Guest Artist News Archives - Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Centers

Press Release: Mutual Dance Theatre announces 2025-2026 season

Press Release

Mutual Dance Theatre announces its 2025-2026 Season

Please do not download these images, which are a sampling and low-resolution preview of the asset folder.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 8, 2025

Contact:
Name – Micky Sikorski, Marketing and Communications Manager
Organization – Mutual Dance Theatre
Email – communications@mutualarts.org
Phone – 513-494-6526
Website – mutualdance.org/performances

CINCINNATI, OH — Mutual Dance Theatre (formerly known as Contemporary Dance Theater and MamLuft&Co. Dance until their merger in fall of 2021) announces its 2025-2026 season, Embrace: A Season of Connection. The four productions bring nationally- and internationally-recognized Modern and Contemporary Dance to Cincinnati, including performances by guest companies, as well as commissions of numerous choreographers who will create work on the company’s local artists.

Running from October 3, 2025 to May 2, 2026, the season’s theme points to our undeniable connections, in all their complexity and power. Mutual Dance Theatre’s resident company and two guest companies (who are presented in our Jefferson James Contemporary Dance Theater Series) will examine connection in some of its many forms: the reciprocal reliance of bodies in choreography, the deep resonance of shared stories, and the collective experience of live performance.

Embrace is more than a season theme: it’s an invitation,” says Jeanne Mam-Luft, Mutual Dance Theatre’s Artistic and Executive Director. “We want audiences to feel the deep, human connections that contemporary dance can reveal and to experience the rich perspectives we uniquely bring to Cincinnati.”

Highlights of the season and related community events include:

  • Two acclaimed guest companies, both of who will be making their first appearances in Cincinnati: the riveting Deeply Rooted Dance Theater of Chicago (October 3-4, 2025) and the sensationally popular Yue Yin Dance Company of New York City (February 20-21, 2026).
  • Two productions of world premieres performed by Mutual Dance Theatre’s highly talented resident company: the perennially-sold-out Up-Close (December 4-13, 2025) and the bold Modern Mix (May 1-2, 2026), featuring works by a Princess Grace Honoraria recipient, an artist voted “Best Choreographer” in Chicago by Chicago Reader, a former Phantom of the Opera touring cast member, and more.
  • Fascinating and approachable audience talk-backs.
  • Masterclasses and community classes that offer audiences chances to connect to each other and artists.

Season Details

All performances take place at 7:30pm at the Aronoff Center for the Arts, except for Up-Close, which takes place at Mutual Arts Center Hartwell.

Presenting Deeply Rooted Dance Theater of Chicago: October 3-4, 2025

Richly dramatic, riveting, and culturally resonant.
Hailed as a “major force” in Chicago dance, and described as richly dramatic, riveting, and culturally resonant, Deeply Rooted’s large company commands the stage.

Mutual Dance Theatre in Up-Close ’25: December 4-13, 2025

Sold-out every year, a fourth-wall-breaking experience.
Unlike any other show in the season. World premieres: Breath, Flesh, and Bone / A Manual for Lovers at the end of the world (by Crystal Michelle, a Princess Grace Honoraria recipient) and Look Thrice (by Hannah Williamson, known for crafting mysterious journeys).

Presenting Yue Yin Dance Company of New York: February 20-21, 2026

A sensation, mesmerizing and “goosebump-inducing.”
Speak with any young dance artist today, and they will recognize Yue Yin immediately. YYDC is a sensation capturing the attention of over 80,000 fans across the globe. Described as “gasp-provoking,” “modern dance of the highest quality,” and “goosebump-inducing.”

Mutual Dance Theatre in Modern Mix ’26: May 1-2 2026

A tour-de-force and spectrum of invigorating voices.
A tour-de-force of curated talent with world premieres by: Joshua Ishmon (Chicago, “Best Choreographer” Chicago Reader), Shane Ohmer (Philadelphia, Les Grands Ballet Canadiens, Phantom of the Opera, and more), and Nat Wilson (New York, YYD, Kibbutz Contemporary Dance, ZviDance, Visceral, and more).

Season Subscriptions

This year’s lineup features nationally-acclaimed guest companies from across the country alongside the bold artistry of Mutual Dance Theatre, the resident company; our season subscriptions offer audiences an amazing package deal and first dibs at premium seating:

  • Starting at just $100 for a 3-show package.
  • Audiences can save time and money while also supporting the non-profit arts organization.
  • Subscribers secure the best seats, including the new Director’s Choice Seats, hand-picked by Artistic Director Jeanne Mam-Luft.
  • An add-on offers first access to Up-Close, which features very limited seating and sells out each year.

