The Third Annual
Kentucky NACHMO Dance Festival
March 24-25, 2023
7pm
Artistic Director
Amberly M. Simpson
Associate and Technical Director
Joseph R. Brandt
Ambo Dance Theatre is proud to host the 3rd Annual Kentucky NACHMO Dance Festival! This mixed-bill production features 18 new works by Kentucky Choreographers with Ambo Dance Theatre, The Collected Few Dance Project, and independent artist Alex Bellocq, as well as 2 new works from guest choreographers with Dance Uprising (Ann Arbor, MI)!
Each of these works was created as part of the National Choreography Month January Challenge where choreographers are tasked with creating a new piece of choreography using a series of daily prompts for inspiration and movement generation.
Duration
The show is approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes.
This includes one 15 minute intermission.
The Program
Preshow
All Cards on the Table
SCORE DEVELOPMENT:
Amberly M. Simpson
Ambo Dance Theatre - Artistic Director (Louisville, KY)
DANCERS:
Nakoma Ehrhart, JD Frost, MAC, Heather Moran, Rylan Truman, Sheila Zeng
CALLERS:
Amberly M. Simpson
MUSIC:
“Little Yellow Room by Rozkol; “Abataka” by Ida Engberg and David West; “hello dolly” by File Under Toner
PROGRAM NOTES:
Part improvisation, part choreography, “All Cards on the Table” takes inspiration from the chance-based choreographic practices often employed by Merce Cunningham. The dancers have been trained in a set of ‘rules’ for movement, but what movement they actually execute, where they execute it, and when, is all dictated by a set of outside people who call out commands to the dancers throughout the duration of the piece. As a result, each performance of this piece is entirely different while maintaining the same movement vocabulary.
1. depart/return
CHOREOGRAPHY:
JD Frost
Ambo Dance Theatre (Louisville, KY)
DANCERS:
Melissa O. Bowen, Rylan Cole, Candace Kresse, Amberly M. Simpson
MUSIC:
“Dissonance” by Kirk Osamayo; “Exits”, “Refuge”, and “Contemplations II” by Le Chaos Entre 2 Chaises
PROGRAM NOTES:
This work is based in a somatic exploration of the elements fire, water, air, earth. The process has been a practice in aware movement and responsiveness to the collective, following intuition, imagination, and adaptation. It’s a departure from the daily rhythms and repetitions of movement in life and a return to our humanity through dance. It aims to be an expression of the intrinsic emotional and spiritual value in the act of dancing, especially when moving in synchrony with others.
2. Kindred
CHOREOGRAPHY:
Rae Dudek
Dance Uprising (Ann Arbor, MI)
DANCERS:
Lacia Franklin, Autumn Short, Bridget Vander Hoff
MUSIC:
“Wind on Water,” by Robert Fripp and Brian Eno; “Raw Language,” by Forest Swords
PROGRAM NOTES:
Dudek's piece, Kindred, incorporates the use of silk fans to portray family cycles and dealing with life as a family and as an individual. Silk fans bring the elemental part of life on this earth (fire water, air to be specific) through light, waving silk.
3. Divided We Stand
CHOREOGRAPHY:
Nakoma Ehrhart
Ambo Dance Theatre (Louisville, KY)
DANCERS:
Melissa Bowen, Joseph R. Brandt, Ayanna Buckner, Rylan Cole, Gabbi Ebeling-Rodriguez, Alyssa Ernst, Mia Henry, Sofia Ritchie, Rylan Truman, Sheila Zeng
MUSIC:
“Rupture”, “End of the trip”, and “Is everything of this true?” by Komiku
SOUND EFFECTS:
Pixabay
SOUND DESIGN:
Joseph R. Brandt and Nakoma Ehrhart
PROGRAM NOTES:
“Divided We Stand” explores how political motivations and tensions have evolved in the United States, from our day of independence, to modern day, to what we hope to see in the future. These concepts and the shifting emotional and physical reactions of the American peoples regarding the political system have formed the basis for each movement, which is largely based in collaborative choreography and gesture. The entire piece consists of 3 parts. Today, you will see part 1. Part 1, titled “Liberty”, paints a portrait of the ideation and collaboration of the USA’s early settlers and founding fathers, and how these ideas made their way into the foundation of our political system. Part 2 will explore the growing political tensions of modern-day politics brought on by the two-party system, and the resulting decline in political collaboration and equality advancement. Part 3 will demonstrate what we hope our political system will evolve to represent for future generations.
