Canyon Movement Company, Inc.
We can be reached at 928-774-3937, 5680 E. Sunset Drive, Flagstaff, AZ 86004,
email: cmcgina1 at gmail dot com

RAVE REVIEWS!!!

photos by Brian Klimowski
"Place in my heart" choreographed
by Gina Darlington, 2005

Something new afoot

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For a fifth holiday season, Canyon Movement Company will present its modern version of the classical 'Nutcracker' ballet

By BETSEY BRUNER Arts, Culture & Community Editor  Sunday, December 07, 2008

     There's nothing quite like putting a new twist on an old story. For five years, Canyon Movement Company has been doing just that with its "The Nutcracker Suite in Modern Bare Feet," which debuts Thursday night.
     Marching to a different drummer than more traditional Nutcracker ballets, CMC's modern version provides a refreshing balance to the world of tutus and pointe shoes, At least two of the four shows are sell-outs each year, evidence that the barefoot Nutcracker has become a popular Christmas habit in Flagstaff, following in the tradition of the original Nutcracker, which for 116 years has been the highlight of the winter holiday season for families around the world (see history box).
     "Tickets sales are always booming," said Gina Darlington, CMC executive director, who suggested people get tickets soon.  About 80 dancers are in the production, ranging in age from 6 to 60-plus, Darlington said.

WIDE CULTURAL SPECTRUM
Darlington said the modern show incorporates many ethnic dance groups in a town fond of world dance and music.
     "It reflects Flagstaff, because we have such a diverse group of ethnic dancers here," she said. "I feel like it's a little more authentic to the story, because the ethnic dances are real ethnic dances."
     Darlington spearheaded the move to create a modern Nutcracker because her roots are in modern dance, she said.
     "Because my forte is modern dance, I didn't want to duplicate something that's been done before. So I tried to look at it from a modern-dance perspective, and I feel like we've come up with a good show."
     Other Flagstaff touches are a backdrop of the San Francisco Peaks and new costumes by local designer and seamstress Jen Jones of the Red Thread Sewing Company.
     "I'm extremely proud of the ethnic diversity of this show," said Gina Shorten, an adult who dances in the Waltz of the Flowers and several other segments. "I think it encompasses a wider cultural spectrum than any other show that's ever been produced in Flagstaff."
 
MANY NEW TOUCHES
Every year, there are new dynamic changes that keep this production at the top of the "must-see" holiday shows.   New touches this year include the Kuma Tunyali African Dance and Drum Troupe and the Ballet Folklorico de Colores of Flagstaff, presenting authentic Mexican folk dances.  Also new this year are tap-dancing soldiers, as well as new characters in the party scene -- food servers, a cat and a mouse. Several choreographers are presenting their work this season, including Barbara Klimowski and Kristi Long, who plays the Mouse Queen and choreographed a new sword fight with the Nutcracker.
     "I lose and I died in the show," Long said. "I think it's the most fun."
     Dancers Sara Frain and David Falk also choreographed their pas de deux during the dream sequence.  Other diverse elements include a street-performing scene with large Chinese yo-yos thrown with a string, a lock-and-pop dancer, stilts, tap-dancing soldiers and gymnastics.  Most of the dancers are barefoot, unless they are in tap or ballroom shoes or high Russian-style boots, Darlington said.

Article in the Arizona Daily Sun, March 11, 2008 about our Residency at Cromer School.

To see the story and photo in the Daily Sun, go to: http://www.azdailysun.com/articles/2008/03/11/news/20080311_front_page_2.txt

Creative movement comes to Cromer

By REBECCA JACOBS Sun Staff Reporter Tuesday, March 11, 2008

"Five-six-seven-eight ..."These counts, which Cromer Elementary School fourth-graders repeat in their minds as they dance, are just one of many tools of creative movement they have recently acquired. "Dancing helps me comprehend stuff," Savannah Brewer, 10 said.

"I learned that dancing is not just throwing yourself all over the place, but learning how to move my body in a controlled way," Ariel Martinez, 10, explained.

Each Wednesday, all four fourth-grade classes at Cromer are treated to an hour of dance courtesy of the Step Into Arts program. The weekly experience began six weeks ago when Canyon Movement Company director Gina B. Darlington and her assistant, Coconino Community College dance major Cori Wall, leapt onto the scene to sweep the students off their feet.

"I really didn't think I would like it, but after doing this, I learned that I really like dancing and can do so many different things," Emily Cody, 9, said.

Darlington said the goals of the project include introducing creative movement as a learning tool and to focus on dance as an art form."They've learned how to use their body at different levels, to make shapes and different ways to travel in space and time. They've learned about energy in dance, body awareness, following directions, working in a group and respecting each other's space."

