Dogtown Dance Theatre

Mardi Gras RVA is Dogtown’s longest running professional performance. The event was established to bridge a relationship between the artists at Dogtown and the surrounding Manchester community. This family-friendly event integrates cultural programming into Manchester by holding a free celebratory parade and affordable admission to the main event inside the theatre. The day includes dance performances of all styles, a live jazz New Orleans band, and catered Cajun food. All performances are danced by local Dogtown artists in modern, Afro-Caribbean, salsa, belly dance, hip-hop, hula hoop dance, and many more styles. Mardi Gras RVA also offers fun children's activities such as face painting, balloon animals, a Mardi Gras themed photo booth, and designing masks to learn more about the festive holiday and its history. The event not only welcomes Manchester residents, but also the local businesses. Mardi Gras RVA annually supports over 45 dance artists and 400 arts patrons in a single event.

Dogtown Presenter’s Series is one of Dogtown’s largest mainstage performances that support artists by providing the opportunity to create and present a fully produced work. The Presenter’s Series is a two-week exhibition in the fall that showcases work by artists and companies from Richmond with six professional performances. The event supports artists of all genres and encourages collaborative work among Richmond artists. Dogtown manages the production costs of the performances by providing the artists with rehearsal and performance space, as well as marketing and technical needs. Each artist is guaranteed a stipend of $3,000. These specialized resources have a firsthand impact on the success of the artist’s goals. Each Presenter’s Series has opened new doors for local artists as well as Dogtown Dance Theatre. As a result, the theatre’s positive reputation grows from local media coverage and increased exposure in the community. The Dogtown Presenter’s Series aims to elevate the performances of Richmond’s independent artists, so that alternative dance artists can have the same production experiences as larger dance companies in major metropolitan cities. The Presenter’s Series supports over 30 artists annually and 700 arts patrons.

The National Dance Day celebration at Dogtown Dance Theatre brings free, accessible, community-enriching dance education to the Richmond artistic community and specifically to the historically marginalized southside district of Manchester in Richmond, VA. This event includes eight hours of free classes, workshops, and performances by renowned independent artists and dance companies sharing their work in: modern dance and contemporary technique; African-Caribbean dance; tap; performance hula-hoop; salsa and bachata, hip hop; breakdance; and pole dance. All sessions are free and open to participants of all ages, abilities, and skill levels.

Dogtown Dance Theatre’s Artist Resource Program administers and provides direct services to low-income artists wishing to teach and perform in a professional environment. Benefits that Dogtown provide to the artists participating in the Resource Program include free marketing and public relations support for their current dance programs, as well as bi-annual workshops that address the needs of dance artists: curriculum vitae development, business planning and budgeting, successful portfolio building, grant writing for artists, and technical theatre assistance training. Dogtown Dance Theatre’s sole purpose is to provide resources and opportunities for artists to make Richmond a regional, national, and international destination for exceptional, professional dance. Dogtown provides resources to independent dance artists through the Artist Resource Program and brings cultural and community-enriching programming to the Richmond community. Utilizing this diverse audience equaling over 12,000 dance art patrons, Dogtown is able to provide for more than 250 dance artists in over 20 genres of dance. Dancers and patrons of all ages, genders, economic backgrounds, and faith can find something to enjoy through Dogtown's Artist Resource Program.

The Virginia Black Dance Festival (est. 2021) provides community building and networking opportunities for members of the Black, Indigenous, and Afro Latina dance community in Virginia through workshops, panel discussions, professional workshops as well as juried, showcase performances.​

The Touring Artist Series (est. 2021) commissions renowned independent artists from outside of​ Richmond each season for performances and educational events to help them build their regional audience.​​