the community and beyond.  I am grateful that our founder Josie, had the foresight to know what our city artistically craves.  Dayton Dance Initiative is an authentic embodiment of community, collaboration and creativity that has the ability to transform.  I feel honored to be at the helm and inspired to continue to nurture the artist led mission of Dayton Dance Initiative.”

-Jennifer Sydor, Artistic Director

www.jennifersydor.com

KC Lyphout, Company Manager

KC was first welcomed into the DDI family in 2022 as an administrative intern, choreographer, and dancer. In 2024, she took on the role of Company Manager while continuing to perform and create with the company. In addition to her work with DDI, KC was a resident company member with Mutual Dance Theatre from 2023-2024. Originally from Toledo, Ohio, she began her formal dance training at the age of 12 at Toledo School for the Arts. Upon receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Wright State University in 2021, KC joined Dayton Contemporary Dance Company 2 as a dance artist for the 2021-2022 season.  She has been commissioned by Dayton Dance Initiative, Wasatch Contemporary Dance Company, Suttle Dance Detroit, Ted-X Dayton, Toledo School for the Arts, Sarasota Contemporary Dance's Rising Choreographer program, and Finch Theatrics. She currently resides in Chicago, Illinois.

Jocelyn Watson, Founder

"My hope for Dayton Dance Initiative is that we can give a platform to the artists who crave that freedom to step out of line and into their creative spotlight. We are a group of artists in transition, crossing back and forth between the realms of dancer and choreographer. We are expanding the possibilities of what we as artists can do and how we as a community, can experience dance together. We are using the wisdom we’ve accumulated and gaining new insights along the way. We are...Making Moves. I can’t wait for you to come along this journey with us."

-Jocelyn Watson