Invertigo Dance Theatre is thrilled to welcome David Mack as its new Executive Director. Mack joins the Invertigo team with a decade of experience managing innovative, Los Angeles based opera, theatre, and dance companies. The selection comes after an extensive search led by the Invertigo Dance Theatre Board of Directors Executive Search Committee.
"Having just celebrated our 10 year anniversary, David is the ideal addition to the Invertigo family; bringing a rare combination of strategy and hands-on tactical processes to the table,” says Invertigo Board Member, Alex Calle. “Not only has David had a long history in producing Los Angeles based Theatre and Dance, his reputation and track record for growing established arts nonprofits is unmistakable.”
As the new Executive Director, Mack will partner with the Artistic Director to lead the organization into its second decade of presenting dance theatre programming in Los Angeles and beyond. His term is set to begin on February 4, 2019.
"The arts in LA are currently undergoing an exciting transformation, and LA dance is experiencing a new renaissance as one of the drivers of this change,” says Mack. “I am humbled and honored to be invited to join such a joyous and dynamic organization, which is at the forefront of this fascinating new chapter in LA's cultural and artistic history. I look forward to working with the Invertigo team to share compelling stories and promote cultural equity throughout our city and around the country.”
Founded in 2007 by Artistic Director Laura Karlin, Invertigo Dance Theatre is committed to making a lasting impact on the cultural landscape of Los Angeles. Invertigo’s programming is rooted in storytelling through movement: promoting artistic and physical empowerment for participants. Invertigo also strives to make programming accessible to communities that might not otherwise find joy in dance. These goals are pursued through the following three areas of programming: Performance, Dancing Through Parkinson’s, and Invert/ED.
"Dave's passion, dedication, and leadership will be a wonderful addition to our team,” says Karlin. “ I am so glad to be working with my new partner in crime, and I believe that we can create a marvelous future for Invertigo together."
David Mack recently served as Strategic Director for Heidi Duckler Dance, a 34-year-old company that has produced over 300 works in LA and around the world and recently became the first LA dance company to receive a National Endowment for the Arts Our Town grant for Move Well @ MLK in Willowbrook, CA. Previously, he worked with Yuval Sharon as Managing Director of The Industry and General Manager of the Invisible Cities opera in Union Station. As a consultant, Mack's clients have included the City of West Hollywood, Center Theatre Group, L.A. Dance Project and DIAVOLO | Architecture in Motion. As a volunteer, Mack has served on the Boards of the Theatrical Producer's League of Los Angeles and Dance Resource Center, as well as the Dance/USA LA 2018 Annual Conference Host Committee, Ate9 Dance Company Advisory Council, and as Chairman of the Board of LA County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas' Empowerment Congress Arts & Culture Committee. He currently serves on the Black Arts @ WAA Committee for Western Arts Alliance's 2019 annual conference in LA.
“With visionary Artistic Director Laura Karlin, we have found the perfect counterpart in David,” continues Calle. “Enabling us to create the art we do today, building the company to make the art we want to tomorrow, all while striving to establish the art we will make ten years from now."
About Invertigo Dance Theatre
Invertigo Dance Theatre was founded by Laura Karlin in 2007 and is an institution at the forefront of Los Angeles dance, connecting people to story and community through a blend of dynamic contemporary movement and compelling theatre. Invertigo has created and performed over 40 original choreographic works, across Los Angeles, including the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Ford Theatres, Grand Park, and Broad Stage. Invertigo has also performed in Las Vegas, San Diego, Seattle, and Santa Barbara, and won the Grand Prize in the 2016 McCallum Theatre Choreography Festival. Invertigo recently earned one of the highest national honors in American dance when awarded a 2018 National Dance Project production grant.
Providing accessible dance programming is at the heart of Invertigo’s mission, and the organization operates two year-round community engagement programs: Dancing Through Parkinson’s offers donation-based classes to people living with degenerative conditions, and the Invert/ED program provides a range of dance education and performance opportunities to local students. Throughout all company initiatives, Invertigo is committed to paying fair wages to all artists, teachers, and staff.