Mission

Ormao’s mission statement is threefold:

• To provoke, challenge, and entertain those in our community and beyond through the creative language of dance.
• To encourage diversity and experimentation in the arts.
• To enrich and enhance cultural opportunities within southern Colorado’s communities and schools by spear-heading initiatives that bring dance to the public and programs that educate people of all ages.

If any aspect of Ormao’s goal or mission statement resonates with you, we invite you to support us financially as we continue to grow!

What we do

Performances | Classes | Community Outreach

Ormao Dance Company & School is an innovative, inclusive and noncompetitive home for dance and the arts in downtown Colorado Springs. Ormao Dance Company is the resident professional dance company since 1990. Ormao Dance School offerings include open-to-the-public dance classes for ages 3 through adult as well as three modern dance youth repertory groups providing balanced, rigorous training and performance opportunities. Community Outreach programs range from regular ‘Dance For Parkinson’s’ classes and in-school educational residencies to Mathtastic which creatively combines curriculum math and dance concepts in elementary public schools.

Why we are great

Creativity | Collaboration | Community

Ormao has a two-decade history of excellence in these areas. Our award-winning, professional modern dance company performs regularly and typically in collaboration with other artists. Performances are wildly original; from construction zones, art museums and abandoned warehouses to theaters. Our school offers classes ranging from ballet to modern to tap for children and adults. Students thrive with improved morale, healthy bodies and healing. Community Outreach programs focus on inclusivity, expanding the language of dance.

History

Its name (pronounced or-MY-oh) stems from an ancient Greek term signifying “movement with force” and reflects the diversity of the company’s contemporary dance repertoire. Our goal is to bring premier, challenging modern dance performance and classes to Colorado Springs and Colorado as a whole.

Board of Directors

• Gloria Latimer, President
• Mary Ann Kluge
• Laura Chickering Knapp
• Leah Davis Witherow
• Janet Johnson, Executive Director

Staff

• Janet Johnson, Artistic & Executive Director
• Laura Hymers Treglia, Associate Director
• Michelle Hoody White, Development Coordinator
• Ashley Oswald, Director, Ormao Dance School
• David Foster, Technical Associate
• Dawn Delaney, Social Media Associate
• Tashana St. John, Work Study

Contact Us

Nondiscriminatory Policy

The Ormao Dance Company admits community members of any race, color, sexual orientation, creed, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available at the school or public performances of dance concerts.   It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sexual orientation, creed, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship, and loan programs, and other school administered programs.