***To read the rest of the article, scroll down to "Cromer Residency"

Nutcracker's new groove

A local, modern twist on a holiday classic

By Jennifer Rae Palmer Published on 12/20/2007

To read the full story, go to http://flaglive.com/flagstafflive_story.cfm?storyID=164049&sid=122

I love The Nutcracker.� And no matter how many times I've seen it, it never gets old.”

...The Canyon Movement Co. performed "The Nutcracker Suite in Modern Bare Feet"� last weekend at the Clifford E. White Theater on the Northern Arizona University campus. It was the fourth annual production, but the first time I had seen it. ...

"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.

***To read the rest of the article, scroll down to "Nutcracker 2007."

Smooth Moves DanCelebration 2006 pays tribute to the roots of dance in grand form.

"Ruins"
By Georgie Mills. Published on 6/29/06

Like weightless entities they move around the room. So comfortable within their own skin, they move without hint of inhibition. The dancers roll and glide, jump and fall - they tell a story, expressing feelings with more meaning than any words might assign. It has been said that non-verbal language communicates 50 percent of what we want to say while our words contribute only 7 percent. In a world without speech, members of Canyon Movement Co., Human Nature Dance Theater and Myriad Dance would certainly be more adept than most - they appear to have mastered the language of the body. Their words are steps, punctuated by a hand movement, a body roll or a gesture.

At the gala concert last Friday, which brought the week-long DanCelebration festival of Flagstaff to an end, Canyon Movement Co. and Irish visitors, Myriad Dance showcased a special dance they have been working on together - a huge feat in itself given that these two companies are from two countries separated by half of a globe. I felt like a guest welcomed warmly into a special dress rehearsal rather than a spectator at a gala concert. There were, it seemed, more performers than audience members in the tiny, warm, wooden studio as the dancers began their first composition.

To read the rest of the article, scroll down to "Ruins" below.

Convergence" of Talent Marks CMC Spring Performance

March 2005 - Arizona Daily Sun Preview of the Concert

Dance lovers will undoubtedly be rewarded when Canyon Movement Company presents its twelfth annual spring performance, Convergence, next Friday and Saturday, April 1st and 2nd at 7:30 p.m. in NAU's Studio Theatre. There is no charge for admission, but donations will gladly be accepted at the door. This performance follows closely on the heels of the successful run of The Nutcracker Suite in Modern Bare Feet which brought the Flagstaff community a new twist on an old favorite to sold-out audiences last December.

Established in 1993, the company continues to grow artistically, as new works and new dancers in this performance will reflect. Newcomers include Carrie Cooper and Katrina Molnar, who are each showing new choreography, as well as dancers Frankie King and Lindy Tannenbaum.

Many will remember the riveting duet performed last spring by Leonard Wood and Amanda Moore, which will make an encore appearance in this concert. Wood will also perform a solo work. The original choreography created by Jayne Lee to Tchaikovsky's Waltz of the Snowflakes for December’s performance, has been reworked to new music. Barbara Klimowski, who was new to the company last year, will perform a solo about motherhood. Confluence, features Darlington, Lee, and McBride, and celebrates the enduring relationship of these dancer/choreographers, who have worked together since 1992.

***To read the rest of the article, scroll down to "Convergence" below.

Wednesday, May 2, 2007

Curtain rises on DanCelebration Thursday leaps into action Thursday with free performances at Heritage Square, a variety of master dance classes and workshops and a gala concert Saturday night.Guest artist Breanna Rogers from Colorado will teach and perform along with Flagstaff's Canyon Movement Company and Human Nature Dance Theatre.

There are numerous free events happening during the annual festival, including lunchtime performances at 12:30 p.m. at Heritage Square, an opening reception, film festival and choreographer's showcase. A gala concert will round out the events on Saturday evening. Master classes and workshops will take place daily. Classes include improvisation and technique.The free performances at 12:30 p.m. at Heritage Square on Friday and Saturday will feature improvisational and choreographed works by Human Nature Dance Theatre and Canyon Movement Company.Morning Master Classes at 9:30 a.m. with Rogers are open to the public at $15 per class. Classes are at Canyon Dance Academy, 2812 N. Izabel St.

A free Coconino Community College Choreographer's Showcase will be at 6 p.m. for First Stop First Friday at Canyon Dance Academy. A free film festival Thursday evening after the reception at 7:30 will feature "Ruins" based on last year's DanCelebration experience with Myriad Dance Company from Ireland.The finale of the festival is a gala concert with new works by Canyon Movement Company including a piece co-choreographed with Canyon Dance Academy's Youth Company, Bravura! and dances by Breanna Rogers. Choreography is by CMC members Gina Darlington, Jayne Lee, Carol Hart, Amanda Kapp, Amanda Moore, Cynthia Ahlers, Brian Agnew, and Barbara Klimowski.

