Kansas City Dance Festival 2017

'Moving Arts' is a triumphant pas de trois of talent, creativity and passion

"Moving Arts Cincinnati" is the creative brainchild of three wildly talented individuals who envision an interactive and inspiring collaboration between dancers, choreographers and art in all forms. Cervilio Miguel Amador (Cincinnati Ballet principal dancer), Anthony…

“Moving Arts Cincinnati” is the creative brainchild of three wildly talented individuals who envision an interactive and inspiring collaboration between dancers, choreographers and art in all forms. Cervilio Miguel Amador (Cincinnati Ballet principal dancer), Anthony Krutzkamp (former Cincinnati Ballet principal dancer and current executive director of the Sacramento Ballet and co-artistic director of Kansas City Dance Festival), and Logan Pachciarz (co-artistic director of Kansas City Dance Festival) are bringing six world-premiere contemporary dance performances, envisioned by world-renowned and up-and-coming choreographers, to the stage in Cincinnati.

Combining local and guest ballet artists ranging from seasoned principal dancers to soloists to strong developing talent, they are providing an opportunity to flex both their literal and figurative muscles during the off-season and participate in something new and different. They are seeking to create a platform for the arts that goes beyond an enjoyable evening performance and elevates art in our community while giving back (future plans include the dancers and choreographers offering master classes at local schools). Reminiscent of Cincinnati Ballet’s “New Works,” these pieces embrace the contemporary opportunity to tell stories that are a little more raw, play on our emotions, and share a specific point of view. Whether you are familiar with dance or not, you will recognize and appreciate that “Moving Arts” is a triumphant pas de trois of talent, creativity and passion that we sincerely hope is only the first in many more to come.

While you should open your mind and experience these for yourself, here is a quick overview of each premiere:

  • “Daydreaming” (Choreographer: Ryan Jolicouer-Nye) — Taking us on a journey with the use of nontraditional yet inspired musical choice of Radiohead, this piece showcases the power of a supremely talented ensemble of dancers. Using simple costumes and savvy lighting, you feel as if you are in the daydream with the dancers, flowing from one movement to another.
  • “Paper and String” (Choreographer: Charles Martin) — The beauty and elegance of Abbey Gonzalez Kay make this particular piece a short, yet breathtaking performance that reminds us of the power of imagination and the importance of using our hands.
  • “I’m Still Here(Elegy for the Artic)” (Choreographer: Robert Colby Damon) — Delivering the most powerful statement of the night, this piece effectively disturbed the audience with its moody vibe and reminded us of the “finite consequences of our actions on nature.” Daniel Baldwin, partnering with Ivan Braatz and Kaleena Burks, performed brilliantly and left us all feeling the weight of this critical subject.
  • “Insensatez” (Choreographer: Heather Britt, Founder of DanceFix) — Seamlessly transitioning us from the darkness of the previous piece, this performance by Abbey & Edward Gonzalez Kay brought us back into the light with the sensuality and power of a pas de deux that showcased their power and connection as dancers. Embracing the idea of bringing together art in all forms, Heather smartly brought the music talent onto the stage with The Amador Sisters (Dali Amador & Maillelis Martinez), setting this performance apart and enticing us with what may come in the future as art forms collide.
  • “A Small Confession” (Choreographer: Jennifer Owen) — Creating the perfect foil to the evening, this performance was more playful and reminded us of the range of dance that is possible with talent like Taryn Mejia and Nathan Young.
  • “Dos Lados” (Choregrapher: Stephanie Martinez) — Utterly deserving of the finale, Dos Lados embraces the spectacular mood of the Spanish guitar and brings us the full power of this extraordinary 13-dancer ensemble. Creating literal toe-curling intensity coupled with a coy connection with the audience, this performance was a stunning showcase of sheer talent, including our very own Cervilio, who brought the house down.

We are waiting with bated breath for the next installment of “Moving Arts Cincinnati,” anticipating the passionate embrace of art in all forms and their enlightened approach to what dance could (and should) be to everyone. But if you are like me and cannot wait for next summer, then look no further than the extraordinary 2018-2019 Cincinnati Ballet season, kicking off with “New Works” on September 13-23. Cincinnati Ballet never disappoints, and in keeping with the spirit and intent of these supremely talented choreographers and dancers, they continue to elevate the art of dance for our entire community. May they continue to inspire us all!

Christi Geary is the proud mom of two girls (8 and 11), best friend and wife of her husband Brian, and an Associate Director at the Procter & Gamble Company focused on shopper innovation insights and analytics. She enjoys and participates in art of every kind, feeds an insatiable curiosity for learning every day through books and connecting with others, pursues different forms of exercise when she can find the time to balance out her foodie predilection (highly recommend DanceFix and Pilates Reformer), and delights in spending time with family and friends. Writing reviews for the arts is an absolute privilege and one she cherishes every day, with the hope that sharing her perspective will inspire others to embrace the arts.