Resonance: Art Inspires Art in Dance Work

Cohesion Dance Project brings dazzling collaboration to Helena, Missoula and Great Falls

On Stage

Cohesion Dance Project (CDP) brings its collaborative performance, “Resonance ~ an evening of Art Inspiring Art” to Helena, Missoula and Great Falls in May. The Bitterroot Cascade Tour opened Helena May 11 with “Excerpts of Resonance” at Cohesion’s Backstage Theater. The full evening-length production will be performed May 23 at the UM Dennison Theatre in Missoula and May 31 at the Mansfield Theater in Great Falls.

Resonance: Sculptor Richard Swanson
Sculptor Richard Swanson with prototype of his Cygnus design. Dancers engage in the full-size piece in “Resonance.”Photo © Tanya Call

According to Cohesion Dance artistic director and choreographer Tanya Call, the multi-faceted work aims to “spark a ripple-effect of creative energy and cyclical inspirations of art inspiring art.”

When it debuted last year in the Helena, the Independent Record described it as “ambitious and at times all-consuming and totally energizing.”

With dance and sculpture at its core, “Resonance ~ an evening of Art Inspiring Art” is an artistic confluence of original works of sculpture, live music, dance, poetry, spoken word, and visual art. The production features professional contemporary dancers from across the state and community dancers from Missoula and Great Falls. Live music by percussionist, composer and sound designer J. Stuart Smith of Albuquerque, NM, and local guitarist Nathan Zavalney (Missoula) and violinist Matt Bugni (Helena and Great Falls) add the musical component.

Premiering June 2018 at the Myrna Loy Center in Helena, the evening-length performance also includes three kinetic sculptures by nationally-recognized metal artist Richard Swanson; poetry and spoken word by best-selling author and poet Tyler Knott Gregson; visual art projection by artist Matt Plaumann of Portland, ME; and choreography by CDP’s Amber Moon Peterson, Julynn Wilderson, and Tanya W. Call.

Wilderson and Peterson will join Missoula-based professional dancers Madi Kelly, Faith Morrison, Jasmine Woods and Ashley Zhinin for the production.

Master Class & Auditions

Resonance Residencies
Cohesion Dance Project brings school residencies to East Helena, Victor, and Vaughan.Photo © Tanya Call

CDP is offering a contemporary master class and audition for local dancers to participate in the Missoula and Great Falls performances. The Master Class/Audition will be held in Missoula on Sunday, May 19, from 2-4 p.m. at the UM-PARTV Building and in Great Falls on Sunday, May 26, from 4-6 p.m. at Miss Linda’s Dance. Cost is $10.

Interested dancers are encouraged to show up at the door, visit cohesiondance.org or call 406-422-0830 for more info.

In addition to the performance, Cohesion will conduct Resonance-inspired school residencies at local and surrounding schools throughout the week, leading students through a multi-genre artistic creative process. School communities include East Helena, Victor and Vaughan.

Resonance on Tour

Helena: 5 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 11, at Cohesion Center for Dance and the Arts’ Backstage Theater; tickets are $15 and available at the door or cohesiondance.org.

Missoula: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 23, at the UM Dennison Theatre; tickets are $22 general admission and $18 for students with ID, and available at www.griztix.com or 406-243-4051.

Great Falls: 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 31, at the Mansfield Theater. Tickets are $22 general admission and $18 for students with ID, and available at ticketing.greatfallsmt.net or 406-455-8514.