The gala is Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Northern Arizona University's Clifford E. White Theater. Call 523-5661 for tickets. Tickets are $11 or $6 for students.Major funding is provided in part the Arizona Commission on the Arts with funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, and the city of Flagstaff and Flagstaff Cultural Partners. For more information call 774-3937.

--Arizona Daily Sun staff reports

To see the photo in the Arizona Daily Sun, go to http://www.azdailysun.com/articles/2007/05/02/news/local/20070502_local_news_20.txtDanCelebration

Dear Canyon Movement Company,

Thank you very much for a most enjoyable dance concert on April 8, 2006. I especially enjoyed the piano music before the performance as well as during one of the dance pieces. The singing by the two very talented ladies during one of the dances was delightful and exquisite. Thank you very much for a wonderful afternoon filled with very talented and hardworking dancers!

Sincerely - a contributing member

Nutcracker Review in the Arizona Daily Sun by Gamin Summers 12/12/04

Modern Nutcracker delightful, comic and richly diverse.
Sold-out crowds at NAU's Clifford E. White Theater enjoyed a magical, contemporary Nutcracker this weekend. Flagstaff's modern dance troupe, Canyon Movement Company, showcased local talent and presented a visual feast for the community.

The backdrop for the entire performance was a painting of the San Francisco Peaks, reminding the audience of the intended down-home, current setting of the story. During the opening party sequence, dancers donned today's evening attire - suits and gowns - and children behaved as they would at a Christmas party. One girl had to be carried to the party, kicking and screaming both ways, by her father. Fritz, Clara's brother, drew chuckles from the audience when he disrupted partygoers with his play sword. And when the time came for Herr Drosselmeyer to distribute his gifts, children leaped, grabbed and amusingly fought over the treasures, while Clara watched in anticipation.

***To read the rest of the review, scroll down to "Nutcracker 2004" below.

REALLY OLD REVIEWS -

we've been around a long time now,

with some great feedback from Flagstaff, Phoenix, and Sedona!

Photo by Larry Coats

Ephemeral Architecture - "The show was a wonderful tribute to architecture. The dancers performed amazing feats of connectivity...extremely athletic dance with lifts and extended legs. "Geometric Inclination" had excellent timing...almost perfectly synchronous, or remaining one measure behind in imitation. It also was athletic, full of jumps and collapses. "Furbellowed Funnel" had audience members laughing out loud...it was interesting and playful. "17 Windows" was complex and athletic. "Falling Water II" was another frolicsome adventure involving pots and pans and a Sea World-style grand finale with dancers dousing each other. I am happy to see such growth."

Flagstaff Live! March 14, 2002

"Once again, Canyon Movement Company has helped to redefine what art is in the community. We can only hope for an encore performance."
~June 2000, Arizona Daily Sun

"This was dance, pure and simple: no emcee, no fancy frills, just artists baring their collective souls onstage. It was done with verve, color, inventiveness and creativity, ranging from humorous to incredibly intense all thoroughly rehearsed and delivered in a professional manner." ~Flagstaff Live!:November 16, 2000

"Our Hands" choreographed by Gina Darlington,
photo by Brian Klimowski



Arizona Republic: January 1998



"Roses to the entire troupe for turning out an interesting, eclectic experimental dance show. I watched with furrowed brow as eight-months-pregnant Gina Darlington performed, convinced at first I was seeing a send-up of Barbara Streisand's Funny Girl act. After I realized it was a realio-trulio very pregnant woman up there dancing (is this dedication to your art, or what??), the show gained a whole new dimension. The best part of the evening, for me, was a number called "Shipwreck and Landing" performed by Jayne Lee. The sole music accompanying the piece was the gentle symphony of waves crashing on a seashore. Fabulous. Beautiful. Memorable."

Flagstaff Live! April 30, 1998


"Saturday, April 12, SAC presented the blending of art movement and music with the Flagstaff-based Canyon Movement Company's interpretation, Thoughtforms, based on sculpture and poetry by Mirtala. ...individual choreographers, translated the forms in bronze to movement in space. Some were very literal, others used the art as a catalyst for their own self-expression. All of them were spellbinding. The flute and percussions of Lance Teurff were just the right cushion for the dancers to pulsate against. The company leaves room for individual expression, then fuses all together with discipline and intensity."