Season subscriptions are available now at mutualdance.org/subscription or at the Aronoff Center box office at (513) 621-ARTS or 650 Walnut Street.

For the full schedule and more details, visit mutualdance.org/performances.

Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Centers’ work is made possible by: the generosity of tens of thousands of contributors to the annual ArtsWave Campaign, the region’s primary source for arts funding; an investment of public funds from the Ohio Arts Council, a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally, and economically; and individual donors.

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About Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Centers

Mutual Dance Theatre is the city’s longest-running and most consistent Modern Dance organization, both as a presenter and a resident company. MDT was formerly known as Contemporary Dance Theater (est. 1972 by Jefferson James) and MamLuft&Co. Dance (est. 2007 by Jeanne Mam-Luft) until their merger in 2021. Both organizations began as performing troupes, but in the early ‘90s, CDT dissolved its company and subsequently focused on presenting guest artists . The two organizations joined to create the aptly-named Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Centers, taking enumeration from its elder half and thus celebrating its 54th season in 25-26. Mutual has honored and combined the priorities of both founding organizations: investing in a virtuosic local company with the aim of becoming a significant presence both locally and nationally, as well as the continued presentation of Modern and Contemporary Dance from across the States (and sometimes, beyond). Mutual also reaches thousands of children each year through education and its academy, as well as charity-supported outreach. Learn more at mutualdance.org.

Photography / Assets / Links

Downloads for press are available here: https://www.mutualdance.org/seasonprassets. This includes:

        1. High-resolution images.
        2. Video trailer with branding/title cards.
        3. Video trailer without branding/title cards for media outlet to add their own chyrons.

Additional images available upon request to communications@mutualarts.org.

This press release can also be found at https://www.mutualdance.org/seasonprassets or accessed as a Google Doc at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eOxERwLaIWZQ-c2Ju263LMsZ8djYCZjiRATAuLMz3do/edit?usp=sharing.

Social Media Handles:

Performances: Facebook and Instagram @mutualdance
The CentersFacebook and Instagram @mutualartscenters


Press Release: PHILADANCO! comes to Cincinnati: Jan 21-22, 2022

Press Release

PHILADANCO! comes to Cincinnati: January 21-22, 2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

The Philadelphia Dance Company, PHILADANCO! — a world-renowned company known for preserving African American traditions — is presented by Mutual Dance Theatre and The Jefferson James Contemporary Dance Theater Series

 

December 14, 2021

 

CINCINNATI, OHIO — In continuation of Mutual Dance Theatre’s 50th season (adopting its numeration from merged organization Contemporary Dance Theater), the organization also formerly known as MamLuft&Co. Dance, presents a world-renowned dance company, The Philadelphia Dance Company on January 21 and 22, 2022 at the Aronoff Center for the Arts.

PHILADANCO! has been described as “an imaginative, gorgeous and thrilling dance company who showcase some of the best African American traditions in dance that really enhance their heritage” (London, UK). The Company has performed on major stages including Jacob’s Pillow, The Joyce, Heinz Poll, and many others.

Founded 51 years ago by Joan Myers Brown in order to give Black dancers opportunities denied elsewhere, the Company and its school flourished to become “a brilliant mix of of miracle skill, energy, and artistry.” Its performers exhibit “virtuoso physicality” in “fascinating and thrilling” performances.

Across the nation and around the world, PHILADANCO! is celebrated for its innovation, creativity, and preservation of predominantly African American traditions in dance.

Artistic Director Kim Y. Bears-Bailey and Company will bring to Cincinnati a variety of choreographic works*.

“Conglomerate” by Anthony Burrell, choreographer for Mariah Carey and Beyonce, formerly of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

Choreographer Anthony Burrell boasts a résumé chock-full of big names in both dance theatre and the entertainment industry. From choreographing for Pepsi, DKNY, Beyonce, Mariah Carey, GLEE, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and many others, to having performed with stage companies PHILADANCO!, Koresh Dance Company, and Alvin Ailey, Burrell is teeming with talent and expertise. About “Conglomerate,” Burrell writes: “This work pays homage to the rich history of Black Dance in Philadelphia that inspired my journey as a Dancer, Choreographer, and Creative Director.”

