Dayton’s own Redemption Dance Company is a Christian based dance company and performance studio that is all about fun, modern dance in a positive environment. The group has hosted events at local clubs like the Therapy Café that included dance-offs, disk jockeys and an overall party atmosphere.
“The reason I named the group redemption was because of things I had done in my past, and when I began this dance company was my redemption,” said Jair Crooms, the organizer. “Redemption is a process, and right now, the company is going through a transfer of buildings, so it is like our own redemption.”
Crooms said he has always enjoyed dancing, but he didn’t get serious about it until he was 14 years old.
“I was influenced by Michael Jackson, and sought out local dancers who helped me develop my dancing abilities,” Crooms said.
Though redemption is known as a dance company, Crooms said the company does not always have to revolve around dance, and is accepting to all people who just want to have fun.
“We are not just a dance company—we love artist, photographers and disc jockeys. We are accepting to anyone of all walks of life, and people don’t have to be Christians to join in,” Crooms said. “We’re not bible thumpers—we just like to have a good time.”
The company consists of multiple people, which is what provides a strong unity for Redemption. Crooms said the company is very much like a family—everyone is supportive of everyone’s art form.
“I have to separate the dance company and the dance crew. In the dance crew, there are seven members. In the company, we have our disc jockey, DJ Icicle and our photographer and artists who helped paint our studio walls,” Crooms said. “Everybody involved is essentially part of our family. We can be professional when needed and like most families, we have our differences, but at the end of the day, we all love each other.”
Crooms said the dance company loves listening and dancing to all types of music, which is what makes the crew different because everyone has a different style.
“Music is music. It’s whatever appeals to your ears,” Crooms said. “We all love dancing to funk music because what’s dancing without funk? Me, personally, I like listening to music with a smooth jazz type feeling, but everybody has his or her different styles.”
Crooms said that dance battles is one of the activities the dance company participates in.
“Our dance crew likes to go head to head. We sometimes have up three judges involved for the competitions, but we like to have whatever crowd is there judge the battles through vote.”
Other companies Redemption has worked with include “Metaphorically Speaking,” a Dayton based poetry group, and local musical artist, Thomas Troutman.
Crooms said he hopes that the audience always has a good time when they watch them perform or battle.
“I like for our crowd to have a good time. I want them to reminiscence about seeing one of our shows, and if we can touch one person with our dancing, that’s a big moment for us,” Crooms said.
The next event that Redemption will be hosting is their “Halloween Funk Night” at Therapy Café on October 15. The show starts at 9:00 p.m. and is free to get in. For more information on Redemption Dance Company, visit their Facebook page.
Jimaur Calhoun
Arts & Entertainment Editor