The Movement Arts Collective will perform for the first time in 15 months in front of a live audience May 14-16 at Chateau Noland near Avila Beach. The outdoor and socially distance performance, Emergence, features new choreography by Maartje Lawrence-Hermans and Ryan Lawrence, 13 dancers, and is the culmination of 3 months of preparation by 50 volunteers.
Last July, the Movement Arts Collective elected to purchase a portable stage for training and rehearsals with the idea that they would eventually be able to utilize it when live performances were allowed to return as these would likely be outdoors. With case rates reducing and restrictions lifting in February, the Board of Directors elected to bring back the Collective after a 10 month hiatus with auditions occurring in February at the Movement Arts Center in San Luis Obispo.
“We’ve been rehearsing for the past 3 months with the intention to put on a live performance when possible,” says Co-Artistic Director Ryan Lawrence. “In the end it is all coming together quite quickly thanks to the overwhelming support of our board, donors, volunteers, and staff.”
The performance, Emergence, features an hour of dance between two pieces. Each highlights themes of comfort, conflict, and connection. The contemporary ballets are danced on pointe and include athletic and emotionally driven movement to classical and contemporary music.
Tickets to Emergence can be purchased at www.movementartscollective.org, are by groups of 2 and 4 for social distancing, with all State and local guidelines being followed.