Layered memories
By JAMES D. WATTS JR., 12/07/2006
Members of the Monica Huggins Dance Theatre include (clockwise, from top left) Kristen Somerville, Jamie Sparks, Katrina Bailey, Katherine Feiock, Julie Rupe and Lacy Frees. RIP STELL / For the Tulsa World
Huggins dance company to present 'Sediments'
Some may think the word "sediment" refers strictly to the dirt and debris that settles to the bottom of a body of water.
Katherine Feiock, artistic director of the Monica Huggins Dance Theatre, has a more poetic response to the word.
"On the surface, sediment is always changing because of the movement of the water," she said. "But once it settles into place, it does so in layers that ultimately harden into rock.
"It's like being able to see the passing of time through these layers," Feiock said. "So, in way, it's like layered memories."
"Sediments" is the name of the new dance production by the Monica Huggins Dance Theatre, which is devoted to performing original, contemporary dance.
The company will give three performances of "Sediments," 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday at the Nightingale Theater, 1416 E. Fourth St. The Thursday performance is a billed as a "preview," and tickets for this performance are $5 each. Tickets for the Friday and Saturday shows are $10 each.
"Sediments" will feature four new dance works created by Feiock and company members Laura Tyson and Jennifer Dunham.
The evening will also feature performances by poet and actress Deborah J. Hunter.
"She will be doing portions of the one-woman show, 'Amazons, Gypsies and Wandering Minstrels,'" Feiock said, "along with a brand-new piece."
While the dancers won't be on the stage with Hunter, the evening does feature some collaborations among them. Hunter's "Amazons, Gypsies and Wandering Minstrels," which she debuted in 2004, was one of the inspirations for "Nomadics," a dance piece created by Tyson, Feiock said.
And Hunter's new work has connections to one of Feiock's own creations, "Finding Reclamations," she said.
"I've always wanted to make a dance piece on Rachmaninoff's second Piano Concerto," Feiock said. "Whenever I hear that music, I just have to move. It's a piece I've been thinking about and working on for a long time, but it's still something of a work in progress."
The evening will also include a Latin-influenced piece called "Savor" and "Recalling Fosse," inspired by the legendary Broadway choreographer and director.
"Originally, we had thought of making this show a kind of 'Christmas cabaret' -- something light and fun -- which is why Jennifer and I started working on this piece," Feiock said. "When we decided not to do the Christmas thing, this piece was coming along so well, and everyone was having fun doing it so we kept it in."