“With(in)verse” by Tommie-Waheed Evans, 2021 Guggenheim Fellow

Tommie-Waheed Evans is a 2021 recipient of the coveted Guggenheim Fellowship. Evans (born and raised in Los Angeles) is a queer, Black, dance-maker whose work has been influenced by the racial divide, gang warfare, and earthquakes of his hometown. He explores Blackness, spirituality, queerness, and liberation through his work. “With(in)verse”, he says, “does not seek to be gospel as celebration, nor as evangelism. This is gospel as desperation. The work intertwines the ideas of spirituality and sorrow by focusing on the often strong presence of these ideas when hitting rock bottom. Pastor T. L. Barrett’s song ‘Father Stretch My Hands’ becomes the embodiment of deliverance.”

“This Place” by Ray Mercer, of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and The Lion King

Ray Mercer, of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater fame, has also appeared in Broadway’s The Lion King. The native of Omaha, Nebraska won the Jeffrey  Ballet Choreographers of Color Award in 2012 and performed with Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, Boston Ballet (as a guest artist), and many others. His choreography — which can be seen on Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, New Jersey Ballet, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, and many others — has been recognized in The New York Times and the Chicago Sun Times. Mercer’s work on PHILADANCO!, “This Place” is “motivated by the idea and feeling of community,” he writes. “It is a collage of movements that addresses how a group that shares a common interest interacts socially, humanistically, and intimately. This is a technically-based, high-energy, physical work that explores many aspects of community in five very different sections, coming together in one collage of work.”

“Between the Lines” by Francisco Gella, Artistic Director of Zeitgeist Dance Theatre

Filipino choreographer Francisco Gella is a former dancer of PHILADANCO! who also performed with Repertory Dance Theater and Ballet Pacifica. He’s worked with Spectrum Dance Theater, California Ballet, and many others, including the closing ceremonies in the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics. He has received numerous choreography awards, including at the Youth America Grand Prix International Ballet Competition and the National Regional Dance America Conference in 2007. Gella describes “Between the Lines” as “a work that was created and inspired by the architectural drawings of Frank Lloyd Wright, who was himself inspired by Beethoven’s lush compositions. Wright often stated that whenever he listened to Beethoven’s music, he saw movement and design. The dance illustrates a certain architectural flare with more than a hint of romanticism while drawing influences from choreographic legend Gene Hill Sagan and the classical idiom.”

(*Works are subject to change.)

Tickets to the performances by PHILADANCO! (January 21-22, 2022) start at $40 but are automatically discounted $5 if purchased by December 30, 2022. In addition, season subscriptions are still available and provide the largest publicly-available discount on tickets, with the remaining three shows of the season start at just $85.80 in total.

Not only will PHILADANCO! perform, but they will also provide a free post-show discussion after Saturday evening’s show and offer a masterclass/workshop for local dancers based on a new work by Black Canadian choreographer Bakari Lindsay on Saturday, January 22 at 11am at Mutual Dance Theatre’s Hartwell location (8222 Monon Ave, 45216).

More information can be found at mutualdance.org/philadanco.

The season is generously supported in part by: donations (big and small) from individuals; the National Endowment for the Arts; The Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund of the Greenacres Foundation; the generosity of more than 40,000 contributors to the ArtsWave Community Campaign; state tax dollars allocated by the Ohio Legislature to the Ohio Arts Council (OAC); The Warrington Foundation; and The Greater Cincinnati Foundation Aronoff Center Rental Subsidy. The workshopping of Bakari Lindsay’s work is supported by the New England Foundation for the Arts. To support Mutual Dance Theatre’s important to work to keep the genre of Modern Dance in Cincinnati, please visit mutualdance.org/support.

Mutual Dance Theatre’s Jefferson James Contemporary Dance Theater Series presents PHILADANCO!, January 21-22, 2022

ONE OF THE NATION’S MOST TREASURED MODERN DANCE COMPANIES, HERE FOR ONE WEEKEND ONLY

DATES:

Friday, January 21, 2022 at 8pm
Saturday, January 22, 2022 at 8pm

VENUE:

Aronoff Center for the Arts, Jarson-Kaplan Theater, 650 Walnut Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202

TICKETS:
$35.00-$46.25 when purchased before December 30, 2021
$40.00-$53.00 when purchased on or after December 30, 2021
Tickets and more information at mutualdance.org/philadanco

SEASON SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE STILL AVAILABLE START AT JUST $86.50

INFORMATION:

Known across the world for their “brilliant mix of miracle of skill” and “virtuoso physicality,” PHILADANCO! makes a short return to Cincinnati 10 years since their last visit. The Jefferson James Contemporary Dance Theater Series (newly renamed since CDT’s merger into Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Centers) welcomes the 51-year-old legendary dance company who celebrates and preserves predominantly African American traditions in dance. Do not miss this repertory concert chock-full of both old and new favorites with works by Francisco Gella, Ray Mercer, Tommie-Waheed Evans, and Anthony Burrell.

