Her company, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, has grown to be one of the largest companies of its kind between Chicago and New York City, and proudly holds the largest repertoire of classic works by African-American choreographers in the world.
•
Blunden made sure her students were able to gain a broad range of experiences, including summer opportunities and scholarships to attend schools such as the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, Dance Theatre of Harlem, and the American Dance Festival.
•
Jeraldyne Blunden (1940 - 1999) was the founder and artistic director of the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company.
•
Jennifer Dunning from the New York Times described Blunden’s legacy as a beloved leader in the dance world, stating, "That no-nonsense approach to life was mixed with steely determination, a great personal warmth and humor and an unsentimental humanity that made her a much-loved figure on the national dance scene."
•
She received honorary doctorate degrees from the University of Dayton and Wright State University, as well as prestigious awards including the MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship Award, the Dance/USA 2000 Honors Award, the Katherine Dunham Award, the Dance Magazine Award, The National Black Arts Festival’s Lifetime Achievement Award, Dance Women Living Legend Honors, and the Regional Dance America Northeast Award.
•
Over the years, Blunden shaped the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company as a repertory company, inviting many renowned guest artists to create pieces for her dancers.
•
Her experiences included performances and classes at American Dance Festival, Antioch Summer Theatre, Connecticut Dance Theatre Workshop, Dance Theatre of Harlem, and The Alvin Ailey Dance Center.
•
In 1968, Blunden founded her own dance company, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, to create more opportunity for her students to perform.