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ABOUT SEASON 25

In 2016, we premiered MORE OR LESS, an hour-long dance for nine dancers who performed to a live version of Steve Reich’s iconic “Drumming.” I prefer making new dances over presenting a repertory of works, but a few months later I made a ten-minute version for four dancers and called it WALK ON, WALK OFF. I’ve not only brought this dance back, I’ve brought back the original cast! I love the precision, clarity, and focus of the dancing, and the tight, almost mystical ensemble work. There are no music cues for the dancers to follow, so I watch with anticipation to see how close the dancers come to “walking off” with the end of the music. REROUTE is a new work made by the company dancers, with a small contribution from myself. I’m usually the choreographer/director, so working this way is new for us. Without me to lead, the dancers approached their choreographic task the way we always do: finding movement material through improvisation, shaping the movement into a structure, and building a narrative. When I saw their first draft in rehearsal, I was spellbound by what they had made: a dance with all my favorite things! Watch for innovative movements; high contrasts of time, space, energy; elements of surprise; rapport; and a tenacious attention to detail. In 2013, we premiered THE UNDOING OF NONET, an evening-length dance for nine dancers with live music by line upon line percussion. It was a dark dance that marked the unraveling of a family. DUST is a new, shorter version for four dancers, with a new score by Drew Silverman. Picture dust particles floating randomly in the universe then swirling together to form something solid (a family). But it’s a precarious gathering, and each time a solid shape begins to form, it also starts to fall apart. I think DUST, a quiet, but emotionally-charged dance for four women, is the perfect bookend for the fiery WALK ON, WALK OFF. I hope you enjoy these dances as much as I do. Kathy Dunn Hamrick

HOW TO WATCH A KDH MODERN DANCE PERFORMANCE LIKE A PRO

IF YOU ARE NEW TO MY WORK Don’t worry about “getting” anything, just watch. I’m interested in people and their stories, and my dances are almost always about people doing people things, so my best advice is to watch what happens. It’s similar to people-watching at the park, the mall, the airport, restaurant, beach or wherever. WHAT YOU MIGHT SEE I’m into movement invention which means I go into the studio and investigate new ways of moving. If you want, look closely for detailed, complex, sometimes hidden movements and a high contrast between dynamics like super-fast and super-slow. You might also notice that I break things up and then re-group. IF YOU WANT MORE FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE Try this tip I learned from a friend: Watch, notice what piques your interest, and then ask yourself why. Why does this particular moment grab your attention? Why does that one make you feel a certain way? This helps you get into my thoughts and better understand my choreographic intentions. THERE’S NO WRONG ANSWER It’s up to you to decide if my work is funny, poignant, moving, odd, eerie, disturbing, beautiful or all of the above. It is fine with me if you see something or feel something completely different from what I see and feel. You get to bring your own history to, and see your own reflection in, the work. In a sense, every dance is tailor-made for you. My hope is that you will feel something and that you’ll be intrigued enough to come back and experience the next work.