Studio Thirty4 welcomes Shange Dance Productions as our professional dance company in residence. Shange Dance Productions has earned the title of Baltimore's premier modern dance company based on a repertoire which is as startlingly raw and unfettered as it is boldly articulate in both content and form. Please revisit our website often for details regarding upcoming performances, master classes & workshops.

In 2004, Kutia Jawara founded Shange Dance Productions to provide talented dancers and choreographers the opportunity to work in the professional arena. Since the beginning, Shange continues to amaze its audiences with inspiring choreography that speaks to the experiences of African Americans.  Ms. Jawara aims to create new work that is rooted in modern techniques and laced with ballet and West African dance.

The repertoire of Shange Dance Productions is sharp, powerful, and technical.  It is feminine and athletic by nature but not by force.  The Washington Post describes Shange’s choreography as “elegantly fused West African dance, balletic technique and gymnastic movement.”  The choreography has grown from years that Kutia Jawara worked as a professional dancer.  Critics have described her movement as having “marvelous precision” as stated by Gia Kourlas of the New York Times and “eloquent” by Jennifer Dunning, also of The New York Times.  These statements not only reflect Ms. Jawara’s strong qualities as a dancer, but also represent her expectations as a choreographer.