MASKS AND PROOF OF COVID VACCINATION OR NEGATIVE TEST REQUIRED WITH PHOTO ID.

FREE! POST-SHOW DISCUSSION

Stay after the performance on Saturday night (January 22, 2022) for a free, post-show discussion with PHILADANCO! artists.

DANCER WORKSHOP

Experienced dancers are also invited to an open workshop with PHILADANCO! company members on Saturday, January 22, 2022 at 11am. $15 if registered before-hand, $20 at the door. Victor Lewis, Jr. will lead a workshop on Bakari Lindsay’s new work on PHILADANCO!. See mutualdance.org/masterclasses for more information, including pricing and location.

Season Tickets

Season subscriptions are still available as the best offer on ticket savings for patrons. The three-show package will include PHILADANCO!, Sidra Bell Dance New York, and resident company Mutual Dance Theatre’s MODERN MIX. The 3-show package starts at just $85.80.

 

COVID-19 Policies

Along with numerous other venues in Cincinnati, due to the high levels of COVID-19 transmission in Hamilton County and the surrounding area, the following protocols are currently effective until further notice:

  • Guests, staff, and volunteers are required to wear masks at all times in our venues, regardless of vaccination status. 
  • Ticket holders 12 years of age and older will be required to show a proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test AND PHOTO ID for entry into the events.

Read more information and any updates at https://www.cincinnatiarts.org/plan-your-visit/health-and-safety.

 

Access

Mutual Dance Theatre was founded to create more access to Modern Dance. We believe that all income levels should have the pleasure of attending live performances. Free admission will be provided to persons of low-income.  Patrons are encouraged to contact the organization at 513.494.6526 or hello@mutualarts.org for assistance.

The Aronoff Center for the Arts offers many accommodations for persons with disabilities, including a fully-ADA accessible facility and hearing devices. Large print programs will also be available.

 

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Print-Ready Images

For images and other resources for the press, please visit mutualdance.org/pressroom.

Press contacts

For more information, please email jeanne@mutualarts.org or call 513.494.6526.

 

Download This Press Release

As a Word .docx here.

As a PDF here.

 

Social Media Handles:

Performances: Facebook and Instagram @mutualdance
The Centers: Facebook and Instagram @mutualartscenters


Press Release: Mutual Dance Theatre Announces 21-22 Season

Press Release

Mutual Dance Theatre announces its 2021-2022 Season, including The Jefferson James Contemporary Dance Theater Series’ 50th Anniversary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 4, 2021

 

CINCINNATI, OHIO — Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Centers made headlines last year when a merger to form the organization was announced by Contemporary Dance Theater (est. 1972) and MamLuft&Co. Dance (est. 2007). Under Artistic and Executive Director, Jeanne Mam-Luft, Mutual Dance Theatre announces an exciting return of Modern Dance to the stage with Season 50 (adopting Contemporary Dance Theater’s numeration) in 2021-2022, kicking off right away in November.

The season features both home performances by the resident company, Mutual Dance Theatre, as well as the preservation of Contemporary Dance Theater’s most treasured program, formerly known as the Guest Artist Series. This jewel of the region brings nationally-significant art to our stages, schools, and community hubs. This year, the JJCDT features performances by the world-renowned PHILADANCO! (Philadelphia, PA) and the visually-fascinating Sidra Bell Dance New York, both Black-led companies (Sidra Bell being the first African American woman to be commissioned by the New York City Ballet).

The resident company, featuring artists who exhibit virtuosity and powerful nuanced performance, will share numerous world premieres. The performances will take place both in their home studio theatre and in the Aronoff Center, including new repertory acquisitions from the aforementioned guest artists. These acquisitions are part of the company’s exciting pivot to growing their identity as a repertory company with work by nationally-recognized choreographers.

The season will also feature a celebration of CDT founder Jefferson James and her work, commemorating 50 years of her singular work to advance and promote Modern Dance in Cincinnati before her recent retirement.

