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DANCE MATTERS: Resurgence
April 25, 26, 27, 2025
OhioDance held its annual festival, Friday, April 25-Sunday, April 27, 2025, co-sponsored by The Ohio State University Department of
Dance in Columbus, Ohio. There were three professional and one pre-professional concert. Nineteen Ohio choreographers,
representing twelve counties, and one hundred eight dancers in these pieces were paid.
The festival hired thirty-six presenters offering a variety of dance genres, such as hip hop, Flamenco, West African, Indian, Jazz, folk
dance, Chinese, ballet, modern, yoga and other forms. Two monetary awards were given: one to a graduating senior and one to a college student.
The guest artist was Christopher Kaui Morgan he traveled with two company members from Malashock Dance, San Diego, CA. They performed at the concert and offered two sessions, one for advanced and one open to all. Christopher Kaui Morgan (he/him) is a Native Hawaiian choreographer, arts administrator, facilitator, dance educator, and arts/native/lgbtqia advocate based in San Diego, California, United States. Currently touring productions P?haku and Native Intelligence/Innate Intelligence, the third installment of this trilogy is slated to premiere in 2025. He crafts multi-disciplinary performances that synthesize dance, storytelling, original music, and multimedia design to explore identity, as well as social and cultural issues. His work has been performed in 22 countries across 5
continents. Sought as a speaker and grants reviewer for his informed and balanced perspective, he has been atthe forefront of national discussions on equity in the arts in the United States and was nominated by President Biden to a 6 year term on the National Council on the Art. He is Artistic Director of Christopher K. Morgan & Artists, Malashock Dance, and the Program Director of the residency program Art Omi: Dance.
OhioDance partnered with Reel Abilities Film Festival Columbus and Art Possible Ohio to have a film showing and discussion.
Friday, April 25
7:30pm-8:30pm Professional Concert
Choreographers: Griset Damas-Roche, Candice Flows Igeleke, Celeste Kennington, Megan Perry, Michael Uthoff, and Yinqi Wang.
Saturday, April 26
7:30pm-9:30pm OhioDance Professional Theatre Concert – Barnett Theatre Ohio State
Choreographers: Glauco Araujo, Talise Campbell, Trezon Dancy, Maggie Liang, Joshua Manculich, Samuel McIntosh, Amisha Shah, Lauren Squires, and guest artist Christopher Kaui Morgan and Khamla Somphanh.
Sunday, April 27
3:15pm-4:00pm OhioDance Professional Informal Studio Concert – Studio 390
Choreographers: Anthony Alterio, Shelby Green, Kylie Karam, Zoey November, Jared Warren
Friday, April 25 11:00am-12:00pm Pre-Professional Concert
Barnett Theatre
Choreographers: George Balanchine, Jinan Berard, Julia Brisken, Lalah Sanah Brown, Ami Kounta, Yidi Lin,
Ami Majmudar, Yulia Moriarty, Richard Oaxaca, Melanie Szucs, Alex Vanzant.
Saturday, April 26
12:45pm- 2:00pm
Guest Artist Christopher Morgan Contemporary Class (Dance for All)
Saturday, April 26
2:15-3:30pm
Contemporary Christopher Morgan guest artist (Intermediate/Advanced)
Saturday, April 26 Cruise Ship Dancing and Audition Tips, Richard Oaxaca
Friday, April 25 – Traditional West African Dance & Drum, Djapo Cultural Arts Institute