Today we’d like to introduce you to Sylvia Suttle.
Hi Sylvia, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Suttle Dance Company began in 2013 with just myself and two other company members. At the time, I saw a need for a space where dancers could continue performing, creating, and sharing their artistry without feeling like dance had to be their only career path. I wanted to build something that allowed artists to continue doing what they loved while also pursuing careers, families, and opportunities outside of dance.
Over the years, that vision has continued to grow. We have expanded from a small group of three into a larger community of dancers and artists, performing throughout Metro Detroit as well as out of state. One of our biggest milestones came in 2019, when we produced our first full showcase and officially became a nonprofit organization.
Since then, our annual showcases have become an important part of who we are, while we have continued to perform at events and venues throughout the Metro Detroit area and beyond. More than anything, I’m proud that Suttle Dance has become a place where dancers can continue to grow, perform, collaborate, and stay connected to their artistry throughout different stages of their lives.
What started as a small idea in 2013 has grown into something much bigger than I originally imagined, and it has been incredibly rewarding to watch the company and the artists within it continue to evolve year after year.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road, and like any organization, we’ve had to learn how to adapt through different challenges over the years. One of the biggest was the pandemic, when so much of the dance and performance world came to a halt.
During that time, I was determined to keep the company connected, so we continued rehearsing over Zoom and even held rehearsals outside in parking lots when we were able to safely be together. We also collaborated with other artists and companies to offer open company classes for high school and adult dancers, raise money for awareness, which helped us stay connected to the larger dance community.
Even once we were able to return to in-person rehearsals, we continued finding creative ways to collaborate. We worked with guest artists who choreographed for the company virtually, allowing us to keep expanding our artistic experiences even when travel and in-person access were still limited.
That time really reinforced how important adaptability and community are to Suttle Dance. The challenges have helped shape the company into what it is today and reminded us that there is always a way to keep creating and moving forward.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Suttle Dance Company is a professional contemporary and modern dance company based in Metro Detroit. At the core of what we do is creating meaningful performance opportunities for adult dancers who want to continue growing as artists while also balancing careers, families, and lives outside of dance.
I think what sets us apart is the environment we have created. We take the work seriously and hold ourselves to a professional artistic standard, but we also understand that our dancers have lives beyond the studio. The company was built around the idea that continuing to perform and create should still be possible even if dance is not your only full-time career.
Over the years, we have become known for our annual showcases, performances throughout Metro Detroit and out of state, and collaborations with other dancers, choreographers, artists, and organizations. We also value giving our dancers opportunities to work with different choreographic voices and styles, which helps keep the company constantly evolving.
Another part of Suttle Dance that means a great deal to me is the connection that develops within the company. Over the years, so many lasting friendships have grown through Suttle Dance, and those relationships often continue long after someone is no longer actively dancing with us. We still stay connected with former company members who have moved away or gone on to different chapters of their lives, and I think that says a lot about the kind of community we have created. It has become much more than simply showing up for rehearsals and performances.
Community is also a really important part of who we are beyond the company itself. We have collaborated with other artists and organizations to offer open company classes and opportunities for high school and adult dancers to continue training and connecting with the larger dance community.
What I am most proud of is that, more than a decade after we started, Suttle Dance is still providing a place for artists to perform, create, collaborate, and stay connected to something they love. We have grown tremendously since starting with just three dancers in 2013, but the purpose behind the company has remained the same.
That idea is reflected in the words we use to represent Suttle Dance: “We are what we do. We do because we are.”
What matters most to you? Why?
It is hard to put into words just how much this means to me. What matters most is the people I get to share dance with and the impact it can have on them. Whether I am working with Suttle Dance Company or teaching, the most meaningful part for me has always been watching dancers grow — not only technically and artistically, but also in their confidence and in the joy they find through dance.
I am incredibly grateful to all of the dancers who have been part of Suttle Dance over the years, and I feel truly honored to have worked with so many amazing dancers throughout my career, both within the company and as a dance teacher. Every dancer brings something different into the room, and being able to be part of their journey is something I never take for granted.
Seeing that growth and happiness is what continues to drive me. There is something incredibly rewarding about watching someone find confidence in themselves, accomplish something they did not think they could do, or simply feel completely at home while they are dancing.
Dance has given me so much throughout my life, and being able to continue sharing that love with others, whether through performing, choreographing, directing, or teaching, is what matters most to me. It is ultimately the connections, the growth, and the joy that keep me inspired to continue doing what I love.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @suttledance and @sylviasuttle
