2022: City in Motion
Sauceda Art has selected Family in Form a beautiful proposal from City in Motion Dance Theater (CIM) as the recipient of our 2022 grant. Submitted by Lydia Knopp, City in Motion Board President, Family in Form is an ambitious project that lives its family values as it involves numerous members of the CIM community in the production of this new work.
- City in Motion Dance Theater, Kansas City, Missouri, www.cityinmotion.org
City in Motion
Dance is for everyBODY.
City in Motion Dance Theater, Inc. was founded with the mission to foster the development of high-quality contemporary dance programming and expand the dance audience in the Kansas City metropolitan region. Over the past 30 years, that mission has evolved to include providing a welcoming, non-competitive home for Kansas Citians of all ages who want to learn any of a number of forms of dance, including ballet, hip hop, jazz, modern, tap, and numerous other ethnic and specialty styles.
— City in Motion website
Family in Form
This new piece (and project) would involve the entire City in Motion “family” over the course of 3 months and 3 public performances. Varied choreography throughout the project would integrate founders, past dancers, school students, current and new company members, and our youth dance theater. The project would use the artform of dance to reconnect and regenerate family at a pivotal time of change in the CIM organization. The plan would ultimately lead to an expansion of our dance impact in and around our community.
— from City in Motion’s Sauceda Art Grant Proposal
Sauceda funds would enable a partnership with The Children’s Place (TCP), a local nonprofit that works to heal children and families who have experienced trauma. Under the guidance of new Artistic Co-Directors Bobbi Foudree and Ann Shaughnessy, the piece will integrate new and returning professional company dancers to collaborate with TCP staff and families to create a piece showcasing the journey of a child in the TCP program – from hurt, to healing, to hope.
Outdoor & Site-Specific Works
The breadth, depth, and impressive quantity of works produced by City in Motion is beyond summarizing here. CityInMotion.org has extensive documentation of its productions, training, and youth programs.
Sauceda Art is especially moved by CIM’s Outdoor and Site-Specific works. CIM’s Dance in the Park series and their recent Kaw River performance as part of the National Water Dance event are great examples. Beyond sensitivity to our pandemic-era culture, these works take dance to places and to audiences that might not normally come to a theater. CIM is willing to bring its art to the people.
Congratulations & Good Luck!
Congratulations, City in Motion Dance Theater, on being Sauceda Art’s first grant recipient. Your impressive record over the past 37 years makes it clear that this grant will go to pay artists, create a compelling new work, and share your work with your community in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. Unfortunately, Bea and Dag cannot speak, but Sauceda Art believes they would be proud to be a part of your beautiful and important work.
