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Mutual Dance Theatre
The resident company of Mutual Arts is called Mutual Dance Theatre. The organization also presents other dance companies, but MDT specifically refers to artists living and working in Cincinnati with the Company.
Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Centers is the result of a 2021 merger between Contemporary Dance Theater (est. 1972 by Jefferson James) and MamLuft&Co. Dance (est. 2007 by Jeanne Mam-Luft). Both organizations began as performing troupes, but in the early 1990s, CDT dissolved its resident company and focused on presenting out-of-town artists while continuing to support local artists in various ways. Today, in its 50th season (adopting numeration from the elder organization), the name Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Centers emphasizes collaboration, connectedness, and commonalities across individuality. The organization has combined both priorities: growing a virtuosic and viable local company while also bringing nationally-significant art to Cincinnati’s residents.
CDT has presented over 200 dance productions and founder Jefferson James was a recipient of the Scripps Corbett Lifetime Achievement Award. MDT has received awards and accolades from Cincinnati Magazine, CityBeat, and the League of Cincinnati Theatres. In 2015, the Enquirer’s David Lyman named MDT (as MamLuft&Co. Dance) amongst only two other, behemoth organizations (Cincinnati Ballet and Alvin Ailey) as having performed the most “exceptional moments in dance” in Cincinnati. CityBeat editorial staff named the Company the “Best Company Pushing the Envelope” locally in 2012.
MDT’s Company Members have come from across the country — from Utah to Massachusetts over the years. Guest choreographers have included Sarah Gamblin (Bebe Miller Dance Company), Amii Legendre (Pat Graney Company), Cody Szarko (Visceral Dance Chicago), John Litzler (River North Dance Chicago), Kristin O’Neal (Core Dance), Betsy Miller, Elisa de la Rosa, Leslie Dworkin, Jefferson James (Contemporary Dance Theater), Victor Lewis, Jr. (of PHILADANCO!), and Sidra Bell of Sidra Bell Dance New York.
Jeanne Mam-Luft
ARTISTIC AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Jeanne Mam-Luft is the Artistic and Executive Director of Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Centers, which she founded as MamLuft&Co. Dance in 2007. She holds a Master of Fine Arts in Dance from Texas Woman’s University and a Bachelor of Architecture from Carnegie Mellon University. Mam-Luft studied at both American Dance Festival and Bates Dance Festival on full scholarships, as well as Carnegie Mellon’s acclaimed School of Drama, Pittsburgh Filmmakers, and Point Park University. Her training includes Sarah Gamblin (Bebe Miller Dance Company), Mary Williford-Shade (Dance Alloy), James Caton (Ballet Metropolitan), Melissa M. Young and Nycole Ray (Dallas Black Dance Company), Ming-Lung Yang (Trisha Brown Dance Company), Tatiana Baganova (Provincial Dances Russia), and many others. Mam-Luft was the Assistant Director of Contemporary Dance Theater for 4 years and later approached by the organization to lead thus allowing the retirement of her mentor, Ms. Jefferson James. She is certified in Labanotation from the Dance Notation Bureau (NY) and is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional. As an artist-producer, Mam-Luft has produced 18 evening length and 61 shorter works (35 of which she was lead choreographer). She was the first and only dance artist to be named a Cincinnati Arts Ambassador Fellow in support of an original dance-for-camera she choreographed, filmed, and edited. She served on the board of OhioDance (the state-wide organization for dance) for 6 years and is a founding member of Greater Cincinnati Dance Alliance. She has been a grant panelist for both the Ohio Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. She was raised in Texas after her family escaped the Khmer Rouge genocide.
