We can be reached at 928-774-3937, 5680 E. Sunset Drive, Flagstaff, AZ 86004 email: cmcgina1 at gmail dot com Photos by Brian Klimowski
Current Events!!!
Photo by Wade Thorson           

Canyon Movement Company’s  Evening of Elegance!  
was a great success!  Great food, raffle prizes, dance, and great company!
 

There is no First Friday event at Canyon Dance for July.  See you in August!

2009 Completed First Stop, First Friday events:
February: Open rehearsal with Canyon Movement Company.  Come see how we create new dances!
March: fouth annual PLANETARY DANCE!  Come participate in this community event that is a dance for peace!  Live drummers and directions make it one of the most moving events you can be a part of!
April: Dance, music, poetry, dramatic readings, performance art.
May:  Dancers from NAU and Coconino High School. 
June:  CMC's Masterpiece performance with Shonto Begay
Thank you Flagstaff Communty Foundation for funding this event and supporting dance in our community!

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PREVIOUS EVENTS!

photo by Scott Sawyer
Our second American Masterpiece Project:
Visions and Voices,
Dance Concerto XVII,  featuring dances inspired by the artwork of Shonto Begay June 5 & 6, 2009
Witness creativity in progress!  Improvisational dance and music in the back of a pick-up truck, etch-a-sketch creations by artist Shonto Begay while you watch, dancers painting each other, rocks flinging through the air!  Working with and inspired by the artwork and style of Diné artist Shonto Begay, Canyon Movement Company performed an evening of new dances. 
The seventeenth annual Dance Concerto was presented as part of Flagstaff Cultural Partners “Monsoon – a flood of dance” this summer.

In April, we were invited to dance in the MAD BAD festival in the Bay Area.  We were able to see Carol Hart, former dancer with CMC, and stay with some of our supporting members.  We had a great time, and were honored to be a part of such a fantastic festival with so many excellent companies.  Also in April, we were guest artists with Conder Dance in Tempe.  They will be joining us up here July 18th.

CMC traveled to Tempe Performing Arts Center (Oct. 11)  where we performed in the Arizona Dance Festival.  We performed our humerous dance, "Say What?"  We had a sold-out crowd who were very responsive.  They laughed and laughed and told us afterward they liked our "Sarah Palin dance."  Hmmmmmmmm.......

Freedom" to Copland's Outdoor Overture,
choreographed by Cynthia Ahlers,

performed with Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra on July 3, 2007

                                                                                                                                                         
Northern Arizona University did a spot on our Gee's Bend Project. Click on this link, then the link that says "Watch the episode now," then fast forward about 5/6th the way through. You'll see a great interview with footage from the show. Thanks to Theresa Bier for producing it!

SEE US ON TV!
http://www4.nau.edu/insidenau/bumps/2008/7_2_08/inside.htm

May 2008
Dances inspired by the Quilts of Gee's Bend including music by Tony Norris and Bill Burke.

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.

Canyon Movement Company presented the fifth annual Nutcracker Suite in Modern Bare Feet – a 21^st This production has become a Holiday Tradition with tickets sales starting as early as October.  Every year, there are new dynamic changes that keep this production at the top of the "MUST-SEE" holiday shows! 

In 2008, an African dance and drum troupe has been added to the authentic ethnic dances.  Fantastical costumes by Jen Jones of the Red Thread Sewing Company, new casting, updated choreography, musical surprises, and beautiful sets will send you home with the holiday spirit!

New this year are tap dancing soldiers, new characters in the party scene including party servers and a cat and mouse, enhanced contemporary costumes, additional choreographers with new choreography, a cast of over 80 dancers, and a street performing scene with dibolos (large Chinese yo-yo’s thrown with a string), lock and pop dancing, free-hand stilts, tap dancing, and gymnastics.  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 bring this holiday favorite home to Flagstaff. 

Members of Canyon Movement Company and the cast also presented five lecture/demonstrations at local schools and community centers as part of their outreach and educational programs. This program is sponsored by Target Stores.  

Flag Live said, “The Nutcracker Suite in Modern Bare Feet successfully blended ... two expectations. The end result was a distinctive combination that gave this performance a personality that could only be seen in a small town like Flagstaff. It was an extremely well-orchestrated family show.”

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, Target Stores, 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.






"Band of Brothers" choreographed by Gina Darlington,

performed with the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra on July 3, 2007

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.

Nina Watt from the Jose Limon Company


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!

THANKS TO EVERYBODY THAT SUPPORTS US.