Audiences can save significantly (and support the organization) by subscribing to the season, with a subscription starting at just $76.50.

Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Centers extends the impact of these performances by bringing the artists into the community. Activities will include a free lecture-demonstration for children, residencies, public Q&As, and workshops or masterclasses with artists on the Saturday of each performance weekend.

The season is generously supported in part by: donations (big and small) from individuals; the National Endowment for the Arts; The Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund of the Greenacres Foundation; the generosity of more than 40,000 contributors to the ArtsWave Community Campaign; state tax dollars allocated by the Ohio Legislature to the Ohio Arts Council (OAC); The Warrington Foundation; and The Greater Cincinnati Foundation Aronoff Center Rental Subsidy. The workshopping of Bakari Lindsay’s work is supported by the New England Foundation for the Arts. To support Mutual Dance Theatre’s important to work to keep the genre of Modern Dance in Cincinnati, please visit mutualdance.org/support.

Mutual Dance Theatre Premieres Pulp and Variations in a Brainstorm, November 12-20, 2021

WORLD PREMIERES: AN IMMERSIVE DANCE EXPERIENCE REVEALED IN CHAPTERS

DATES:

Friday, November 12th, 2021 at 8pm
Saturday, November 13th, 2021 at 8pm
Friday, November 19th, 2021 at 8pm
Saturday, November 20th, 2021 at 8pm

VENUE:

Mutual Arts Center Hartwell, 8222 Monon Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45216

TICKETS:
$20 when purchased before October 20, 2021
$25 when purchased on or after October 21, 2021
Tickets and more information at mutualdance.org/pulp

SEASON SUBSCRIPTIONS START AT JUST $76.50

INFORMATION:

Audiences will be immersed in a dance theatre experience that will take them on two, different adventures, both revealed in chapters. In Pulp, as the audience surrounds the performers in Mutual Arts Center’s black box studio, they will first begin by helping to choose a unique sequence of events that will never again be performed in that same order. The theatergoers will simultaneously perceive a common object, but interpret it differently as perspective is weighed in pithy moments. In Variations in a Brainstorm, letters, writings, and musings—all tied to a writing desk—will guide audiences through a tour of divergent identities. In the end, both adventures unearth the human mind’s vast ability to make connections.

Choreographers Rowan Salem and Hannah Williamson are 2nd and 5th-year veterans of Mutual Dance Theatre (respectively). Rowan Salem, originally from Massachusetts, was a Gretchen Moran Scholar at Smith College in Northampton, and her work has been presented at the Redline Contemporary Arts Center, Counterpath Exhibition Space, Green Street Studios, and Art Gym, Denver where she was the 2017 recipient of the Create Award Residency. Hannah Williamson is a local, rising talent whose work has been selected for presentations from Ohio to Virginia; she has performed in works by notable artists Dwight Rhoden and Clifford Williams of Complexions Contemporary Ballet and the Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre in Carmel, IN.
This performance takes place in Hartwell at 8222 Monon Avenue 45216 NOT at The Aronoff Center.

AUDIENCES SHOULD PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT ALTHOUGH SOME SPACING MAY BE POSSIBLE, THIS IS GENERAL SEATING AND DISTANCING CANNOT BE GUARANTEED. Parking is free and the building is ADA-accessible. For more information about the venue, please see mutualdance.org/hartwell.

American Sign Language interpretation will be provided on Friday, November 19.

Experienced dancers are also invited to an open workshop with choreographer Rowan Salem Saturday, November 13, 2021 at 11am. See mutualdance.org/masterclasses for more information, including pricing and location.

Mutual Dance Theatre’s Jefferson James Contemporary Dance Theater Series presents PHILADANCO!, January 21-22, 2022

ONE OF THE NATION’S MOST TREASURED MODERN DANCE COMPANIES, HERE FOR ONE WEEKEND ONLY

DATES:

Friday, January 21, 2022 at 8pm
Saturday, January 22, 2022 at 8pm

VENUE:

Aronoff Center for the Arts, Jarson-Kaplan Theater, 650 Walnut Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202

TICKETS:
$35.00-$46.25 when purchased before December 30, 2021
$40.00-$53.00 when purchased on or after December 31, 2021
Tickets and more information at mutualdance.org/philadanco

SEASON SUBSCRIPTIONS START AT JUST $76.50

INFORMATION:

Known across the world for their “brilliant mix of miracle of skill” and “virtuoso physicality,” PHILADANCO! makes a short return to Cincinnati 10 years since their last visit. The Jefferson James Contemporary Dance Theater Series (newly renamed since CDT’s merger into Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Centers) welcomes the 50-year-old legendary dance company who celebrates and preserves predominantly African American traditions in dance. Do not miss this repertory concert chock-full of both old and new favorites.
Experienced dancers are also invited to an open workshop with PHILADANCO! company members on Saturday, January 22, 2022 at 11am. See mutualdance.org/masterclasses for more information, including pricing and location.

