For nearly two decades, Dance St. Louis has transformed our region into a dance mecca for Memorial Day Weekend by way of Spring to Dance. Presented by the Whitaker Foundation, the two-day festival (May 24-25) gives local audiences an opportunity to bear witness to emerging and established companies who demonstrate the breadth and scope of the art form.
Among the 12 companies who will grace the stage for Spring to Dance 2024 is South Chicago Dance Theatre. Kia Smith – the company’s founder, executive artistic director and resident choreographer – is thrilled that her company was chosen this year to make their Spring to Dance debut on Friday (May 24) at the Touhill.
“This season I commissioned a new work by Tsai Hsi Hung … When you look at the choreography it’s almost like the dancers are dancing in fast forward. It’s that fast. People can expect a lot of energy from this piece – and probably something they have never seen before in terms of style.” – SCDT Founder Kia Smith
“To be honest, this is a famous festival within the dance world,” Smith said. “It’s an honor that we get to be in the room for something like this. There are some really incredible companies on that program – and so the fact that we get to be a part of it as a new dance company is very exciting.”
At just seven years old, South Chicago Dance Theatre has made a name for itself within the realm of dance. The company has danced in South America – and they have collaborated with the famed Chicago Opera Theater.
South Chicago Dance Theatre is the manifestation of Smith’s childhood dream. She saw a ballet performance on PBS at five-years-old and knew from that moment that she wanted to have her own dance company.
“I gathered up my teddy bears, put them on the couch and started teaching what I learned on TV,” Smith said. “That’s where it started – and I never looked back. I just kind of found my own unique way to be in this field. I’ve always had an excitement about dance.”
Her resolve was further strengthened when she became involved in a community theater organization in elementary school that used the arts to foster unity. Much like St. Louis, Chicago has a legacy of segregation and fragmentation. But as her group wrote, produced and performed their own plays, the South Side, North Side and West Side came together. All races, backgrounds and socioeconomic statuses came together in the name of art.
“It was really a transformative experience for me because I had never been around so many different people,” I wanted to unite people and I felt that I could actually do it through the arts. That experience made me know that what I want to do is marry these two things – bringing different kinds of people together in community, and also making art together.”
Spring to Dance reflects the same spirit of community and unity, but in the name of dance. “It is one of only a few festivals of its kind in the United States,” Smith said. And in her opinion, the opportunity presented through Spring to Dance cannot be overstated. “I think what Michael [Uthoff] does with Spring to Dance is really incredible,” Smith said. “There just aren’t many festivals that actually pay companies to come – and have an open application process. Dance St. Louis has programmed a diversity of artists over the years. I’ve been following Spring to Dance for a long time.”
She can’t wait to show St. Louis what SCDT is made of as part of the Spring to Dance roster.
“It’s going to be wild,” Smith said. “This season I commissioned a new work by Tsai Hsi Hung, she’s from Taiwan -and she’s based in Taiwan and New York and her work is like fire. I’ve honestly never seen anything like it anywhere – and I watch a lot of dance. When you look at the choreography it’s almost like the dancers are dancing in fast forward. It’s that fast. People can expect a lot of energy from this piece – and probably something they have never seen before in terms of style.”
Smith urges prospective audiences to take advantage of the experience made available through Dance St. Louis.
“Spring to Dance is one of the country’s most prominent dance festivals and highlights a diversity of really exciting, cutting edge dance companies,” Smith said. “There is literally something for everyone.”
Smith even goes so far as to declare Spring to Dance a cultural gem.
“You definitely shouldn’t miss out on it if you are local – and it is worth the drive into the city if you are not,” Smith said. “I think people underestimate the transformative power of the arts, and how good you feel after watching a performance. Especially something like Spring to Dance – and it only happens once a year.”
Dance St. Louis’ will present Spring to Dance 2024, sponsored by the Whitaker Foundation, on May 24- 25 at the Touhill Performing Arts Center on the campus of UMSL. Doors open each night at 5:30 p.m. For tickets and/or additional information, visit www.dancestlouis.org.