KATHI SUNDSTROM

Kathi was the recipient of the 2005 Rozsa Award. Her exceptional management skills have enabled DJD to become one of Canada’s most innovative and successful dance companies.  Kathi has proven herself as one of Alberta’s most adept arts manager, taking DJD from a struggling founder-driven company over ten years ago, through a period of tremendous growth, to becoming the mature and sustainable company that it is today.  Within a highly competitive Dance sector, DJD has developed a large and loyal audience base; built incredible community connections through its dance school.

For 10 years that Kathi has been the General Manger of DJD, she has achieved operating surpluses, and has increased its operating budget by 237% in ten years to $2.6 million, and has implemented effective marketing strategies that have resulted in the doubling of paid attendance at the annual DJD performances.

From an artistic perspective, DJD has made significant strides, having developed a massive repertoire of original and innovative works and has toured throughout Canada, to Chicago, Japan, The Turks and Caicos Islands and Cuba.

Now celebrating a new milestone – its 25th Anniversary Season – DJD has carved a niche for itself in the heart of Canada’s dance audience by touring extensively from coast to coast.  DJD also continues to create ground-breaking work here in Calgary.  In January 2009, Skyscraper premiered as part of One Yellow Rabbit’s High Performance Rodeo. This new site-specific work took audiences on an interactive exploration through Calgary’s historic Grain Exchange building.