Red Rock News, Sedona, AZ May 2, 1997

***Cromer School Residency (Continued from above)

Through the weeks, Wall said she has seen tremendous change in the students' abilities. "They're retaining information better and their muscle memory is definitely improving," she said.

Wall explained muscle memory to be the ability of muscles to complete complex dance movements, then triggering the dancer's cognitive processes. She said that as muscle memory is built, a dancer's capabilities grow."They've moved through basic body control learning all the positions of their arms and feet. They've learned how to turn and not fall over."

Both Wall and Darlington discussed the benefits of teaching dance movements to fourth-grade students specifically."They're just discovering how their bodies work. They see that 'If I do this, I'm using this muscle and if I do this, this muscle moves,'" Wall said.

Darlington explained that at the age of 9 or 10, students are mentally developed to the point that they understand types of movements and dance concepts, but aren't to the stage that they are physically embarrassed to try these actions with their developing bodies.

The culmination of Step into Arts will be a group performance of three different pieces: a Pioneer Dance, Hip-Hop Special, and Japanese Song.The first, choreographed by Darlington, ties to the class' social studies curriculum currently focused upon the history of Arizona.

"This made me figure out how pioneers moved after a long day on the trails," Martinez explained. This dance will feature all of the classes dancing together. However, it will be highlighted by segments performed by individual classes.

The hip-hop dances, created by Wall, will feature each class individually; and the traditional Japanese song will unify the dancers once again.

As an added bonus, those in attendance will also be treated to a special performance by the Canyon Movement Company dancers."It also shows them that there is a future in dance," Darlington added. "And for others, this may be the only dance they ever do or see. So, at least they get to experience it."

Fourth-grade teacher Ellen Fischel said the change she has seen in students through the program is amazing. At the beginning of the program, the students were apprehensive, and even reluctant to participate."They were moaning and groaning, but now look at them! They're all doing it!"

In addition to the fourth-grade series of dance classes, every other class at Cromer will also receive one-time instruction.The $2,000 grant was awarded by the Arizona Commission on the Arts and also includes two other assistant dancers.The project is intended to incorporate dance into classroom instruction in a similar manner to the Keeping Score project being used throughout Flagstaff Unified School District.

***"Nutcracker 2007." (Continued from above)
The technical range of the dancers family structure. Some of the dancers were in elementary school, while others were instructors or had been dancing for more than 50 years...

The childlike tone of the "Modern Bare Feet"� version gave some comedic relief when the young mouse doctor attempted to revive the Mouse Queen after her fierce battle with the Toy Soldiers. I also laughed when the young Gingersnap Dolls came out from under the skirt of the character Mother Ginger, who reminded me of a bubbly cartoon character brought to life. The children were animated and enthusiastic, which evoked my childhood imagination.

But, not all of the dancing was performed by youngsters. I was pleasantly surprised at the technique of the dancers a couple of times during the show. When Godfather Drosselmeyer delivers toys to the children during the Christmas party, he winds up his life-size dolls and they begin to dance. The lighting turned disco ball-esque and the music took on an '80s dance beat. The retro twist on this dance was brilliant. The two dancers used modern robot moves and utilized weight distribution...to perform their flat-foot arabesques and jumps. I was mesmerized with these two and wished they had more stage time.

The next piece that caught my eye was the Dance of the Snowflakes. The dancers used geometric arm shapes and weaved in and out of one another. The choreography utilized several dancers at once to perform repetitive movements at different times. The result was elegant and beautiful. The dancers fell gracefully to the floor and came back up again as though they had the buoyancy of beach balls. The number of dancers on stage complimented the grandiose music and was the perfect piece to end Act 1.

...the excitement was turned...up when the Russian dancers took over the stage. The audience clapped and cheered while the Russians jumped and stomped. I was amazed by how fast their feet moved and how much height they got on the jumps.

While the overall technique of the performance wasn't perfect, the dancers were the star of the show. The number of performers and sponsors that came together to help put this performance together gave insight into the culture in Flagstaff. The hard work and dedication of each member of the performance made "The Nutcracker Suite in Modern Bare Feet"� a truly memorable experience.

***"Ruins" (continued from above)

"The first formal dance was called 'Ruins' and that's been a year-long project," says Gina Darlington, dancer and director of Canyon Movement Co. "That's a trans-national project that we plan to continue to work on. It's based on ancient dwellings, a site in Arizona, the Wukoki ruins and a site in Ireland, Selskar Abbey. We went to each other's sites and the group talked about what was there, experienced it, walked around, kind of meditated ...and out of those experiences we just sort of came back to the studio and created movement to make this dance - but it's still a work in progress."

