Heidi Duckler Dance

Heidi Duckler Dance (HDD) is deeply rooted in the principles of freedom, community, and inclusivity, pioneering site-specific dance since 1985. As an award-winning company, HDD continuously redefines the relationship between audience and art by collaborating with artists who reflect the diversity of Los Angeles. Its ensemble of teaching artists and performers is multilingual, multicultural, and represents a wide range of performance styles and cultural heritages, including genres from the Eastern, Latin, and African diasporas. HDD uses site-specific work not only as a creative platform but also as a tool for social justice, education, and civic engagement. For 40 years, HDD has brought peop... read more Heidi Duckler Dance (HDD) is deeply rooted in the principles of freedom, community, and inclusivity, pioneering site-specific dance since 1985. As an award-winning company, HDD continuously redefines the relationship between audience and art by collaborating with artists who reflect the diversity of Los Angeles. Its ensemble of teaching artists and performers is multilingual, multicultural, and represents a wide range of performance styles and cultural heritages, including genres from the Eastern, Latin, and African diasporas. HDD uses site-specific work not only as a creative platform but also as a tool for social justice, education, and civic engagement. For 40 years, HDD has brought people together to explore unique spaces through movement, with nearly 100% of its target population being low-income and underserved, and over 80% representing multicultural, multilingual, and multigenerational communities. The company has produced over 500 original works locally, nationally, and internationally in iconic locations such as the Ambassador Hotel, LA City Hall, San Gabriel Mission, Los Encinos State Historic Park, Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital, The Dunbar Hotel, and aboard the Tall Ships at the Port of LA. Each year, HDD's programs reach more than 7,500 individuals, while its youth arts education initiatives have served over 10,000 youth and families at 25 schools and community centers throughout Los Angeles County since 2013-primarily in low-income communities. HDD prioritizes underserved neighborhoods across Los Angeles, engaging a diverse audience of youth, seniors, and families. More than 70% of participants are people of color, 53% are women, and the median age is 36. Additionally, one in six individuals served lives at or below the poverty level, and 5% identify as LGBTQ+. The impact of HDD's work is exemplified through its programs at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital Campus and the new MLK Behavioral Health Center in South LA, where individuals from all walks of life-seniors, young adults, and families-gather to seek solace, guidance, and empowerment through the arts. In 2025, HDD celebrates 40 years of artistic innovation, marking a new chapter with Raymond Ejiofor's transition to Artistic Director after eight years of collaboration with Heidi Duckler. The recent inclusion of Heidi's work in the Getty Research Institute archives further cements HDD's lasting impact in site-specific dance. Additionally, HDD has expanded its mission to provide arts education to youth in detention centers, funded by LA County and other sources. The company continues its residency, MOVE WELL@MLK, a creative place-keeping project at Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital Campus in Willowbrook, CA, alongside ongoing artistic programming at historic locations throughout Southern California. HDD has created The Bridge Program, a one on one mentorship program providing arts opportunities for young adults who have experienced foster care. These achievements reflect HDD's continued growth, sustained by vital grants and strategic partnerships that advance its vision for community engagement.