Based in San Jose, California, sjDANCEco is a contemporary dance company founded in 2003 by artistic directors Gary Masters and Maria Basile, and Melanie Doerner.
[2][3] The sjDANCEco evolved out of the San Jose-based Limón West Dance Project, which Gary Masters founded and directed from 1994 to 1998, with present-day sjDANCEco dancers Maria Basile, Hsiang Hsiu Lin, Raphaël Boumaïla and Robert Regala.
[4] During its first 10 years, sjDANCEco has presented 42 World Premieres, six Revivals, works by master choreographers Donald McKayle and Fred Mathews, and eight works by José Limón during a five-year collaboration with the José Limón Dance Foundation.
[4] In addition, sjDANCEco also provides two annual showcases for new works by professional San Francisco Bay Area choreographers through its two annual ChoreoProject Awards and through its "FESTIVAL @ SANTANA ROW", celebrating National Dance Week.
[5] They introduce new audiences to dance and strive to install a lasting appreciation for the art form.