ABOUT US
Our Mission:
Portland Dance Collective is a community dance project — a platform for movement artists to pursue the gift of creative opportunity. We’re here to give dance lovers the chance to be active dance artists. (You’ve heard of community theater, right? Well, we are community dance theater!)
We value diversity in our members and celebrate collaboration between backgrounds and disciplines in dance. We believe that artistic expression is an important element of a full and rich life.
I usually describe our style of dance as “contemporary adjacent” but even that vague descriptor feels limited – in embracing diversity and individuality we have passions for many dance forms and leave ourselves open to explore the movement styles that resonate.
April Iza Fox
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR & OPERATOR
April has been dancing through life and among the many joys and accomplishments life has brought her, Portland Dance Collective has always been a dear favorite. She joined Portland Dance Collective (then PDX Dance Collective) upon moving to Portland in 2014. She was invited into the fold by founding member Rachael Singer and became co-director and choreographer in 2015. PDC is coming back now after a 5 year hiatus, and April is on a mission to bring more movement and choreography opportunities to Portland dancers.
Before coming to Portland, April grew up in Detroit, MI and earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance, with honors, from MaryGrove College. While working on her degree April had a chance to work with world-renowned choreographers and teachers such as Kevin Iega-Jeff and Penny Godboldo, as well as train with Point Park University in Pittsburgh and Steps on Broadway in New York.
April currently teaches yoga and fitness classes with local institutions (The People’s Yoga, NW Womens Fitness and Portland Parks & Rec). “Movement is my greatest joy and I'm just trying to bring more joy into the world.”