Catalyst is the pre-professional dance company of the Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public School in South Hadley, Massachusetts. For over thirteen years, Catalyst has been dancing to rave reviews such as “fierce” and “better than most college level dance shows”. Catalyst showcases the work of national and local artists, as well as the work of its own members, and has toured around the country. Catalyst is dedicated to versatility; the dances themselves range in styles from modern, to jazz, to Afro-modern and hip-hop, and the dancers’ training is gleaned from ballet, modern, jazz and a host of diverse movement techniques.

Catalyst runs a “View and Do” program, teaching local public school students how to look at art, music, history and literature through the vehicle of dance. All of its workshops are interactive and lots of fun!

Catalyst members have gone on to careers in dance and have appeared with the CATS international tour, Bill T. Jones Dance Company, Lucinda Childs, Momix, Disney cruises, and in many other professional venues.

Catalyst directors Jodi Falk and Jen Polins continue to dance, choreograph and teach internationally as well as lovingly nurture this amazing group of people called Catalyst.