Mutual Dance Theatre’s Jefferson James Contemporary Dance Theater Series presents: Sidra Bell Dance New York, March 25-26, 2022

THE CINCINNATI PREMIERE OF INTERNATIONALLY SOUGHT-AFTER VISIONARY, SIDRA BELL, THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN TO BE COMMISSIONED BY THE NEW YORK CITY BALLET

DATES:

Friday, March 25, 2022 at 8pm
Saturday, March 26, 2022 at 8pm

 

VENUE:

Aronoff Center for the Arts, Jarson-Kaplan Theater, 650 Walnut Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202

TICKETS:
$30.00-$40.00 when purchased before February 28, 2022
$35.00-$46.25 when purchased on or after March 1, 2022
Tickets and more information at mutualdance.org/sidrabell

SEASON SUBSCRIPTIONS START AT JUST $76.50

INFORMATION:

Sidra Bell is one of Modern Dance’s most up-and-coming artists, sought-after across the globe and the nation. Mutual Dance Theatre’s Jefferson James Contemporary Dance Theater Series is ecstatic to present Ms. Bell and her diverse Company of dance artists for the first time in Cincinnati, Ohio for one weekend only. Described as “hypnotically seductive” and “brilliant and impressive,” Bell’s aesthetic rings of “Pina Bausch, fashion, and Harlem’s ballrooms” in a unique, visionary style that draws in audiences, deeply. Her distinctive, hyperkinetic movement and dramatic brilliance hone-in on the human psyche and questions of identity. Sidra Bell is the first African American woman to be commissioned by the New York City Ballet. Sidra Bell Dance New York will perform IN | REP, an evening of dance theater works that will leave audiences feeling and thinking for days to come.
The community is also invited to an open workshop with Ms. Bell on Saturday, March 26, 2022 at 11am. No dance experience is required or expected: experience Ms. Bell’s process through movement and space. See mutualdance.org/masterclasses for more information, including pricing and location.

Mutual Dance Theatre’s MODERN MIX, June 17-18, 2022

FOUR MODERN DANCE PREMIERES WITH CHOREOGRAPHY BY SIDRA BELL, PHILADANCO! ARTISTS, STEVEN P. EVANS, AND JASMINE SNELLEN

DATES:

Friday, June 17th, 2022 at 8pm
Saturday, June 18th, 2022 at 8pm

 

VENUE:

Aronoff Center for the Arts, Jarson-Kaplan Theater, 650 Walnut Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202

TICKETS:
$30.00-$40.00 when purchased before May 31, 2022
$35.00-$46.25 when purchased on or after  June 1, 2022
Tickets and more information at mutualdance.org/modernmix

SEASON SUBSCRIPTIONS START AT JUST $76.50

INFORMATION:

MODERN MIX features a proud collection of work, including three Black artists. The season-closer promises variety, athletic prowess, virtuosic dancing, and compelling drama. Mutual Dance Theatre (formerly known as MamLuft&Co. Dance) is undergoing a thrilling transformation as it amplifies its repertory through commissions and re-stagings by national artists! Cincinnati’s Modern Dance company will close its 21-22 season with choreography by Sidra Bell (of Sidra Bell DanceNY), PHILADANCO! artists, and Steven P. Evans and Jasmine Snellen of Mutual Dance Theatre.

Experienced dancers are also invited to an open workshop with choreographer Jasmine Snellen on Saturday, June 18, 2022 at 11am. See mutualdance.org/masterclasses for more information, including pricing and location.

COVID-19 Policies

Along with numerous other venues in Cincinnati, due to the high levels of COVID-19 transmission in Hamilton County and the surrounding area, the following protocols are currently effective until further notice:

  • Guests, staff, and volunteers are required to wear masks at all times in our venues, regardless of vaccination status. 
  • Ticket holders 12 years of age and older will be required to show a proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test for entry into the events.

