IDEAS IN MOTION
Ideas in Motion is a joint initiative supported by NCCAkron, The University of Akron, The University of Akron Foundation, and the Mary Schiller Myers Lecture Series in the Arts. This three-pronged initiative is meant to challenge students to be versatile and open, while also firmly rooting them in the present dance field.
21ST CENTURY DANCE PRACTICES
The annual spring phase of Ideas in Motion, 21st Century Dance Practices is a capsule series representative of genres, geographies, cultural and/or social contexts outside the traditional binary of modern and ballet in a conservatory setting.
2025
George Staib (Atlanta, GA)
BAIRA MVMNT PHLOSPHY (Detroit, MI)
Kara Jenelle “KJ” (Los Angeles, CA)
2024
Ruby Morales (Phoenix, AZ)
Takahiro Yamamoto (Portland, OR / Boston, MA)
Christopher “Unpezverde” Núñez (New York, NY)
Hélène Simoneau (Montreal, Québec / New York, NY)
Angelina Ramirez (Tucson, AZ)
J’Sun Howard (Chicago, IL)
2023
The Era Footwork Crew (Chicago, IL)
Errin Weaver (Cleveland, OH)
André M. Zachery (Brooklyn, NY)
BRKFST Dance Company (Saint Paul, MN)
Raphael Xavier (Philadelphia, PA)
slowdanger (Pittsburgh, PA)
2022
Rosie Herrera (Miami, FL)
Kate Wallich (Seattle, WA)
Courtney Lopes (New York, NY)
Christopher K. Morgan & Artists (Portland, OR / Washington, DC)
Helanius J. Wilkins (Boulder, CO)
Ashwini Ramaswamy (Minneapolis, MN)
Photo of Brian Brooks with UA dance program students by Dale Dong Photography.
2021
Abby Zbikowski (Urbana, IL)
Amy Miller (New York, NY)
Art Bridgman and Myrna Packer (Valley Cottage, NY)
Bebe Miller (Columbus, OH)
Jesse Factor (Pittsburgh, PA)
Helen Simoneau (Winston-Salem, NC)
Kayla Farrish (New York, NY)
Paula Mann (Minneapolis, MN)
2020
Brian Brooks (New York, NY)
Guillaume Gabriel (France)
James Graham (San Francisco, CA)
Mustapha Braimah (Ghana / Asheville, NC)
Nicole Klaymoon (San Francisco, CA)
Paloma McGregor (Brooklyn, NY)
Raja Feather Kelly (Brooklyn, NY)
Samantha Speis (New York, NY)
Taja Will (Minneapolis, MN)
COMMUNITY COMMISSIONING RESIDENCY
The annual fall phase of Ideas in Motion, the Community Commissioning Residency continues the work of engaging students and the greater community with a contemporary leading dance artist. Artists are invited to apply through a nomination process by The University of Akron faculty and NCCAkron team members. Faculty, team members, and students serve on the selection committee.
INSIDE THE DANCER'S STUDIO
An ongoing free and open to the public series of interviews with 21st Century Dance Practices artists. This series of talks explores creativity, the craft of choreography, and navigating an artistic career.
Our first five seasons of Inside the Dancer's Studio are available as a podcast! Download and listen on all platforms now.
Photo of Mustapha Braimah and Christy Bolingbroke by Dale Dong Photography.