"Enlightening" —The Enquirer
"Best Dance Company Pushing the Envelope" —CityBeat
Cincinnati's Own
Mutual Dance Theatre in Modern Mix '26
This tour de force is Cincinnati's best-kept secret
In a curated spectrum — a powerful mix of invigorating voices — Mutual Dance Theatre's Modern Mix '26 features four new dance works of connection and contrast.
This vibrant collection features guest choreographers with international credits, including:
Joshua Ishmon (Chicago): voted "Best Choreographer" by Chicago Reader, listed as "Breakout Contemporary Dance Artist" by Newcity, and holds the positions of Emerging Showcase Curator and member of Deeply Rooted Dance Theater.
Shane Ohmer (Philadelphia): an unbelievable career including dance captain of Phantom of the Opera touring company, resident director of Rock the Ballet, performance credits with Pacific Northwest Ballet, Les Grands Ballet Canadiens de Montreal, River North, and Whim W'Him, among others.
Nat Wilson (New York): formerly of Kibbutz Contemporary Dance, ZviDance, ate9, Cocodaco Dance Project, Visceral Dance, Volta Collective, and Ballet Austin now with Yue Yin Dance Company as one of only a few FoCo™ Technique teachers.
Modern Mix '26 is an annual favorite that brings together our immensely talented resident company with national guests, creating surprising juxtapositions and unforgettable moments.
Ticket Prices
Starting at $29.
$5 Early Bird Discount for tickets purchased by April 2.
Seniors/Students discounts available with valid ID at box office at 650 Walnut St.
LOCATION
Aronoff Center for the Arts
Jarson-Kaplan Theater
650 Walnut St
Cincinnati, OH 45202
More Information
Tickets: 513.621.ARTS (2787)
Content: hello@mutualarts.org
More with Mutual
Young Professionals Night
Friday, May 1, 2026
Post-Show Artist/Audience Talk-Back
Friday, May 1, 2026
Stick around after the show to learn more about the artists and their process.
Pre-Show Hosted Interview
Saturday, May 2, 2026
Come early at 7pm to preface the performance with an artist interview, hosted by Jeanne Mam-Luft, Artistic Director of Mutual Dance Theatre.
American Sign Language Interpretation
Saturday, May 2, 2026
Community Class
Saturday, May 2, 2026, 12-1:30pm
Subscribe to the 25-26 Season
Save time & money.
First access to Director's Choice Seats.
3-show package with first access to Up-Close.
Support our work.
Deeply Rooted Dance Theater
of Chicago
Cincinnati premiere: Richly dramatic, riveting, and culturally resonant
Up-Close
'25
by Mutual Dance Theatre
Sold-out every year, a fourth-wall-breaking experience
Modern Mix
'26
by Mutual Dance Theatre
A tour-de-force and spectrum of invigorating voices
Community Dance Class
with Mutual Dance Theatre's Evelyn Lackney
ALL bodies, no experience needed! Learn basics of Modern Dance with Company Member, Evelyn Lackney
Saturday, May 2, 2026, 12-1:30pm
$16 in advance
$21 day-of
Mutual Arts Center HARTWELL
8222 Monon Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45216
Meet the Artists
Mutual Dance Theatre is our resident company who create and produce work year-round in Cincinnati. Here, the meet the choreographers of Up-Close ’25 (which include guests), as well as the performers.
Choreographers
Joshua Ishmon
Joshua L. Ishmon is a performer and former rehearsal director with Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, where he is also director and founder of its Emerging Choreographer’s Showcase. Ishmon has performed with Winifred R. Harris’ Between Lines (Denver), Seamless Dance Theater (Kansas City), Ballet Chicago, and Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (where he danced in the Bessie Award-winning cast of Donald McKayle’s “Rainbow Round My Shoulder”). He has shared the stage with Bobby McFerrin and choreographed for South Shore Dance Alliance and Cerque Rivera. Ishmon was voted Chicago’s “Best Choreography” in 2017 by Chicago Reader and listed by Newcity as a Breakout Contemporary Dance Artist. He is a Chicago Dancemakers Forum Lab Artist, a 3Arts Make a Wave artist, and the founder of Production: COLORS.
Shane Ohmer
Shane Ohmer has danced around the globe on stages and screens in an unbelievably full career. On dance stages, Ohmer’s credits include River North Dance Chicago, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal, as well as musicals Flashdance, Phantom of the Opera, and Rock the Ballet. On screen, Ohmer has worked for Law & Order SVU, David Letterman, Warby Parker, and Dos Equis, as well as a dance-on-camera for Whim W’Him. He’s choreographed for New York Fashion Week, Armani Exchange, and GQ. Ohmer has appeared in global news segments in France, Greece, Germany, Spain, Monaco, and was interviewed by the BBC as the headliner during a sold-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe festival. Raised in Cincinnati, Ohmer is currently pursuing a Master of Fine Arts at Hollins University after having taught at area universities, plus Point Park University, Memphis University, University of Arizona, and Wayne State University.
Nat Wilson
Nat Wilson grew up in Dexter, Michigan but has worked in New York, Los Angeles, and Israel. Wilson has performed for Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company, ZviDance, Visceral Dance, Ballez, age9, Volta Collective, kNoname, Roderick George, More Fish Dance, LEVELdance, and Cocodaco. Currently living in Brooklyn, Wilson now performs for Yue Yin Dance Company, where is one of only two to be certified to teach Yue Yin’s FoCo technique. Wilson also trained with the Joffrey Ballet Studio Company.