Read more information and any updates at https://www.cincinnatiarts.org/plan-your-visit/health-and-safety.

Access

Mutual Dance Theatre was founded to create more access to Modern Dance. We believe that all income levels should have the pleasure of attending live performances. Free admission will be provided to persons of low-income.  Patrons are encouraged to contact the organization at 513.494.6526 or hello@mutualarts.org for assistance.

 

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Print-Ready Images

For images and other resources for the press, please visit mutualdance.org/pressroom.

 

Press contacts

For more information, please email jeanne@mutualarts.org or call 513.494.6526.

 

Social Media Handles:

Performances: Facebook and Instagram @mutualdance
The Centers: Facebook and Instagram @mutualartscenters


Press Release: Contemporary Dance Theater and MamLuft&Co. Dance to Merge

PRESS RELEASE

Contemporary Dance Theater and MamLuft&Co. Dance to merge; ML&Co. takes new name Mutual Dance Theatre first and announces new arts center, Modern Dance academy, and lead artists.

June 20, 2020

CINCINNATI, OHIO — Contemporary Dance Theater (“CDT,” est. 1972) and MamLuft&Co. Dance (“ML&Co.,” est. 2007) will be merging by Fall 2021. MamLuft&Co. Dance will take the new name Mutual Dance Theatre first, effective immediately. The merged organization will be led by MamLuft&Co. Dance’s Artistic and Executive Director, Jeanne Mam-Luft. Contemporary Dance Theater’s founder Jefferson James will retire as Artistic Director Emeritus and continue to lend consultation. ArtsWave has made the merger possible through a $30,000 grant, supporting the idea that a merger between the organizations will lead to more sustainable advancement of Modern Dance.

Jefferson James says about the decision to step down and to pursue the merger:

“This was not an easy decision to make, but I thought the time was right. There is so much change happening in the field of live performance now that one more change seemed appropriate. I will miss the joys of directing my dance organization, but I’m confident I’m leaving the mission of CDT in the hands and heart of an equally dedicated and supremely talented leader. Her job will be to combine the organizations and make an even stronger dance presence in our community than we’ve had.”

 

Histories

Jefferson James founded Contemporary Dance Theater in 1972 in Cincinnati after leaving Juilliard and New York City, where she trained with the Modern Dance founders and legends José Limón, Martha Graham Dance Company, and Merce Cunningham. While CDT began as a performing repertory company, it eventually became the major presenter of Modern Dance in Cincinnati, as well as an arts service organization which has provided resources to many individual artists and fledgling companies, like MamLuft&Co. Dance, for 47 years. Contemporary Dance Theater was also a founding member of the now-extensive National Performance Network, which supports the presentation, creation, and touring of contemporary arts around the country while advocating for social justice and social equity. (Archival photography and more about CDT’s history can be found at https://vdc.ohiodance.org/exhibits/cdt/.)

Contemporary Dance Theater in Park Dance at Fountain Square, 1980. Photo by Jan Van Dyke. (Download high resolution image here.)

Contemporary Dance Theater and MamLuft&Co. Dance have a long history with each other, starting with ML&Co.’s very first company auditions held at CDT’s studio in 2007. Since then, James has been a mentor to ML&Co. founder Jeanne Mam-Luft, who also later served as James’ assistant director from 2010-2014. As the only self-described Modern Dance company in Cincinnati since 2007, MamLuft&Co. Dance has worked to encourage the presence and consistent work of professionals in Modern Dance.

Jeanne Mam-Luft says about CDT and leader Jefferson James:

“Contemporary Dance Theater — and, really, that means Jefferson — has been absolutely integral to MamLuft&Co. Dance. I’ve never met another person who has single-handedly held up a genre of art for an entire city for as long as Jefferson has. When people call her the ‘mother of Modern Dance in Cincinnati’ (and I know she hates the term), they do it with good reason. My organization — actually, the city — owes so much to her, and it’s an immense honor to be trusted with continuing her work. We both have a deep, deep love for Modern Dance and for Cincinnati, and I know that there is no other work that either of us want to be doing.”

Mam-Luft, a refugee of the Cambodian genocide, is one of only several Asians who are leading arts organizations in Cincinnati. Her vision centers on increasing access and the representation of people of color.

