We can be reached at 928-774-3937, 5680 E. Sunset Drive, Flagstaff, AZ 86004 email: cmcgina at aol dot com Photos by Brian Klimowski

Current Events!!!

Win a beautiful quilt! See it on the Home Page. Raffle tickets only $5 or 3/$10. Come by the studio, or mail your check. Drawing is on July 14th. We are also raffling a Gee's Bend replica quilt top by Carol Hart. Quilt by Barbara Schreiner 2003. Courtesy of Kristi Long.

Encore performance Monday, July 14th, 7:00 p.m. for Quilt Camp in the Pines. At the Studio Theater on NAU campus. Tickets are $10 at the door. Call 928-774-3937 for more information.


This performance is based on the women and quilts of Gee's Bend Alabama. There are slides of the actual quilts, live music with Tony Norris and Bill Burke, all new choreography by CMC, and narration to tell the story. It's a wonderful show, and touches on all aspects of the lives of those women including abuse, sisterhood, community, and art-making.

Inspired by the beautiful artistic quilts of Gee’s Bend, Alabama, Canyon Movement Company has created dances reflecting the time and place represented in those quilts. Live music by Tony Norris and Bill Burke accompany many of the dances created by CMC members. Experience the story of the women who live there, and how they survived the oppression, poverty, and difficulties of the time. In cooperation with Tinwood Media, pictures of the quilts will be on display along with other quilts in the dancers’ possession. All ages will be welcome to help create a “community quilt” in the lobby before and after the show. Funding provided by the National Endowment for the Arts American Masterpiece program.

The fifteenth annual Dance Concerto was orginally presented in the Studio Theater at NAU on May 8 - 10.
Live music, film projection, narration, and beautiful costumes and quilts ensure a fantastic evening of dance for everyone! Director Gina Darlington, and company members Cynthia Ahlers, Carol Hart, Barbara Klimowski, and Jayne Lee choreographed all new work for the program. This concert will be full of exciting dances infused with maturity and experience. Tickets are $10 at the door. Seating is limited. Don’t miss this unique program from the local modern dance company that brought you “The Nutcracker Suite in Modern Bare Feet.”

In conjunction with the American Masterpiece funding, excerpts of this program has been presented to schools and in the community throughout the spring of 2008 including Cromer School, Thomas School, Northern Arizona Yoga Center, and as part of the First Stop First Friday series at Canyon Dance Academy. Furthermore, a portion of the program was used in an independent film documentary about women in abusive and oppressed situations and will be shown in film festivals across the country.

This concert is funded in part by the Arizona Commission on the Arts with funding from the State of Arizona and the National Endowment for the Arts, the City of Flagstaff and the Flagstaff Cultural Partners, and Flagstaff Community Foundation.



First Stop, First Friday events every first Friday of the month. Come by Canyon Dance Academy early to see the event, then head downtown to see the rest of the Art Walk. Or stay on the east side and eat at some of the great restaurants.

January 4th - Brainstorming session for the upcoming project and film documentary, "HIStory of Women's Prisons." (Completed)

February 1st - Planetary Dance (Completed) Over 65 people attended and participated with live drummers! (Completed)

March 7th - Canyon Movement Company, Human Nature, CCC's EnCorps Company, and Spitfury come together for an evening of dance at the Northern Arizona Yoga Center on south San Francisco St. 6:00 p.m. FREE. (Completed) About 175 audience members throughout the evening! (Completed)

April 4th - Works in Progress showing by CMC at Canyon Dance Academy Studio, 2812 N. Izabel St. 5:30 p.m. Guest folk musicians Tony Norris and Bill Burke. (Completed)

May 2nd - Excerpts of Gee's Bend Project(completed)

"Band of Brothers" choreographed by Gina Darlington,

performed with the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra on July 3, 2007

PREVIOUS EVENTS!

Canyon Movement Company presented the fourth annual Nutcracker Suite in Modern Bare Feet - a 21st century interpretation of the holiday classic.
Performances were December 13-15.


New this year is the addition of some Hip Hop, Tap, new cast members, enhanced contemporary costumes, additional choreographers with new choreography, and a cast of over 75 dancers. This annual Flagstaff tradition uses music by Peter Tchaikovsky with new choreographic interpretations lending a fresh look to this classical favorite. Beautiful backdrops of the San Francisco Peaks, along with some musical surprises, bring this holiday favorite home to Flagstaff.
Members of Canyon Movement Company and the cast also presented four lecture/demonstrations at local schools as part of their community outreach and educational programs.





The Arizona Daily Sun said, “In all, The Nutcracker Suite in Modern Bare Feet showed Flagstaff a creative, entertaining interpretation of the classic ballet. The audience was treated to a visual feast of delicious sets, elaborate costuming and ethnic variety…combined to present a solid, enchanting holiday performance.” (December 2004)


This performance is supported in part by funds from the City of Flagstaff and Flagstaff Cultural Partners, the Arizona Commission on the Arts with funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, and private donors.






