History & Mission

Founded in 1981, the critically-acclaimed Margaret Wingrove Dance Company remains San Jose's longest-standing modern dance company. Blending both modern and ballet techniques with high energy and physicality, the company's style is fluid enough to allow for bold experimentation in a wide range of repetoire of over 80 choreographic works.

The company is dedicated to the innovation and presentation of emotionally compelling and dynamically driven dance. It performs not only works of its founder and artistic director, Margaret Wingrove, but also showcases the works of emerging choreographers and noted guest artists. This mission to present young, promising dancers and choreographers has been very much a company mainstay since its founding.

Moving into the year 2000, the Margaret Wingrove Dance Company continues to strive to bring innovative contemporary dance to the forefront in San Jose and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Artistic Director

Wingrove Photo Margaret Wingrove has created over 80 works for her dancers. She has also been a frequent guest choreographer for other dance companies. These hosts have included the Palo Alto Ballet, Berkeley Ballet,
San Jose Dance Theater, Janlyn Dance Company, and dancers from the San Francisco Ballet and the San Jose Cleveland Ballet. Wingrove has performed and studied extensively on both the east and west coasts with modern dancers Paul Sanasardo, Norman Walker, Lucas Hoving, and Richard Gibson. She also trained at the San Francisco Ballet School.

EDUCATION

BA in Dance
San Jose State University

MA in Education
University of San Francisco

SELECTED TOURS

Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival, Massachusetts

David Howard Showcase, New York City

San Francisco Dance Festival, Herbst Theater

England Dance Festivals, Bournemouth, Litchfield, & Bath

SELECTED CHOREOGRAPHY

1992
Un Ballo in Maschera
Opera San Jose Commissioned Work

1991
Zenshin
San Jose Taiko Commissioned Work

1990
Shatterings
Flint Center-Televised Production
"A Celebration of Courage"
Santa Clara Convention Center:
"Names Project"

1988
St. Francis of Assisi
San Jose Symphony Commissioned Work

AWARDS & HONORS

1998
San Jose State University
Schools of Music and Dance Honored Alumnus
For Her Contributions to the Field of Dance

1993
Women of Achievement
Award for the Arts

1986
San Francisco Isadora Duncan Award
Choreography Finalist

1987, 1985, 1984
Arts Council of Santa Clara County
Individual Artists Grant