BOLT FROM THE BLUE
UVU’s Contemporary Dance Ensemble presents BOLT FROM THE BLUE directed by Melissa Younker
FEB 13-15 at 7:30 p.m. | Smith Theatre (Noorda Center, Utah Valley University)
BOLT FROM THE BLUE delivers a powerful, electric evening as UVU’s Contemporary Dance Ensemble pushes movement and storytelling to new heights. Featuring five original works by visionary choreographers Abby Z and the New Utility, Angela Banchero-Kelleher, Stephanie Garcia, Amy Miller, and Melissa Younker, this concert surprises and inspires at every turn with live music by UVU’s Chamber Orchestra and guest performances from Repertory Ballet Ensemble and Synergy Dance Company. Bold stage design and joyful, interdisciplinary collaboration promise an unforgettable journey that redefines what dance can be.
“Elytra” at NEW SHOES
HIGHWAYS’ NEW SHOES 2025 FEB 28 & MAR 01, 2025, 8:00 PM
Highways, 1651 18th St, Santa Monica, CA 90404, USA
Imagine a space where the human body becomes a kind of hyper-articulate language—each movement a syllable in some unknowable yet deeply familiar dialect, speaking directly to the viewer’s nervous system. Now imagine seven such voices, each distinct, conversing over two weeks of relentless experimentation and unflinching honesty. This is NEW SHOES 2025, Highways Performance Space’s annual descent into the raw, intricate machinery of contemporary dance. Created & Curated by Highways' Artistic Director, Patrick Kennelly.
In WEEK 1, Gia Bella & Casey Shea’s Cabin of Pleasure pries open the strange and intimate terrain where desire meets imagination, while Caitlin Javech / T O R R E N T’s Drive unpacks the psychic costs of ambition, exposing the sinews of what drives us forward. Melissa Younker’s Elytra, a mesmerizing solo within a synthetic exoskeleton, offers a viscerally tactile meditation on metamorphosis, where transformation feels both inevitable and claustrophobic.
Ballet Opera de Guerra (Utah)
November 6-9, 2024 | 8:00 PM
ROSE WAGNER - LEONA WAGNER BLACK BOX THEATRE
Join us for a captivating journey with '¿Te vas?' - a ballet by Rebekah JoAnn Guerra that immerses you in the complex world of protagonist Nadia amidst a civil revolution. In this evening-length work, Guerra explores the depths of female suffering and hope as Nadia becomes a powerful symbol of visceral femininity, navigating surrender, grief, and unwavering devotion to an elusive dream world.
Set to the haunting melodies of Antonio Vivaldi's violin and cello concertos, “¿Te vas?” promises an immersive and enigmatic experience. The live music is the beating heart of this narrative, drawing you into a world where emotions run deep, and the human spirit prevails. Don't miss this opportunity to witness a powerful portrayal of resilience and hope in the face of adversity.
Heartland Collective (Utah)
Utah Presents Stage Door Series
Heartland Collective premieres Minute And Far
Kingsbury Hall | Aug 22 @ 7:30 pm
Aug 23 @ 7:30 pm
Aug 24 @ 7:30 pm
Minute and Far plays with perspective, proportion through distortion, and the mechanics of time. This mixed media work is inspired by the stories, both real and imagined, of iconic Kingsbury Hall. Themes of geometric repetition, zigzag forms, and whimsical surprise are explored through movement, live music, and Art Deco inspired scenic elements.
Chashama Gala (New York)
Gala 2024
Thursday, June 20th ● 6 PM – 1 AM
The Chashama Art Party is a wonderland of whimsy with over 300 performers eager to envelop you in 30,000 sq ft of ChaShaMagic. Enjoy an open bar in a labyrinth of performers and installations. You choose where the wonderment will take you.
Melissa will present a durational live-performance of “Elytra” as an exhibit: including choreography, original music, and film projection through roaming and stationary performances over the course of 6 hours.
DISCOUNT TICKETS HERE
The Woods Dance Project (Utah)
JUNE 5-6 + 8, 2024 | 7:30 PM
ROSE WAGNER - LEONA WAGNER BLACK BOX THEATRE
Choreographer Nichele Woods premieres The Woods Dance Project’s inaugural evening production, REDUCER, presented by Repertory Dance Theatre’s Link Series. With two world premieres, the evening features five professional dance artists from the Salt Lake community: Natalie Border, Jonathan Kim, Tara McArthur, Morgan Phillips, and Melissa Younker. Come to opening night to catch dancers from UVU’s Department of Dance perform Clear… as a burnt-out match in a dark room., Woods’ recent commission for the department’s Contemporary Dance Ensemble—Wednesday, June 5th only! Thursday, June 6th will feature a post-show Conversation with the Artists. Join us!
Run time: 94 minutes
Recommended for ages 8 and up. No infants or small children held or seated in laps. All patrons require a ticket regardless of age.
Heartland Collective (Utah)
Utah Presents Launch Party
Teaser Show for “Stage Door Series” at Kingsbury Hall
The Woods Dance Project (Utah)
FREE sneak peak of the new quintet at 12 Minutes Max @ The Salt Lake City Public Library
Noori Screendance Festival
2024 Noori Screendance Festival
April 6 at 7:00 pm & April 7 at 4:00 pm
Utah Museum of Contemporary Art
20 S W Temple St. Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Join us for the 3rd Annual Noori Screendance Festival! Presented by loveDANCEmore, Noori celebrates independent films at the intersection of dance and movement.
Screening “Elytra” by Melissa Younker
Event Details:
Saturday, April 6 at 7:00 pm & Sunday, April 7 at 4:00 pm
Utah Museum of Contemporary Art (20 S W Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84101)
Each screening will be followed by a Q&A with filmmakers.
Free with a suggested $15 donation. RSVP below!
Masks requested!
Questions? Please contact rae@lovedancemore.org.
University of Utah Modern Senior Concert
A concert by University of Utah’s Modern Dance Seniors with guest choreography by Heartland Collective.
Contemporary Dance Ensemble
Utah Valley University’s Department of Dance is pleased to announce its upcoming evening-length concert Ode to Ourselves by Contemporary Dance Ensemble. This show is a celebration of what is individually, collectively, and distinctly — us.