Do Jump! was founded in 1977 by Robin Lane as the core performance ensemble with which to present her unique and ambitious choreography, and has become the oldest living arts organization of its size in Portland, Oregon. Their performances are a provocative bland of dance, acrobatics, aerial work, humor and original music, creating a distinct form of dance-theater that is both provocative and entreating.
The core ensemble of six dancer/aerialists performs the bulk of the floor and aerial choreography, and provides a base from which Lane builds her collaborative works. Over the past decade she has produced 12 full-length works as well as a large repertoire of single performance pieces. Her collaborations with musicians, composers, visual artists, actors and circus performers create performances that are not only visually and aurally diverse, but express her themes with poignancy and wit.
Do Jump! has toured throughout the West, and has a devoted following in their home town of Portland. The Company has made many appearances at Portland's Center for the Performing Arts. The Company's low-tech show is a favorite at city-sponsored events and conferences. Do Jump! has amassed a large repertoire of diverse, flexible and entertaining works, and developed an enthusiastic regional reputation, offering workshops and residencies for all ages to schools and communities. The Company is on the roster of Young Audiences of Oregon, and has been continuously selected to be part of the "Oregon on Tour" program since 1987.
Since 1984 Do Jump! has had a long-term lease on the Echo Theatre in southeast Portland. The Echo provides Do Jump! with rehearsal and performance space and houses the Do Jump Movement School, offering classes for children and adults.
With Do Jump! as its foundation, the Echo Theatre has developed into a truly community based arts center. The Echo provides performances, classes and flexible rental space to the community while drawing from local talent for its skills and inspiration. It has been cited as a successful model of an integrated community arts center.