Canyon Movement Company's Evening of Elegance was September 19th at Pasto's in downtown Flagstaff. It was an evening of dance performacne, hors d'oeuvres, desserts, and drinks. All proceeds benefited the Company. Dances performed included Freedom, Band of Brothers, Say What? and more.

The concert on July 3rd, 2007 at the new Pine Mountain Amphitheater with Canyon Movement Company and the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra was a huge success! Over 3000 audience members attended. It was a beautiful evening with fantastic music and brilliant dancing. For more information about the Flagstaff Symphony, contact http://flagstaffsymphony.org/

Canyon Movement Company choreographed two new dances for this show. The first one is "Outdoor Overture," by Aaron Copland. Choreographer Cynthia Dewell Ahlers has taken the idea of outdoor activities in and around Flagstaff, and incorporated them into dance - climbing, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, and kayaking. Come see this exciting, humorous look at Flagstaff's outdoor activities through modern dance!
Director Gina Darlington choreographed the second dance to a selection by Michael Kamen for the HBO mini-series "Band of Brothers." The choreography explores ideas generated by the music including depending on each other for survival, support, and solidarity. It is a solemn reminder of the experience of the 101st Airborne in France over 60 years ago.
Finally, Bravura!, Canyon Dance Academy's youth company joined Canyon Movement Company for a fun rendition of "Cotton-Eyed Joe!" staged by Carol Hart.
Canyon Movement Company's portion of the performance is sponsored in part by Wells Fargo Investments, Wells Fargo Bank, First State Bank, Scott A. Darlington DDS, Arizona Music Pro, Arizona Commission on the Arts with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, the City of Flagstaff and Flagstaff Cultural Partners, the Brenner Foundation and individual donations.

DanCelebration and Dance Concerto XIV were combined this year!

(2007)
Supported in part with funds from the Arizona Commission on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, the City of Flagstaff, the Brenner Foundation, and membership support.

Guest Artist Breanna Rogers taught, performed and set a new work on Canyon Movement Company. Other guest performers include CCC's Encore Dance company, CDA's Bravura! company, and community guest artists.



We hope you took part in Flagstaff’s Ninth annual DanCelebration with guest artist Breanna Rogers from Colorado along with Flagstaff’s own Canyon Movement Company and Human Nature Dance Theatre. There were numerous FREE events happening during the festival, including lunchtime performances at 12:30 at Heritage Square, an opening reception, film festival, and choreographer’s showcase. A fantastic Gala Concert rounded out the events on Saturday evening. Master classes and workshops will be taking place daily. Classes included improvisation and technique.


In February, we performed the "Planetary Dance." Gina attended a "Planetary Dance" event with the founder, Anna Halprin- noted modern dance figure in the late 20th century. Based on that experience, we had our own performance/participation of a planetary dance that brought prayers of peace and hope and healing to each of us. We had live drummers and about 35 participants! It was great.

Canyon Movement Company's 8th annual DanCelebration 2006 was a huge success! Our Irish visitors, Human Nature, and our own company dancers provided daily free performances, open master classes a reception, presentation/lecture, and Gala concert on Friday night at the new Canyon Dance Academy Black Box Theater The world premier of "behindtheeyesliesbone" performed by Myriad Dance, and the preview of Ruins - a trans-national project were seen at the Gala concert.

Photos from Wupatki, DanCelebration 2005! by Brian Klimowski Dancers are performing an excerpt of "The Unsung," choreography by Jose Limon

DanCelebration 2000-2005 featured: Guest Artist Nina Watt joined the Limon Dance Company in 1972. Quickly becoming a soloist with the Limon Company, her stature as a performer has been recognized over the years in major roles from the works of outstanding choreographers including Limon, Humphrey, Daniel Nagrin, and many others, as well as a work especially choreographed for her by Alwin Nikolais. She is featured on the cover of the March 1996 issue of Dance Magazine. Currently on leave-of-absence, Ms. Watt appeared as a guest artist with Doug Varone and Dancers in the 2002 production The Bottomlands at New York City's Ohio Theater. Ms. Watt is the recipient of a 2002 Bessie Award for Sustained Achievement in Dancing. She taught classes daily as well as performing. Joining Ms. Watt from the Limon Company was RAPHAEL BOUMAILA.

Major funding is provided in part the Arizona Commission on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, the City of Flagstaff, private donors, and Canyon Movement Company. It is produced by Canyon Movement Company. For questions, registration, tickets or other information call (928) 774-3937 or 526-9403.

Dance Grand Prix in Italy June 18-23, 2004.
Here we are in Italy! Sarah, Carrie and I performed twice in Cesena last week. It was a beautiful old stage that was raked - that means it was slanted towards the audience. It makes it a bit more difficult to dance on. We were honored in the contemporary dance division. All the Italian people are wonderful and helpful. So we will update more later-on to Rome!

Winterfest Performance "The Grinch who Stole My Heart" By Canyon Dance Academy and Bravura! was Saturday, February 7, 2004 at 3:00 and 7:00 p.m. "The best show you've done, yet!" exclaimed one parent. "It was great to see all the children dancing." "The boys in tuxedos looked so elegant." "You just keep getting better and better!"

THANKS TO EVERYBODY THAT SUPPORTS US.

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