4. Puzzle
CHOREOGRAPHER AND DANCER:
Izzy Parks
Ambo Dance Theatre - Junior Company (Louisville, KY)
MUSIC:
"The Goblins Will Get You" by HoliznaCC0
PROGRAM NOTES:
"Puzzle” shows the progress of finding yourself after a loss. It's focused around isolation and the stages we go through in finding our balance again. We are pieced together like a puzzle and every piece can be broken off. You're not done finding yourself until you have every piece in exact order. But it is okay to be unarranged and finding those pieces takes time and healing.
5. Beneath a Smile
CHOREOGRAPHY:
Carly Hay
Ambo Dance Theatre - Junior Company (Louisville, KY)
DANCERS:
Mia Henry and Aila Kolehmainen
MUSIC:
“Buoy” by Warren Pendleton; “Dunes” by Warren Pendleton; “Meeting the Demon” by MMFFF; “The Dance of the Sky” by MMFFF
PROGRAM NOTES:
This dance is an exploration of what goes on under the facade of happiness in many teens today. We put on a face that projects the image of perfection and glee when with others, but when we are left alone with just our thoughts we are forced to face the weight of our pain and struggles. All of the loneliness and anxiety and overwhelm flood our minds and we’re stuck facing the part of us we work so hard to hide. This collaborative dance works to demonstrate the child-like joy that we often demonstrate in opposition to the difficult emotions that occur beneath our skin and works to find a balance within ourselves through the support of others and acknowledgement of our emotions.
6. Suricata Suricatta
CHOREOGRAPHY:
Heather Moran in collaboration with Dancers
Ambo Dance Theatre (Louisville, KY)
DANCERS:
Carly Hay, Candace Kresse, MAC, Jennifer Shelton, Arie Washington
SOURCE MUSIC:
“Tsunami - Lyrical” by Gabrielle Roth & The Mirrors; ” Momofassa” and “River Crossing” by Geoff Bennett.
SOUND DESIGN:
Mixed by Heather Moran
PROGRAM NOTES:
Meerkats.
7. what you can’t see
CHOREOGRAPHY:
Madalyn Durst
Ambo Dance Theatre - Junior Company (Louisville, KY)
DANCERS:
Rylan Cole, Eszti Krizsan, Helena Smith-Pohl,
MUSIC:
“How Are The Hands Nourished” by LG17
PROGRAM NOTES:
“what you can’t see” shows the experience of a panic attack. It shows the feelings of not being able to breathe, the trembling and shaking in fear, the body sweating so much the skin feels damp, and showing the climax of how hard it hits out of nowhere. But sometimes we don’t see the numbness and the hangover feeling after it hits. This dance takes a deep dive into what each of the dancers feel post these occurrences.
8. Dreamscape
FRIDAY ONLY
CHOREOGRAPHY:
Brittany Hudson-Trent and Jaasiel Wilson
The Collected Few Dance Project (Lexington, KY)
DANCERS:
Brenna Lancour, Julianne Diamond Phillips, Layne Masters, Lydia Fletcher.
MUSIC:
“Dream” by Alan Watts
PROGRAM NOTES:
“Dreamscape” is a piece questioning where our mind, body and soul go when we are asleep. What happens when we dream? Some say our dreams are a way to release the stresses of our day. Some say what we experience is real, some say they serve no purpose at all. The question remains, do our dreams matter?
