About New Jersey’s Premier Dance Company
Since its inception, the VRDC has thrilled audiences in Cumberland County, South Jersey and the Northeastern United States with powerful performances and breakthrough choreography delivered by a dynamic group of talented dancers.
Since its inception in 1980 the VRDC has thrilled audiences in Cumberland County, South Jersey and the Northeastern United States with powerful performances and breakthrough choreography. This dynamic group of talented dancers has awed audiences with its professional approach to contemporary and traditional forms of dance. They have tackled subject matter and explored the many layers of dance: ballet, modern, jazz, lyrical and ethnic with discipline and passion, much to the delight of the audiences who have been fortunate to watch their vision unfold on stage.
A non-profit, 501 (c) 3 New Jersey Corporation, the VRDC is a member of the South Jersey Cultural Alliance (SJCA) and an “honor member” of the Regional Dance America/Northeast (RDA/NE) since 1980, and has served as a proving ground for its members who have learned from their performance experiences and have taken their knowledge to the cultural world as professional dancers, televisions producers, stage managers, choreographers, and master dance teachers.
In 2006 the VRDC was recognized by the Vineland City Council and Mayor Perry Barse with a Commending Resolution for their invaluable contributions to the arts community. They also received from the Greater Vineland Chamber of Commerce in 1992 the “Pride in Vineland” Award. Each year since its inception the VRDC has received a grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts through the Board of Chosen Freeholders made available by the Cumberland County Cultural & Heritage Commission.
The VRDC has a belief in the value of dance in all forms, styles and disciplines. The VRDC is committed to both the dancers and the sponsoring community. To our dancers, we provide quality professional training, choreography, dance education, stage performances and career opportunities. To the sponsoring community, the VRDC introduces unique expressions of dance and provides high quality caliber performances. The VRDC inspires audiences and forces them to notice that dance does enhance the quality of life and stimulate economical growth and vitality. Their contemporary, modern, jazz and classical styles challenge the elements of space and time. The VRDC is dedicated to artistic excellence and supports the creative process in dance. It is committed to making dance available to everyone, and has a deep-rooted belief that homegrown talent is the best way to bring New Jersey to the forefront of the dance world.
Commitment
The VRDC’s Board of Directors share a creative vision and financial commitment to the dancers in order to provide Southern New Jersey an enlightening cultural experience through dance. In this respect, the VRDC and its Board of Directors have a cyclical relationship. The dancers provide the talent and sweat equity while the Board toils to attain the financial commitment behind the schemes that provides choreographers, master teachers, costumes, and performance theaters. These individual components are intertwined, orchestrating a stellar performance,
Artistic Vision
The diversified Board of Directors from our tri-state area and its Artistic Directors see dance as a visual interpretation of music. Dance is the only art form wherein the human body is the art. It is the loftiest, the most moving, and the most beautiful of the arts because it is a means of communication. Dance is a balance between perfection and freedom. Because of this strong belief in what dance can do, we stress human values in our dance and explore contemporary themes as well as preserve the classics.
Maxine Chapman
Founder / Director Emeritus
Maxine has been teaching and choreographing since 1971. She studied at the renown Wayburn School of Dance and has choreographed the full-length productions of “The Sleeping Beauty”, “Coppelia”, and the “Nutcracker Ballet”. She is the recipient of a New Jersey State Council On The Arts Choreographic Fellowship. She was honored with a proclamaition from Sentator Nicholas Asselta for her artistry for 25 years as the choreographer of the VRDC’s Nutcracker Ballet. She served as President of RDA/NE from 1987-1195, 1998-2001, and was re-elected in 2007. She also received the Paul Aiken Award in 2006 from the SJCA.
Kimberly Chapman
Artistic Director
Is a graduate of Juilliard, and danced professionally with the Eliot Feld Ballet. She received two choreographic scholarships to Jacob’s Pillow in 1985 and 1986, received the Monticello Choreographic Award in 1987 and was the recipient of the Princess Grace Foundation-USA Dance Scholarship in 1987. She was on the dance faculty at University of Nevada at Las Vegas from 1996-1998, and was the ballet mistress at the Cincinatti Ballet form 1998-2003. A seasoned choreographer, Kimberly has choreographed over 40 ballets on regional and professional companies throughout the United States.