Steven P. Evans
COMPANY DIRECTOR
Steven P. Evans hails originally from Cincinnati, Ohio. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Ohio University, as well as a Master of Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University. Evans apprenticed with the Sean Curran Company in New York City in 2012. Evans joined Mutual Dance Theatre when it was MamLuft&Co. Dance in 2014. He has performed lead roles and contributed choreography since his very first season in the canon of works by Jeanne Mam-Luft including /SHIFT/, The Tragedy of Time, Maps, and Memoriam. He starred in The Double, an evening-length work by Susan Honer based on the eponymous Dostoevsky novella. Steven received his first commission from Mutual when he was tapped to create an evening-length work with Elena Rodriguez Moore, titled Double|Sided, which became one of the Company’s most successful productions selling at 138% capacity, standing-room only. He returned to the company in 2020 as Company Co-Director and has continued to lead and create work in the Company. Evans’ latest works include proscenium works “Petrichor” (2023, based on the poetry of Octavio Paz, Mexican Laureate), “Score” (2022), and an evening-length immersive experience |S|P|A|C|E|. Outside of MDT, Evans has premiered work at Contemporary Dance Theater’s Area Choreographer’s Festival in 2014 and 2015. Evans is also a Certified Professional with the Society for Human Resources Management. The 23-24 season is Steven’s 7th with the Company.
Hannah Williamson
REHEARSAL DIRECTOR
Hannah Williamson, a 6th year performing member of Mutual Dance Theatre (formerly MamLuft&Co. Dance), is choreographer, Rehearsal Director, and performing member. She is a 2017 graduate of Wright State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance – Magna Cum Laude. She has performed in works by Dwight Rhoden and Clifford Williams of Complexions Contemporary Ballet and the Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre in Carmel, IN.
Through her passion for choreography, she strives to communicate eternal truths where mere words come up short. Her prior works have been selected for such presentations as Columbus Modern Dance Company’s January 2018 Emerging Choreographer Residency, The Area Choreographers Festival (Contemporary Dance Theater), and Yes! Virginia Dance Festival (Richmond, VA). Williamson also received a commission from MDT for the creation of “Variations in a Brainstorm” (premiere 2021), which was heralded by many audience members as their favorite MDT work.
Ms. Williamson is also a performer in the company.
Claire Dieringer
COMPANY MEMBER
Claire Dieringer is a 2016 graduate of Kent State University, from which she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Magna Cum Laude. Claire also studied at American Dance Festival in Durham, North Carolina with numerous teachers in multiple styles from all over the world. Claire has worked professionally as the Director of the Dance Program at Lake Bryn Mawr Camp in Pennsylvania. In 2017, Claire joined Mutual Dance Theatre (when it was MamLuft&Co. Dance) after training in New York. She was hired full-time as the organization’s Education and Outreach Coordinator and now holds the role of Studio Director and Programs Manager. She recently performed in Géographie, a multi-week installation by French choreographers Annie Vigier and Franck Apertet (les gens d’Uterpan) at the Contemporary Arts Center, as well as in the Area Choreographers Festival (Contemporary Dance Theater).
Linda Garza
COMPANY MEMBER
Linda Garza is a 2022 graduate of Miami University where she received her Bachelor of Science in both Chemical Engineering and Engineering Management. During her time at Miami, she also earned minors in environmental engineering and dance. Prior to joining Mutual Dance Theatre, Linda was a member of Miami University’s Dance Theatre where she performed in a variety of pieces by both student and guest choreographers. Some of her favorite pieces from her time in the company include “A Pep Talk for This Life” choreographed by Bessie-winning Joanna Kotze and “The Kids Are(‘nt) Alright” choreographed by Liza Torrence. More recently, Linda performed at the 2023 OhioDance Festival in “The Blue Room” choreographed by Mutual Dance Theatre’s Jasmine Snellen. Linda is so excited to have the opportunity to dance with Mutual for their upcoming season!
Ana Hart
COMPANY MEMBER
Born in Osijek, Croatia, Ana Hart graduated magna cum laude from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and a Bachelor of Arts in Media Arts & Design with a concentration in Interactive Design. In the summer of 2019, Ana attended the American Dance Festival and studied with Shayla-Vie Jenkins, Ray Schwartz, Maayan Sheinfeld, Noa Zuk, and Ohad Fishof. She was also cast in work by international choreographer Chien-Kuei Chang. Ana has also performed in works by Matt Pardo, Ryan Corriston, Christian Warner, Gregory Dolbashian, Stephanie Liapis, and Darla Stanley. Ana danced with Virginia Repertory Dance Company from 2019-2021. Ana is passionate about dance in the community and has been a volunteer with JMU’s Dance for Parkinson’s Program, later completing Dance for Parkinson’s Professional Development Training from the Mark Morris Dance Group under a grant from JMU’s Gilliam Center for Entrepreneurship.