8. Chapter One: 14 Weeks
SATURDAY ONLY
CHOREOGRAPHY AND DANCERS:
Villanelle Indigo Brandt and Amberly M. Simpson
Ambo Dance Theatre (Louisville, KY)
MUSIC:
“A Red Wall in Brooklyn” by Michael Wall
PROGRAM NOTES:
After becoming a mother in December of 2022, Amberly became overwhelmed with the power and beauty of the instant bond that forms between a mother and her daughter. “Mother/Daughter” is a duet shared between Amberly and her daughter Villanelle who will be just 3 months old at the time of the NACHMO performance. The goal with this piece is to adapt and perform it throughout the course of Villanelle’s lifespan, allowing the choreography to reflect the shifts and changes in their relationship, as well as the shifts and changes that result from different developmental stages.
Intermission
15 Minutes
9. Growing Pains
CHOREOGRAPHY:
Sofia Ritchie
Ambo Dance Theatre (Louisville, KY)
DANCERS:
Joseph R. Brandt (FRIDAY), Gabbi Ebeling-Rodriguez (SATURDAY), Eszti Kriszan, Heather Moran, Helena Smith-Pohl
MUSIC:
"Time to Move and Mot" by The Insider
SOUND EFFECT:
PROGRAM NOTES:
“Growing Pains” explores the relationship between one’s past, present, and future by acknowledging the mixed emotions felt about growing up. As a kid, many may dream of wanting to live in the future as an adult, and the luxuries that come with that. However, when many grow up, they often reminisce on their youth, wishing they had cherished their childhood. “Growing Pains” indulges in all of the emotions at play in these situations, offering a fun, relatable, and all inclusive journey about growing up!
10. i can do this
CHOREOGRAPHY:
Robyn Wilson in collaboration with the dancers
Dance Uprising (Ann Arbor, MI)
DANCERS:
Rae Dudek, Nicole Heikkila-Popkin, Sam Krieg, Ashley Miller, GingerAnn Nelsund, Bridget Vander Hoff, Robyn Wilson
SOUND DESIGN:
Designed by Robyn Wilson; Mixed by Dani Putrino.
SOURCE MUSIC:
Source sounds from Freesound.com, music loops from Pixababy.com by Leonell Cassio, Monument_Music, LesFM, Daddy s Music, HaecklAudio
PROGRAM NOTES:
The greatest achievement of humankind is survival, as a collective, society, or individual. As society has advanced, we have moved away from survival as a community and more toward individualism. In “i can do this.” we see dancers become blind to others’ struggles, only to break down and rediscover their need for community. Wilson is honored to represent Dance Uprising in this Nachmo Showcase. They have enjoyed every second of getting to know these incredible dancers in his inaugural season.
11. Breathing in the Fog
CHOREOGRAPHY:
MAC
Ambo Dance Theatre (Louisville, KY)
DANCERS:
JD Frost, Candace Kresse, Sofia Ritchie
MUSIC:
“And Who Gives a Shit” by File Under Toner; “Salue” by Kai Engel
PROGRAM NOTES:
Using a collaborative choreography format, “Breathing in the Fog” incorporates elements of improv, and partnering to explore the struggle of grasping for hope in times of despair. At times these emotions can feel individually distinct and overwhelming, yet at other times, they dance together paradoxically in tandem. The juxtaposition of heartache and resiliency weave together to demonstrate the complex nature of the emotional experience.
12. Facade
CHOREOGRAPHY:
Arie Washington
Ambo Dance Theatre - Community Ensemble (Louisville, KY)
DANCERS:
Rylan Cole, Alysse Ernst, Izzy Parks
MUSIC:
“Next in Line” by Hessel_vanO; “machine n°2” by Fashionfacts; “machine n°6” by Fashionfacts; “The plot” by Malaventura
PROGRAM NOTES:
“Facade” explores the abstract concept of conformity and growth. It expresses this idea through a change in dynamic and quality. It plays with opposing dynamics, such as progressing between angular and refined and loose and free. This change aims to portray a sense of freedom after attempts of breaking out of said conformity.