Since its inception in 1980 the VRDC has thrilled audiences in Cumberland County, South Jersey and the Northeastern United States with powerful performances and breakthrough choreography. This dynamic group of talented dancers has awed audiences with its professional approach to contemporary and traditional forms of dance. They have tackled subject matter and explored the many layers of dance: ballet, modern, jazz, lyrical and ethnic with discipline and passion, much to the delight of the audiences who have been fortunate to watch their vision unfold on stage.
A non-profit, 501 (c) 3 New Jersey Corporation, the VRDC is a member of the South Jersey Cultural Alliance (SJCA) and an “honor member” of the Regional Dance America/Northeast (RDA/NE) since 1980, and has served as a proving ground for its members who have learned from their performance experiences and have taken their knowledge to the cultural world as professional dancers, televisions producers, stage managers, choreographers, and master dance teachers.
In 2006 the VRDC was recognized by the Vineland City Council and Mayor Perry Barse with a Commending Resolution for their invaluable contributions to the arts community. They also received from the Greater Vineland Chamber of Commerce in 1992 the “Pride in Vineland” Award. Each year since its inception the VRDC has received a grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts through the Board of Chosen Freeholders made available by the Cumberland County Cultural & Heritage Commission.
The VRDC has a belief in the value of dance in all forms, styles and disciplines. The VRDC is committed to both the dancers and the sponsoring community. To our dancers, we provide quality professional training, choreography, dance education, stage performances and career opportunities. To the sponsoring community, the VRDC introduces unique expressions of dance and provides high quality caliber performances. The VRDC inspires audiences and forces them to notice that dance does enhance the quality of life and stimulate economical growth and vitality. Their contemporary, modern, jazz and classical styles challenge the elements of space and time. The VRDC is dedicated to artistic excellence and supports the creative process in dance. It is committed to making dance available to everyone, and has a deep-rooted belief that homegrown talent is the best way to bring New Jersey to the forefront of the dance world.
Commitment
The VRDC’s Board of Directors share a creative vision and financial commitment to the dancers in order to provide Southern New Jersey an enlightening cultural experience through dance. In this respect, the VRDC and its Board of Directors have a cyclical relationship. The dancers provide the talent and sweat equity while the Board toils to attain the financial commitment behind the schemes that provides choreographers, master teachers, costumes, and performance theaters. These individual components are intertwined, orchestrating a stellar performance,
Artistic Vision
The diversified Board of Directors from our tri-state area and its Artistic Directors see dance as a visual interpretation of music. Dance is the only art form wherein the human body is the art. It is the loftiest, the most moving, and the most beautiful of the arts because it is a means of communication. Dance is a balance between perfection and freedom. Because of this strong belief in what dance can do, we stress human values in our dance and explore contemporary themes as well as preserve the classics.
Maxine Chapman
Founder / Director Emeritus
Maxine has been teaching and choreographing since 1971. She studied at the renown Wayburn School of Dance and has choreographed the full-length productions of “The Sleeping Beauty”, “Coppelia”, and the “Nutcracker Ballet”. She is the recipient of a New Jersey State Council On The Arts Choreographic Fellowship. She was honored with a proclamaition from Sentator Nicholas Asselta for her artistry for 25 years as the choreographer of the VRDC’s Nutcracker Ballet. She served as President of RDA/NE from 1987-1195, 1998-2001, and was re-elected in 2007. She also received the Paul Aiken Award in 2006 from the SJCA.
Kimberly Chapman
Artistic Director
Is a graduate of Juilliard, and danced professionally with the Eliot Feld Ballet. She received two choreographic scholarships to Jacob’s Pillow in 1985 and 1986, received the Monticello Choreographic Award in 1987 and was the recipient of the Princess Grace Foundation-USA Dance Scholarship in 1987. She was on the dance faculty at University of Nevada at Las Vegas from 1996-1998, and was the ballet mistress at the Cincinatti Ballet form 1998-2003. A seasoned choreographer, Kimberly has choreographed over 40 ballets on regional and professional companies throughout the United States.