Past Performances
2012 PERFORMANCES
March/April 2012-INsideOut
Motus welcomed guest choreographer Audra Sokol in this site-specific work at the Indy Indie Artist Colony for their event “In Residence II” in March. The evening featured work by several of the Indy Artist Colony residents, live music from Marauder Octobot, and live dance from Motus. Audra used the women of Motus in “An exploration of good versus evil and the relationship between the two. Humankind is driven by the constant need of good triumphing over evil, however, without negative influence, we lose purpose in the search for internal and external love.”
The second site-specific work in Motus’ INsideOut series featured a collaboration with Jan Need. She created a piece entitled “Passage” specifically for the Indy Indie Artist space. The first three of six sections was performed on Friday, April 6th during First Friday at the Indy Indie Artist Colony. Inspiration for the piece is drawn from personal struggles with fibromyalgia and degenterative disc disease. The piece demonstrated the depth of pain a person can suffer starting with the body, then the heart and finally progressing to the soul.
February 2012-Mended Hearts Indy: Cocktails for Canines
February 2012-Be Burlesque Workshop with Jenee’ Michelle
Jenee’ Michelle, locally based burlesque performer, CEO of the Nuvo burlesque group “Pur|The Company” and burlesque teacher at Motus, brought her signature “Be Burlesque” workshop to Motus. This three hour workshop is designed to give anyone the chance to learn more about the art of burlesque and all its sparkly components. Attendees will learn how to create a classic burlesque look via hair and make-up, just as performers do when they hit the stage. Participantslearned a burlesque routine, had a hair and make-up tutorial, and learned how to make their own pasties!
January 2012-Burlesque Workshops with Red Hot Annie
In 2011 we added a Burlesque class to our list of class offerings. In January 2012 we hosted our first series of Burlesque workshops with Red Hot Annie-Chicago’s top burlesque performer.
2011 PERFORMANCES
November 2011-IN
Whether you’re coming out, letting us in, down and out, or just plain “it,” you won’t want to miss this. Motus will present a full-length production to bring awareness and provoke discussion around the ideas of inclusion and exclusion. Featuring all new choreography and collaborations with Tommy Lewey (paperStrangers) and Georgeanna smith (NoExit Performance).
In premiered November 2011 at The White Rabbit Cabaret in Indianapolis, IN. Due to it’s warm reception we were able to take it on the road, bringing it to Ball State in December 2011 and to The Fort Wayne Dance Collective in February 2012.
July – September 2011 – This Too is a Stage
Motus took dance to the streets in performances around the city, including the IndyPride Parade and the Fountain Square Art Parade. Motus also won Grand Champion in the Celebrate Indy Arts! Parade.
July 2011 – Breaking Ground
June 2011 – Summer Teen Intensive
June 2011 – Pairings: An Evening of Wine and Dance
Motus’ annual fundraising event perfectly pairs 6 tastes of wine with 6 new dances, 6 hors d’oeuvres and 6 new pieces of music…all performed live, a feast for the senses!
April 2011 – Indiana Dance Festival
Motus traveled to Fort Wayne, IN to participate in a weekend of workshops and artistic renewal. We participated in the showcase performance along with several other groups from around the state. We performed Pink Moscato, which was originally choreographed for Pairings 2010 by Lauren Beirne. Our executive and artistic director, Heidi Keller-Phillips, set her Bow piece on all 55 of the showcase participants. What an event!
March 2001 – Paired Down
Paired Down was a less formal version of our 2010 Pairings performance. We stripped away the food, peppered in a few new pieces and guests furnished their own wine at the bar. We introduced new core artists Katelin Ryan and Stefanie Squint, and enjoyed live performances by the band ESW in between works.
2010 PERFORMANCES
Indy’s emerging choreographers participated in a shared concert. Each selected choreographer had the opportunity to rehearse and refine their work based on feedback from peers and mentors. The intent was to afford the luxury of time, space and professional equipment to those choreographers with a voice, but without the resources to do so on their own. Congratulations to McKenzie Baird – winner of the Motus Emerging Choreographer Award and a cash prize – and to all the choreographers and dancers for a wonderful show. Check out a review from Nuvo.
During the week-long IndyFringe Theatre Festival, Motus performed Baby Pool Etudes and Variations, Expressions on Canvas, and other pieces from the Motus repetoire on the street and in the ClubFringe outdoor tent.