Evelyn Lackney
COMPANY MEMBER
Evelyn Lackney received her Bachelors of Arts in dance and communication studies from Western Kentucky University. Originally from Danville, KY, Evelyn danced with the WKU Dance Company and had the opportunity to work with various choreographers across various styles. During her time in Bowling Green, KY, Evelyn was trained by artists at Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre, New Dialect, and Mutual Dance Theatre. Additionally, Evelyn has choreographed multiple modern works that were adjudicated and presented. Her choreographic pieces are known for their emotional storytelling, inspired by the belief that art exists in everything. She is thrilled to be joining Mutual Dance Theatre!
KC Lyphout
COMPANY MEMBER
KC Lyphout, originally from Toledo, Ohio, began formally training in dance at the age of 12 at Toledo School for the Arts. After receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Wright State University in 2021, KC joined Dayton Contemporary Dance Company 2 as a dance artist for the 2021-2022 season. Additionally, KC has been a choreographer and dancer with Dayton Dance Initiative since 2022. As an emerging choreographer she has had the pleasure of creating new dance works for Wasatch Contemporary Dance Company and Suttle Dance Detroit. KC is thrilled to be joining Mutual Dance Theatre this season.
Jasmine Snellen
COMPANY MEMBER
Jasmine Snellen began her dance training at Louisville Youth Performing Arts School where she studied Martha Graham’s technique and classical ballet. She is a graduate of the selective and esteemed Kentucky Governor’s School For the Arts. Snellen earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Shenandoah Conservatory and University where she trained with equal emphasis in Ballet, Jazz (classical, contemporary, and commercial), Modern (Graham, Limón, Horton), composition, and pedagogy. Snellen has had the honor of training with Alan Arnett, Tiffanie Carson, Ting-Yu Chen, Maurice Fraga, Elijah Alhadji Gibson, Erica Helm, Linda Miller, and Lisa Startsman among others, including mainstage features by Mike Esperanza of Bare Dance Company NYC, Company | E of Washington DC, and Brussels-based artists Katie Vickers and Albert Quesada. Jasmine has performed at Peridance Salvatore Capezio Theater in NYC, trained with LA Contemporary Dance Company and Sidra Bell Dance New York, and presented work at the Kentucky Center for the Arts. Snellen has a passion for design and digital media and works as Mutual Dance Theatre’s Marketing Manager, as well. She also teaches for the organization and has created two works on the company since joining in 2019. She conceptualized, choreographed, and edited a five-part dance-for-camera entitled FFIFF (2020), which explores society’s rapidly shifting polarity, clashes of beliefs, and the tethers of groupthink. In 2022, she created “Cingularity,” a 20-minute work exploring the idea that “singularity” might be reached, when humans and technology eventually become one (the title is also a nod to the 90s cell phone network, Cingular).
Presented by Mutual Dance Theatre and the Jefferson James Contemporary Dance Theater Series
Dallas Black Dance Theatre
Oct 20-21, '23
Aronoff Center for the Arts
Presented by Mutual Dance Theatre and the Jefferson James Contemporary Dance Theater Series
Rosie Herrera Dance Theatre
Mar 8-9, '24
Aronoff Center for the Arts
2023-2024 Sponsors
Our work is supported in part by: individual donors, big and small; the generosity of more than 40,000 contributors to the ArtsWave Community Campaign; the National Endowment for the Arts; The Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund of the Greenacres Foundation; the Louise Taft Semple Foundation; and state tax dollars allocated by the Ohio Legislature to the Ohio Arts Council. To support Mutual Dance Theatre’s important work that keeps the genre of Modern Dance in Cincinnati, please visit mutualdance.org/support