This work in progress tells a tale of difference and similarity. The dancer's movements explore culture and the people behind tradition. Interpretive movements express, through rhythm, balance and the contrasting moments shared between dancers, a story of realization and harmony, memory and discovery. "For me personally, this was just about sharing those experiences with an audience that will likely never be in both places," Darlington says.

The experience at the ancient ruins which inspired these two companies is not unlike the cultural education they have received from each other - two groups from two different countries coming together to celebrate a shared passion. "It's a challenge to work with different personalities that have different backgrounds and different ways of working," says Darlington. "A lot of the experience is the experience. One of our younger dancers said 'I can't believe I'm partnering with a dancer from half way across the world.' Just to hear that is terrific regardless of what came out of it."

Human Nature Dance Theatre performed a work called "Heart of the Matter" choreographed by Delisa Myles and Jayne Lee which was an expression of love, anger and rejection between two characters who eventually came to find a mirror-image of themselves in each other. Again, confronting in-depth issues of identity and judgment, this work was both eloquent and enlightening. With simple costume and basic lighting in an intimate space, three dance companies created a gala evening of unique, thought-provoking movement with a depth unmatched by many live productions I have witnessed.

Canyon Movement Co.'s Web site features a quote which seems to summarize the cultural value of the evening's entertainment: "Going to see a summer blockbuster movie is sort of like eating white bread. It sustains you. It will do it for a moment. But it doesn't fill the need for something finer, something more delectable, something with a taste that lingers ...like live performances." When I left, I felt my soul and my mind were filled to the brim. Though my enrichment was valuable and I consider myself bettered by the experience, sometimes all I want is a slice of white bread with peanut butter and jelly. I was more than ready to get home, sit on my couch with a cold drink and lose it all to mindless reality TV. Perhaps an awakening to such depth of expression and emotion should be a gradual process for me.

***"Convergence" (continued from above)

Available for preview was And to You, Too, reflecting the joy that comes from simple conversations and interactions. Choreographer Katrina Molnar said she was inspired to create this dance by the strong women in her family whom she calls "super heroes."Director Gina Darlington has created a new quartet which originated during the company's tour to Italy last year, entitled Our Hands. "Our hands tell so many stories," explains Darlington. "They are a reflection of our lives. They provide comfort and can express so much with only a gesture." Founding company members Jayne Lee and Kristen McBride will be showing new works as well.

Another twist in this performance is the Studio Theatre setting, allowing audiences to experience the movement "in the round." With genuine diversity of dance talent and choreography, this should be the best dance concerto performance to date. CMC is a nonprofit organization that receives funding from the Arizona Commission on the Arts, The National Endowment for the Arts, the City of Flagstaff, and Flagstaff Cultural Partners, as well as many generous individuals in the Flagstaff community.

***"Nutcracker 2004" (continued from above)

Corinne Hobson proved to be an enchanting Clara. An experienced, graceful dancer, she embodied the lead role with wide-eyed wonder and the vibrancy of youth, while also effectively expressing the dramatic moments of the tale. Comically, she padded around in oversized pink, fuzzy slippers during part of the dream sequence.

Robert Corbin returned to the Flagstaff stage with flair and presence as the Nutcracker, particularly during his "pas de deux" with the Sugar Plum Fairy, played by Sarah Roberts Cooke. Their tango-inspired tryst, choreographed by Corbin, displayed the two dancers' ballet proficiency while adding a modern elegance. A Middle Eastern dance company, Al Rakasaat, performed the Arabian dance with swirling hips, lavish traditional costumes, jingling trinkets and even a balancing sword act. Maximum Martial Arts' renditions of the Chinese dance and Marzipan were alive with kicking, jabbing and fancy footwork. John Neeley and Samantha Mott performed with bow staffs for the Chinese dance, exhibiting precision and skill with choreographed traditional movements.Ukranian dancer Brent Ewasiuk delighted the crowd with his physicality during the Russian dance, which he performed with CMC director Gina Darlington. And Blanca Obregon's Flamenco interpretation of the Spanish dance dazzled with extravagant footwork and fan flourishes.

Other magical moments included the Dance of the Snowflakes, choreographed by Jayne Lee to include rolling, falling, acrobatic movements and unique shapes as the dancers swirled in the falling snow. Angels danced in a sea of stage fog, and Herr Drosselmeyer, played by Blair Wood, used his mystical powers to raise the Christmas tree and banish furniture from the stage.Perhaps the greatest comic highlight came from the Mice, performed by 7- and 8-year-old students of Canyon Dance Academy. The crowd giggled as the shiny little grey mice skittered about the stage nervously and fought with the toy soldiers.

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, and seemingly disparate community groups combined to present a solid, enchanting holiday performance.

Photo by Brian Klimowski

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