2009 PERFORMANCES
November 2009 – Windblown
Windblown was created and performed down the length of Massachusetts Avenue as part of the Spirit and Place Festival’s Random Acts of Improvisation.
August 2009 – Broken Fragile Mind
“I’ve lost so much. Mother. Father. Will I lose my mind as well? The root of it all rides on this. Are they getting closer? Are they coming for me?” Inspired by a provocative 1930’s radio broadcast, Motus navigates a mind battling fear, manipulation, and a race against time. Premiered at the 2009 IndyFringe Festival at the Earth House.
Check out these reviews:
And others by Brooke Randolph (www.smallerindiana.com), Joe Boling (www.indianaauditions.com), Julie (WIBC), and Rita Kohn (Nuvo).
June 2009 – Each Other
Lost in the wilderness, blind and trapped, in darkness we cannot find each other…Created and performed for the Herron School of Art & Design’s 2009 Fundraiser, Visionary, on June 6.
View photos by SeeSaw Imaging on our Facebook page!
April 2009 – Spark a Revolution
Motus performed two new works, as well as a collaboration with all the artists who participated in this IndyFringe Festival and Earth House fundraiser on April 17, 2009.
2008 PERFORMANCES
December 2008 – 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Performance
Commemorative Performance at the IU Law Building on the IUPUI campus, December 6, 2008.
August 2008 – Wicked Dreams, Pleasant Nightmares
An abstract journey through the subconscious mind, leap from light to dark, fall into fear, initiate insecurity, creep through curiosity and dance the desires of the mind. Wicked Dreams Pleasant Nightmares uncovers the reverie and awakens the imagination. Premiered in the 2008 IndyFringe Festival at the American Cabaret Theatre. Check out the buzz on Indy.com, Indy Theatre Habit, and Nuvo. See a slideshow on Flickr:
June 2008 – Wine Wednesday Performance
Performed in June 2008 with live musical performance by Grampall Jookabox, and hosted by Joseph Lehner at his Wine Wednesday event. View the performance.
March 2008 – Rear View Mirror: Celebrating Five Years of Motus Dance Theatre
Motus Dance Theatre’s performances of repertoire at the Wheeler Art Center in Fountain Square on March 28-30, 2008. See a slideshow of photos from the performance here! And check out a review from Nuvo.
2007 PERFORMANCES
Fall 2007 – Emerging Spaces: Creative Dances for Inspiring Spaces
Motus Dance Theatre’s 2007 Fall Performance Series included Strange Fruit, a fundraiser for AYS Art Enrichment programs at the Wheeler Art Center on October 27; Wine Wednesday performances hosted by Joseph Lehner on November 14; A First Friday performance collaboration with artist Kyle Ragsdale, at the Harrison Center for the Arts on December 7: A Review by Marshall at Five! The Central Library’s Grand Opening performance in the new Atrium on December 12; The Indianapolis Museum of Art’s Winter Solstice performance on December 20.
August 2007 – Kin: A bizarre family portrait
Premiered in the 2007 IndyFringe Festival at the Auditorium of the Athenaeum. Original music produced by Stung Tongue Productions.
2006 PERFORMANCES
November 2006 – Unwrapped
A holiday show, with guest director Michael Bachman, performed at Broad Ripple High School, November 8-9, 2006.
August 2006 – RED TAPE
Premiered in the 2006 IndyFringe Festival. Developed during the breaking.ground/workshop, and performed at the Phoenix Theatre mainstage. A review from IndianaAuditions.com.
June 2006 – under.construction and breaking.ground
Featured many new dancers and choreographers in this collaborative workshop and performance.
May 2006 – Untitled performance, Urban Garden Performing Arts
Collaboration featured during the Harrison Center for the Arts First Friday open house.
March 2006 – Light on Wings, Urban Garden Performing Arts
Presented with the help of the Indianapolis Cultural Development Commission, at the Harrison Center for the Arts’ First Friday studio night. Motus artists performed in this collaborative piece with the Urban Garden company, Elyce Elder, and the Thread Bare exhibit.
February 2006 – Mozart Festival, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra,
Motus dancers performed the Minuet preceding the Symphony’s Mozart Festival concert.