13. Adam
CHOREOGRAPHY:
Alex Bellocq
Independent Artist (Lexington, KY)
DANCERS:
Alex Bellocq
MUSIC:
Voice poem composed and spoken by Alex Bellocq, and “Charlas de Noche con Mamá” by Gabriel A. Aguilar
PROGRAM NOTES:
Named for the Hebrew word for human, “Adam” is a solo created to convey loneliness. The word simultaneously refers to all of humankind, and at the same time is the given name to the first created man in the Hebrew creation myth. Fascinated by this duality, Bellocq’s choreography tackles the challenge of portraying what it might be like to be the only human in the world.
14. The Collective
CHOREOGRAPHY:
Sheila Zeng
Ambo Dance Theatre (Louisville, KY)
DANCERS:
Melissa Bowen, Nakoma Ehrhart, Alyssa Ernst, Heather Moran, Rylan Truman
MUSIC:
“Action Investigation” by Komiku; “Stay Calm” by Frederic Lardon
PROGRAM NOTES:
“The Collective” explores the psychological idea of the “collective unconscious”, a theory by Carl Jung, where all humankind has common experiences in our unconscious. This will be explored through group work, improv, and how the dancers interpret the same concept in their own bodies.
15. The Body (re)Concept (excerpts)
CHOREOGRAPHY:
Amberly M. Simpson
Ambo Dance Theatre - Artistic Director (Louisville, KY)
DANCERS:
Rylan Cole, Carly Hay, Mia Henry, Aila Kolehmainen, Eszti Krizsan, Izzy Parks, Sofia Ritchie, Helena Smith-Pohl, Arie Washington (understudy)
MUSIC:
“Gelis” by Flako; “Threes 150” by London Dance Collective
PROGRAM NOTES:
Our society often trains us to view the body through an aesthetic lens, understanding our body through its visual representation. What if instead we took time to reconceptualize and recenter the body through the lens of all it is capable of? Inspired by the concept of body neutrality, The Body (re)Concept works to deeply appreciate the body for its most rudimentary abilities: reaching, locomoting, expansive motion, tiny gestures, balancing, lifting, tactile experiences, and more!
16. Ebb
CHOREOGRAPHY:
Amberly M. Simpson
Ambo Dance Theatre - Artistic Director (Louisville, KY)
DANCERS:
Joseph R. Brandt and JD Frost
MUSIC:
PROGRAM NOTES:
“Ebb” is a deep dive into nontraditional partnering practices in dance. Developed initially by Allison Chase et al, nontraditional partnering is a non-gendered partnering form that explores weight sharing through counterbalances and cantilevers, the exploration of fulcrums, the alignment of kinetic chains through multiple bodies, and the transfer of weight through sliding and rolling energies. Like water, as one dancer shifts, so must the other dancer shift equal and opposite to maintain balance, unity, and continuity through the ebbing and flowing of energies.
Classes at Ambo
We offer a variety of classes designed for dancers of all body types, skill levels, backgrounds, etc. Classes are designed for dancers ages teen through adult with at least a minimal movement background. Come and join us for class!
Upcoming Performances
We are thrilled to have a full summer season of performances coming your way!
April 3 - Northeast Regional Library
April 6 - Bon Air Library
April 15 - Derby City Block Party
June 1 - Kentucky Shakespeare in the Park
June 7-10 - Improv Company Immersive Show @ Ambo
June 22 - Kentucky Shakespeare in the Park
June 27 - Highlands-Shelby Park Library
July 8 - Shively Library
July 8 - Kentucky Shakespeare in the Park
August 4 & 5 - Tour with The Precipitants (Ann Arbor, MI)
August 25 & 26 - Tour with The Precipitants (Louisville, KY)
September 15 & 16 - Tour with The Precipitants (West Lafayette, IN)
And many, many more!
