ORANGE CITY – Co’Motion Dance Theater is taking the stage in Orange City Wednesday, August 7 at 7:00pm.
It’s new for Onstage Orange City – modern dance in Windmill Park. But the show should appeal to everyone, said Valerie Williams, artistic director and choreographer for Co’Motion.
Co’Motion Dance Theater, of Ames IA, was founded with a bold mission – “Dance for everyone!” Thirty years later, the dancers continue to perform concerts, conduct demonstrations and teach lessons and classes, involving all ages.
Williams loves to move… and has worked as an Artist-in-Schools for 20 years, done musical theater choreography for 60-plus productions, and been a guest artist in six countries. She was rehearsal director for Bill T. Jones in NYC, for the Lyon Opera Ballet in France and served as international rehearsal director for Last Supper at Uncle Tom’s Cabin/ The Promised Land. She was commissioned by Teatro Studio in Rome to set her choreography of Divine Liturgy. She also performs with Musica Antiqua, reconstructing and performing dances of the Renaissance and Middle Ages.
Currently she is investigating using real-time human/ computer technology in performances that allow dancers more control over their performing environment.
Williams and three other dancers from Co’Motion Dance Theater will bring their show to Onstage Orange City August 7. The program features several short dances, some especially for children, and even funny dances. They will give brief explanations of the dances also.
Sponsors of the evening are Northwestern Bank and a group of Onstage Orange City contributors. Northwestern Bank will provide free watermelon, beginning at 7:00pm.
Onstage Orange City is a program of the Orange City Arts Council – offering free shows every Wednesday evening in Windmill Park through August 21. Bring lawn chairs or blankets. Concessions will be available. Rain location is the Orange City town hall.
Co’Motion Dance Theater is based in Ames, Iowa and in residency with the Department of Health and Human Performance at Iowa State Univeristy. Co’Motion Dance Theater receives funding support from the Ames Commission on the Arts.
For a sample of Co’Motion Dance Theater, click here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/CMDTDance
For a list of contributors, click here.
Or email ocArts@orangecityiowa.com or call 712-707-4885.
Another link! http://comotion.org/vid.htm
Bios of the rest of The Company:
Elizabeth Ferreira has been a principal dancer with Co’Motion Dance Theater for more than ten years. She’s thankful for the many opportunities to create, teach, learn, grow, perform and share the joy of dance in and around Iowa.. Elizabeth’s other performance credits include Andante Performance Company, ISU Dance, Iowa Dance Collective and Hurley and Dancers.
Silvina López Barrera is an architect, dancer and choreographer from Uruguay. She is a Lecturer of Architecture at ISU where she teaches design studios. A founder and co-director of “ATE” dance company, she has also danced with “Danza-Qué?!” and Moebius in UY and travelled to international festivals. During 2008 she was part of “Artists in the Streets,” which presented dancers in unconventional spaces. Her work as a dancer, choreographer, and director was awarded by the Municipal Government of Montevideo-Uruguay. Since 2009 she has been dancing with Co’Motion Dance Theater and Fellow Travelers Performance Group.
Ben Rethmeier has been dancing with Co’Motion Dance Theater on and off for the past ten years. He is a highly sought after teacher, and also performs with Iowa Dance Theater. Most recently Ben has been studying aerial circus technique and is impressed with how difficult it is. He likes the silks, but not so much the lyra.
