Jan. 17, 2025
NATCHITOCHES – An inventive collaboration of the arts is in store for the community as Northwestern State University’s Dance Company presents Modern in Motion XII. The upcoming dance concert will feature not only the talents of students in NSU’s School of Creative and Performing Arts, but also those of a Natchitoches artist in the revitalized Riverside Reserve venue. Guests are invited to an opening Gala performance of Modern in Motion XII at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4 that will be followed by a reception. Gala tickets are $50.
Performances will continue at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6 through Saturday, Feb. 8 and will conclude with a matinee performance at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 9. Tickets for those shows are $10 for adults and $5 for children, students and seniors.
Now in its 12th year, a signature of Modern in Motion is the interaction between the dancers and an inspiring space, said Brett Garfinkel, director. Modern in Motion has been staged at Beau Jardin, the Texas and Pacific Railway Depot, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and other sites of interest. The upcoming performance at Riverside Reserve, 104 Mill St., will introduce audiences to the former L.H. Johnson warehouse on Cane River that has been transformed into a popular event space. Riverside Reserve features modern amenities while retaining the charm of a historic building with exposed brick walls, soaring ceilings and original hardwood floors.
Garfinkel, who is chair of NSU’s Department of Theatre and Dance, said the collaboration with ceramic artist Gretchen Murchison will enhance the experience with selected sculptural art pieces placed throughout the venue and the audience following the action of the dancers as they perform inside and outside the building.
Murchison has made a reputation creating functional, multipurpose ceramics inspired by florals, water and natural elements. A lifelong resident of Natchitoches and a 2016 graduate of NSU’s Department of Fine and Graphic Art, she has produced two series of tableware designs, Bloom and Mystic, and developed relationships with interior designers, retailers and private collectors. Her personal studio and gallery opened last November. Garfinkel said the striking shapes of Murchison’s Bloom bowl collection inspired the collaboration.
“To me the bowl itself shows lots of movement and inspires me,” Garfinkel said. “After having Gretchen make some custom pieces for me we began discussing the possibility of a collaboration. I immediately thought of Modern in Motion and how we could collaborate on a performance where the beauty of the Bloom bowl would serve as the inspiration of the performance.”
A collection of ceramics by Gretchen Murchison on display at her studio
The two artists worked together to select pieces that highlight the connection of fluid movements in ceramics to the fluidity of dance.
“I enjoy creating movement and volume in static forms,” Murchison said. “My signature sculpture technique is a fluid wave that is similar to the rippled petal of a blooming flower. This technique shows movement, frequency and energy much like the energy of dance.”
The cast of dancers will include Elizabeth Cook of Alexandria, Diana Mercado Garcia of Cartagena, Colombia, Victoria Freeling of Covington, Vee Duran and Cara Thomason of Denham Springs, Jennifer Langbein of DeRidder, Allyce Richards of Fort Johnson, Eliza Person of Jennings, Lara Bankston of Kenner, Gabrielle Marino, Kwincy Pierre and Arien Thibodeaux of Lafayette, Dylan Freeman, Darrick Jasmine and Travon Melbert of Lake Charles, Ashanta Wilson of Leesville, Makenzie Scroggs of Marksville, Avery Holmes of Monroe, Ariyonna Sarpy of Natchitoches, Makynli Delcambre of New Iberia, Jaeda Barret and Journey Wills of New Orleans, Nyah Lynch of Opelousas, Nicole Miller of Rayville, Cameron Bruno of River Ridge, Ellie Dufrene of Schriever and Jillian Duggan of Shreveport.
Dance professors Kirstin Riehl and Nhan Ho were instrumental in choreographing the program. Northwestern State is the only university in Louisiana that offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance.
“I usually let the space inspire me and tell me what to create or what to focus on for inspiration.” Garfinkel said. “Site-specific work is very difficult to prepare for. What we have found works best for us and our students is to spend a few weeks in the studio creating the vocabulary for the performance, creating different movement phrases, some that stay in place, some that travel and some that focus more on gesture, shape or partnering. Then we rehearse in the space and make any changes to utilize the space we are in even more.
“I thought it would be more impactful and interesting to work with a local artist such as Gretchen. She was completely open and willing, and I am excited to see the work we create together. It is always great to work with new people that bring new energy and ideas to the table. It is refreshing to work with new people.”
Murchison said she enjoyed the challenge of melding the static art she creates with the progressive movement of dance.
“I feel our collaboration is born from a mutual respect of artistic disciplines,” she said. “I came to know Brett while attending some of his dance concerts and performances at NSU. I find his choreography styling refreshing and unexpected but also embodying skillful precision. I found myself connecting to his artistry in ways that spoke to my own creativity. Naturally, I was elated when he approached me with the idea of collaboration.”
The Feb. 4 Modern in Motion Gala is sponsored by the Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission.
For ticket information, contact Garfinkel at garfinkelb@nsula.edu or call (318) 357-5793. For information on the Department of Theatre and Dance and a schedule of Spring 2025 events visit https://www.nsula.edu/theatre/.
