Mission: Donna Sternberg & Dancers mission is to build bridges and make connections between dance, science, philosophy and other art forms so that people and ideas come together in ways that expand human awareness and lead to that "aha" moment where people begin to envision the world as theirs to create in a unique way. By facilitating collaborations between artists of all disciplines, scientists and philosophers the company seeks to break apart the barriers that exist between science and the arts. DS&D explores ways of making and showing dances in new ways thereby promoting dialogue between people from different walks of life.

History: Artistic Director Donna Sternberg founded the company in 1985 after working and touring in the companies of Donald Byrd, Mary Jane Eisenberg, Yen Lu Wong and Dance/LA. It was incorporated in 1990, and is a federal tax-exempt organization.

DS&D has premiered over fifty-five works, including six full evening-length pieces. As part of the company’s on-going “science series” dances have been choreographed around the themes of orbital mechanics, the history of flight, quantum mechanics, quantum entanglement, string theory and the environment. DS&D has been presented throughout Southern California including the Los Angeles area, Ventura/Santa Barbara, Orange County and the Inland Empire. DS&D has also performed in the San Francisco Bay area and is the resident guest artist at Rancho La Puerta in Tecate, Mexico where it performs and teaches classes annually. The company has participated in adjudicated dance festivals such as Dance Kaleidoscope, Festival of Solos and Duets and Dance Moving Forward in Los Angeles, California Choreographer’s Festival in Laguna Beach and Summerfest in San Francisco. DS&D has performed extensively in schools and for children in venues such as the California Science Center. It has been featured in Dance Magazine, Dance Spirit, on PBS station KCET’s Life and Times program and on KUSC.

Ranging from 5-7 members, Donna Sternberg & Dancers is a dynamic, emotionally vibrant contemporary company. The diverse repertoire is composed of vigorous, technically demanding movement that is alternatively edgy, sensuous and lyrical. Permeating the movement is a dramatic and emotional intensity. The company has collaborated on projects with artists from other disciplines including poet Alice Walker, percussionist Steven Schick, multimedia artists Michael Masucci and Kate Johnson, visual artists Kathi Packer and composers Matthew McBane, Donald Knaack, Craig Kupka, Bobby Matos and Eric Ruskin.

Recognizing the importance of arts education, DS & D is committed to reaching out to audiences unfamiliar to dance. Through a variety of programs, from performances exposing audiences to dance to educational lecture/demonstrations to classes, workshops and open rehearsals, the company seeks to share its knowledge and love of dance.

Board of Directors:
Carrie Marraro, President
Dr. Kenneth Phillips, Vice President
Walter Kornbluh, Secretary
Donna Sternberg, Treasurer
Chris Bradford
Lynwood Davis
Jill Jacobson-Bennett



Artistic Vision: I am interested in interpreting scientific principles through dance in collaboration with artists from other disciplines. I believe that at their roots, science and art share a commonality that lends itself to creative exploration. Throughout history science has inspired art and art has likewise inspired science. Think of the Sphinx in Egypt, the temples in India, China and the Aztecs and the technological software to produce Avatar - without the mastery of the sciences of mathematics, engineering, geology and physics these would not have been possible. I am fascinated with the discoveries that science is making and equally fascinated with how these discoveries might be translated into dance. I am also engaged in philosophy, including that of spiritual mystics, and in finding the parallels, if any, between them and science. Perhaps science is uncovering information that has been investigated and promulgated ages ago by a diverse group of mystics, philosophers and thinkers. Are we in fact all connected through time and space and what ramifications does this have in our daily lives? Through my art I investigate these questions and face the challenge of how to translate often abstract principles in ways that speak to people, are inspiring and an instrument for personal growth and expansion. My work is imbued with a love of sheer movement through space, an interest in shape and the juxtaposition of human bodies. My aims are, to quote the film maker Krzystof Kieslowski, "to elevate the spirit, help us to understand ourselves and the life around us, and give people the feeling they are not alone."

If you have any questions, let me know.

Funding: Donna Sternberg & Dancers has received funding from the California Arts Council, California Council for the Humanities, Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department, National/ State/County Partnership, Los Angeles County and Santa Monica Arts Commissions, Culver City Cultural Affairs Commission, National Performance Network, Pacific Bell, and the Amgen Foundation.