EDTF

Heartfelt thanks to the amazing people at the Elgin Ties Dance Festival for the inspiring festival that brings dance together for a weekend in Elgin. Check out some pictures below from "Scarce." All picture credits go to Jeff Nelson.

Come support [ud]m.

The next couple of months are a busy time for [undefined]movers. as we prepare three pieces for different festivals around the city. Here is a list of what's to come in case you are in the city.

April 26th
7:30pm-Elgin Dance Ties Festival in Elgin, IL
The company will present "Scarce," a work by Chelsea Harkelroad that exposes the stages of grief and the human strength that is present in mourning.
Event Info

May 23rd 
6:30pm-Chicago Home Theater Festival in Chicago, IL
Chelsea Harkelroad choreographs a work in collaboration with April Torneby that explores the unfortunate repercussions of abuse inside an intimate relationship. The piece is a site-responsive work that will move throughout a host's apartment to give the audience a glimpse into effects and outcomes of these toxic relationships from the perspective of the abused.
Event Info

June 20-22th 

Time TBA- Ruth Page Center for the Arts, Chicago, IL

Chelsea Harkelroad's "Scarce" join other artists from around the city to present work in Kaleidoscope, a dance festival presented by Alliance Dance Company.
Event Info

June 27-29th

Time TBA- Collaboraction, Chicago, IL 

Kristin Nelson's "Creator" and Chelsea Harkelroad's "Scarce" join in for "Going Dutch" here in Chicago. 

Event Info

Elgin Dance Ties Festival

Come check out [ud]m. perform a new version of "Scarce" at the Elgin Dance Ties Festival this Saturday, April 26th, at 7:30pm. 

Tickets: $10 in advance or $12 at the door

Location: 164 Division St., Elgin, IL 60120. 

Hope to see you there! 

Elgin Ties Dance Festival Fundraiser

[ud]m. had an awesome time traveling out to Elgin and dancing at Side Street Studio Arts for the Elgin Dance Ties Festival Fundraiser. We performed a section of "Scarce" which we will be performing on April 26th at the Elgin Ties Dance Festival. One of the highlights of the night was connecting with other artists who performed their works and getting feedback. Awesome to meet you Tapmen, Core Project, and Renegade dancers.

[undefined]movers. in the Windy City

The past two years have been a time of exploring the works of talented choreographers around Kristin and me within the city of Chicago. We have worked in different companies; each with its own flavor and every experience has been AMAZING. We have collected little bits of people who we have surrounded ourselves with. Choreographers taught us how to slow our movement, teachers taught us to extend beyond our extension (again...and then again), and all of the artists around us have inspired us in truly magical ways.

The span of learning time has also been a constant struggle with contentment because of our love for producing work. We have found that no matter how happy we are our in our lives, we feel called and fulfilled to pursue our own movement through [undefined]movers. yet again. 

We have new ideas to communicate. Not the concepts that can be spoken within the confines of the English language, but the deep-seated images that you can only communicate with a bound choreographic phrase set just between two free moving dancers. Our journals were filling with concepts we would define "one day" until finally one of us asked the simple question, "Why isn't one day now?"

Over the past year we have worked diligently to find a group of dancers in Chicago who understand not only the technique that makes our language possible but also the intentions of creating art in this field. Molly, April, and Carolyn are beautiful movers. We are so fortunate to have found brave women to take this adventure with us.

Thank you so much for your continued support over the years if you are someone has been with us since Holland. Thank you for your new support if you are just checking into us. We are enthralled for this fresh start and look forward to sharing this journey with you.

Rehearsal at the Holland Area Arts Council

[undefined]movers has been rehearsing regularly for our upcoming show on January 14, 2011 at the Knickerbocker Theatre in Holland, Michigan. This is a look at pieces choreographed by Kristin Benner and Chelsea Harkelroad.

In the [community]

Recently at the Holland Area Arts Council, [undefined]movers. had the privilege to work with a group of outstanding students form Ambrose High School. Becca Hawkins, a Hope student who helps run the art class every Thursday, asked the dance company to collaborate for a class which she defines as, "a creative safe haven for high school kids involved in the arts." The students had already been studying 2D and 3D shapes in the arts, so it was perfect to collaborate dancing in there so they could see the shapes come to life and move before their eyes.

Janae Stewart and I, Kristin Benner, performed sections of "After Hours" and "Unforgettable Nights" while the students observed and then drew them in motion. After we performed, we had the opportunity to look at the work they created and let me tell you, it was AMAZING! The work these students did was beautiful, phenomenal, and inspiring. These High schoolers are truly talented.

After seeing the beautiful creations of the students, we decided to engage them in some kinesthetic movement of their own. Together, we explored how the human body can make art work jump off their pages in both 2D and 3D shapes. Afterwards, we conversed about choreography, different movement ideas, and the experience that we had just taken part of as a community of artists (which was so inspiring!). We hope to have many more opportunities such as this where we can reach out into the community and become involved in sharing the art we are so passionate about!