Poetry in Motion

At 17 years and counting, Circle Modern Dance is one of Knoxville’s longest running non-profit arts organizations. Combining the freedom of modern dance with physically intense movement, the dance company offers classes as well as lessons in Capoeria, a form of martial arts-derived dance originating in Brazil. CMD is dedicated to producing and showcasing diverse choreography, and the group provides an outlet for guest choreographers to promote the appreciation of dance and music in Knoxville.

“Circle Modern Dance was founded by a group of highly motivated choreographers and performance artists who were interested in sharing and performing their avant-garde works,” says CMD artistic director Joy Davis  in an email interview. She began working with CMD during her freshman year of college in 2002.  “As a college student and new choreographer, it allowed me to find a community of dancers and dance professionals outside the university, which propelled my understanding of production and community involvement,” she says.

With its willingness to experiment with various forms, venues and performers, CMD provides an outlet for choreographers, dancers and musicians of all ages and ethnicities to participate in performing art.

“The more diverse a cast, the more diverse an audience,” says Davis, “as the cast and guests bring in peers and friends from their respective cultural settings. As a result, for our upcoming show ‘InSight… an evening of movement and performance,’ we have a cast of about 50 people who are from all walks of life.”

Participants have been preparing for months in the annex studio of the Emporium Building on Gay Street. Members of the company often rehearse here, as well as the University of Tennessee Alumni Memorial Building Dance Studio.

The Bijou Theatre will host the performances May 16 and 17. Composed of nine choreographic works, one improvisational act and musical performances by local group Hudson K, the show will merge contemporary dance and physical theater. Davis describes the event as a “multi-visionary, extra-sensory mega-physical experience that captures many themes.”

Considering its many diverse acts — created by nine different choreographers — the performance will likely heighten senses as it captivates the audience. “Our goal is to allow the audience and performers to learn about themselves through these movements and stories,” Davis says.

It begins with a variation of live action fairy tales such as Cinderella, Rapunzel and Snow White. This piece uses humor  in its presentation of classic characters such as maidens, a king and a frog.

The next act, “Aprons,” conveys the story of how a mundane piece of cloth holds the timeless memories of mothers and grandmothers, followed by the third act with live music by Hudson K. The fourth act depicts the misconceptions about weddings, and the fifth act entails projections of dancers and a duet on stage between Kim Matibag, cofounder of CMD, and wheelchair dancer Adam Manookian. In the sixth act, Sunshine Industries will “take a load off, Annie” with suitcases, hats and a caboose.

Next, the seventh scene contains virtuosic contemporary dance by choreographer Morgan Fleming. The next part is the choreographer’s improvisation, which expresses the movement of the choreographic process, following a duet on inner dialogues, opposites, similarities and the transcendence of duality becoming one.

The show will conclude with the theme of perspective and change. This is a five part collaborative work between Davis and local musician Jen Rock, and it will include footage from the Spirit of Knoxville’s balloon launch footage.

“The balloon footage goes to 95,000 feet into the atmosphere, and we will present it with a debut of aerial dance on silks, which combines graceful poses, intense flexibility and enormous strength,” says Davis. The experimental film and music will accompany the dance to depict renewed life and enlightenment through dance.

In addition to Hudson K’s original songs, live music, including a rendition of “All You Need is Love,” will accompany a Capoeria performance. Students from Vine Middle Magnet School and the Community School of Arts will also perform.
Circle Modern Dance continues to grow and, to date, has featured more than 500 performers, with Davis and company hoping to continue to attract many more.

“It is the ultimate goal of any performance, I believe, to make a statement, draw an audience in for realization and to expose more people to the art of movement,” Davis says.

InSight - an evening of movement and performance
Friday, May 16 and Saturday, 
May 17, 8 p.m.
Bijou Theatre (803 S. Gay St.) / 8 p.m. 
$15 Balcony/ $20 Orchestra
For Tickets call: (865) 656-4444 
or visit www.knoxvilletickets.com