about us

In 1980, Freddick Bratcher established Freddick Bratcher and Company, a not-for-profit contemporary dance theater group, with two artistic goals in mind: to provide local audiences with superior quality jazz, modern, classical, and narrative choreographic works and to offer local talent a challenging and rewarding opportunity to mature artistically in a creative environment. Since then, he has consistently made his original vision a tangible reality. Mr. Bratcher, as Artistic Director and Lead Choreographer, has created over 60 critically acclaimed works - often being called South Florida’s modern dance master with a style that “breathes a prominent blissful spirit.” He has also earned the distinct accolade of being the granddaddy of Miami’s modern dance and jazz choreographers.

Mr. Bratcher established his own company with the intentions of creating a full-time resident repertory dance theater while attracting well-trained dancers to perform, teach, and develop artistic skills in all styles of dance. Since arriving in Miami in 1976, Mr. Bratcher has trained many dancers that now perform and teach professionally both nationally and with internationally renowned companies. Over the years, the Company has performed and taught throughout Florida. Additionally, the Company has appeared at the Jazz Dance World Congress in Chicago, Illinois, as well as in New York where he was described as "an accomplished and inventive choreographer" by the New York Times. The Company’s involvement and versatility has ranged from performances before the worldwide televised Papal Visit to Miami in 1987, to the opening of the Dave & Mary Alper JCC Anne Frank Exhibit.

Dedicated to building artistic versatility, the Company and has collaborated with local Ballet, Modern, and Flamenco dance companies for evening concerts. The Company has invited guest choreographers Dale Andree, Gina Buntz, Gerard Ebitz, Michael Foley, and Michael Uthoff to present works, as well as provided emerging choreographers Heather Maloney, Leah Verier-Dunn, and Melissa Llewellyn with a vehicle to present works. The Company continues to fulfill its goals of extending its talents throughout South Florida in sponsored cultural and educational events such as the Miami-Dade Public Library Programs, the Merrick Festival, Florida Dance Festival, and the Hispanic Ballet Festival.

For over twenty-five years the Company has devoted itself to enriching the lives of artists and audiences throughout South Florida. The Company has performed low-cost and free community concerts in neighborhood venues with funds from the National Endowment for the Arts. Miami-Dade Public Library System has sponsored the “Meet the Dancers” series – informal and educational performances throughout Miami-Dade County regional libraries. The Condominium Series enabled the Company to perform for the elderly in retirement communities throughout Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. The Company has performed and provided lecture-demonstrations at Miami-Dade and Broward County Public Schools thanks to generous funding from the Miami-Dade County Public School System, Sunbank, and the Broward Student Enrichment Trust Fund. A grant from the CBS Foundation enabled Company members to offer dance workshops for inner city, minority, and under-served children with an aptitude for dance at South Miami Middle School. The Company conducted children’s educational programs for the After School House in South Miami’s minority community and the foster home network, Children’s Home Society, for troubled and abandoned children of all ages in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

The Company has been recipient of grant awards from Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority, Miami Beach Cultural Affairs Program, Metro-Dade, National Endowment for the Arts, and the State of Florida for over twenty years. The Company has also received funding from the City of Coral Gables, City of Miami Department of FACE, Dade Community Foundation, Miami Salon Group, and the Funding Arts Network.

Shortly after the 2000 season, Artistic Director, Freddick Bratcher determined to increase the focus of the Company on outreach programs and raise awareness of the cultural arts throughout Miami-Dade County began partnerships with the City of South Miami Park and Recreation Department, Miami-Dade County Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Learning Bridge and Summerbridge Miami programs. These collaborations have enabled the Company to offer artistic and educational programs to low-income, minority youth and their families throughout Miami-Dade County neighborhoods. In addition, the creation of the Storydance Project in 2005 primarily targets the youngest of audiences, children ages four to fourteen, and offers the retelling of culturally diverse stories through the art of contemporary dance, music, and narration.

After celebrating its 25th Anniversary in April 2005, Freddick Bratcher and Company remains dedicated to the quality of dance and the cultural vibrancy that has become so notably associated with Miami-Dade County, and maintains a strong commitment to its artistic philosophy and mission – to provide South Florida with significant contemporary dance works for cultural enrichment and entertainment; to draw from South Florida’s ethnically diverse artistic community and strengthen Miami’s reputation as a center for dance education; to uphold the traditions of modern and contemporary American dance; to pass on this rich heritage to future dance professionals and audiences alike; to reach out to underserved communities and improve their quality of life through artistic and educational programs; and to bring the Company’s unique and innovative dance theatre style to venues throughout Florida, the nation and the world.