The dance begins
By JAMES D. WATTS JR., 9/22/2005
Sheri Sprague is one of the performers in the Monica Huggins Dance Theatre. ERICA DUNN
Monica Huggins Dance Theatre presents its first production
The beginnings of Tulsa's newest dance company came from the demise of another group, and the intervention of a long-dead artist.
Katherine Feiock had been a member of Tulsa Contemporary Dance Theater when it was founded two years ago. However, after its second performance earlier this year, the group's leaders decided to pursue other things.
A couple of weeks after that last performance, Feiock was taking part in Momentum, a daylong contemporary art event, performing some of her original dance works.
"Pam Hodges from the Philbrook Museum was there, and she told me that she was wanting to have dance performances at Philbrook," Feiock said.
Feiock started to work on creating new dance pieces, working with several of her colleagues from Tulsa Contemporary Dance.
That led to Feiock deciding to form a new company, Monica Huggins Dance Theatre, which will present its first production Thursday through Saturday at the Nightingale Theater.
The show, titled "Beginnings," will feature several new works along with some pieces that were choreographed for Tulsa Contemporary Dance Theater.
The nine dancers of the Monica Huggins Dance Theatre will be joined by members of Tulsa Youth Ballet for some of the pieces.
One of the new works, Brian Wilson's "ReStructured," combines dance with Steve Cluck's installation art, in a piece that addresses ideas inspired by the destruction wrought by Hurricane Katrina, and the concept of trying to rebuild lives.
Three pieces directly inspired by Whistler's art -- "Transformation," "Sirens" and "The Butterfly" -- will also be performed at Philbrook Museum of Art Oct. 6.
Feiock, a recent graduate of the University of Tulsa who teaches dance at several venues throughout the city, said she envisions the Monica Huggins Dance Theatre becoming an independent, nonprofit organization.
"That was the vision I had for Tulsa Contemporary Dance Theater," she said. "I could see that company growing in that direction, and this new company is a way to make that happen.
"There are a lot of Tulsans who are interested in modern dance -- they just don't know where to find it," Feiock said. "I want us to have a set season of performances, and ultimately get to the point where we can bring in other modern dance companies, and create programs for schools."
As for the company's name, Feiock said it is a tribute to her late grandmother.
"My family is really into sports," she said. "My grandmother and I were the oddballs in the family, more into the arts than sports. So I've had that connection with her.
"She was also hearing-impaired, and was very active the Tulsa Speech and Hearing Association," Feiock said. "That's why we'll always try to have a dance piece that uses the vocabulary of American Sign Language in the choreography."
'BEGINNINGS'
debut performance of the Monica Huggins Dance Theatre
When:
7 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday
Where:
Nightingale Theater, 1416 E. Fourth St.
Tickets:
$10, available at the door