 

More merger details

  • The two organizations will complete the merger over the next season, to be completed by the fall of 2021.
  • Contemporary Dance Theater will continue to operate separately until the merger is effectively complete. MamLuft&Co. Dance will be known as Mutual Dance Theatre immediately.
  • After fall of 2021, the flagship program of CDT, the presentation of touring companies will be called The Jefferson James Contemporary Dance Theater Series.
  • The merged organization will expand and deepen its service to local artists.
  • Both CDT and ML&Co./MDT invite the public’s counsel. The organizations are looking for diverse community voices to help re-envision the future. The public can join the effort by visiting mutualdance.org/join.
  • Donations can be made at mutualdance.org/support.

 

Model by Andrea Fernando and David Eppele, rendering by Jeanne Mam-Luft. (Download high resolution image and other views here.)

The Arts Centers: The Hart and The Hill

MamLuft&Co. Dance, in December of 2019 before the pandemic, purchased a 1.5 acre property in the Hartwell area. The organization, now to be known as Mutual Dance Theatre, announces the new arts center. Affectionately termed “The Hart,” the center allows the organization to fulfill its vision of becoming a neighborhood-based community arts center that also creates space specifically for Modern Dance. At the new headquarters, the organization will work to bridge neighboring communities (such Wyoming, Roselawn, Bond Hill, and Carthage) through creative placemaking collaborations and initiatives.

(The rendering above depicts a vision for the center’s improvements.)

Contemporary Dance Theater has been the city’s steward of the College Hill Town Hall since 1999. Under Mutual Dance Theatre management, this arts center (“The Hill”) will continue to serve Modern Dance as one of the very few spaces in Cincinnati appropriate for the genre.

The organization will raise $750,000, which will cover amongst other capital expenses, the creation of black box theater designed specifically for Modern Dance in the Hartwell center, as well as essential updates (including adding much-needed air conditioning) in the College Hill facility.

Tax-deductible donations can be made at mutualdance.org/mergerdonate.

 

(Download high resolution image here.)

The city’s first Modern Dance academy

Mutual Dance Theatre (as the former MamLuft&Co. Dance) is also proud to announce the establishment of the city’s first Modern Dance academy. The Academy will provide rigorous training for Cincinnati’s youth who seek college degrees in Modern Dance and eventual professional appointments. The Modern Dance academy will provide not only training, but mentorship, resources, connections, and invaluable experiences in preparation for university study. The Academy’s goal is to present racially-diverse, scholarship-worthy, exceptionally-talented cohorts of young dancers to university dance departments.

 

Artistic changes and appointments

Mutual Dance Theatre (as the former MamLuft&Co. Dance) also announces a transition to a repertory company who will restage works by national choreographers, while continuing support and collaborative opportunities for the Company Members. New Company Members will be announced later this summer, but the organization now announces several artistic promotions.

JASMINE SNELLEN AND STEVEN EVANS, COMPANY DIRECTORS
Jasmine Snellen (Louisville, Kentucky) and Steven Evans (Dayton, Ohio) are promoted to Company Directors. The two will take Jeanne Mam-Luft’s place in daily rehearsal and company leadership, providing fresh lead choreography and exciting new creative direction. The two are extraordinary movement-makers who joined ML&Co. in 2019 and 2013, respectively.

HANNAH WILLIAMSON, REHEARSAL DIRECTOR
A graduate of Wright State University, Hannah Williamson joined MamLuft&Co. Dance in 2017, but began studying in the organization’s summer intensives as just a teenager. Williamson is promoted to Rehearsal Director of the professional company, as well as the Academy’s senior ensemble, in recognition of her outstanding talent.

SUSAN HONER, RESIDENT CHOREOGRAPHER AND ASSOCIATE CURATOR
Raised in Virginia and graduate of the Hollins University/American Dance Festival Master of Fine Arts program, Honer first danced with MamLuft&Co. Dance in 2010. Since then, Honer has been a luminous contributor of artistic vision and choreography. Honer, who led the professional company from 2016-2019, will continue on as a Resident Choreographer and Associate Curator of presentations.

 

Press contacts

To contact Contemporary Dance Theater, please email dance@cdt-dance.org.

To contact Mutual Dance Theatre (MamLuft&Co. Dance), please email hello@mutualarts.org.

 

Social Media Handles:

Contemporary Dance Theater
Facebook @contemporarydancetheater
Instagram @cincycdt

Mutual Dance Theatre formerly known as MamLuft&Co. Dance
The Company: Facebook and Instagram @mutualdance
The Center: Facebook and Instagram @mutualartscenter

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