Oyo Dance Company is a non-profit professional dance company that embodies diversity, acceptance, and cultural awareness. Oyo promotes appreciation of the art of dance through public performances and outreach, educational programs, and community activities. The Company maintains a diverse repertory through work with guest choreographers, master classes, and technical workshops.
Founded in 2015, Oyo was born out of a desire to create a professional contemporary ballet company that was qualitatively different than other organizations in the area. Founding artistic director Rachel Nace had a vision for a professional company that was focused on artistic excellence and on diversity, inclusion, and social justice. The first performance season involved collaborative performances with other groups, and a lot of awareness building activities and performances. During the second season, Oyo began the tradition of hosting a show specifically targeted toward children and families. The children’s show is now a permanent part of Oyo’s performance calendar, and is performed each April for school groups and the public. Nearly 500 students from Columbus Public Schools attended the 2019 children’s show free of charge as part of Oyo’s outreach program.
