Unfurl Program
April 28th & 29th, 2023
Old Town Center for the Arts
Two Showings: Friday April 28th & Saturday April 29th, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Featuring live original music by the Moving Order Band
Featuring live original music by the Moving Order Band
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First Showing:
Friday April 28, 2023 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm |
Second Showing:
Saturday April 29, 2023 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm |
Artist Reception and Painting Viewing for Gretchen Lopez and Debra Williamson from 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm both evenings.
CAST
Tyler Barnard: modern dance, stage pole
Emerald Forest: belly dance, lyra
Grace Livermore: modern dance
Taylor Marie: modern dance, corde lisse
Clay Massey: Cyr wheel, stilt-walking
Kristen Massey: modern dance, stage pole
Sunn Mixon: modern dance, aerial sling
Kevin Ringle: poi, club juggling
Mazzy Rose: modern dance, silks
Evan Thibodeau: Buugeng, poi
Lilith Velarides: aerial chains, silks
Colleen Walls: modern dance, Tai Chi, Kung Fu
Jeffrey Williamson: trapeze
MUSICIANS
William Eaton - harp guitar
Allen Ames - violin
Claudia Tulip - flute, vocals
Bart Applewhite - bass
Logan Turner - percussion
Taylor Marie - harp guitar, vocals
Mazzy Rose - piano
CREW
Taylor Marie – Director, Co-Producer, Head Choreographer
William Eaton – Co-Producer, Sound
James Ball – Head Lighting Designer
Elena Bullard – Lighting Designer
Logan Turner – Sound
Stephan Barber – Stage Technician
James Ismert – Photographer, Videographer
“Unfurl” is our full-length Spring show (April 28th & 29th, 2023) following the intricate and interwoven lives of plants and elements of the natural world. Each movement artist will embody one or more plants, elements (fire, earth, water, air), wildlife, and/or seasons, moving in a dynamic to represent its essence, expression, and environment; telling its story in newly imagined and creative ways.
Unfurl features performances of aerial dance (silks, trapeze, corde lisse, aerial chains, aerial sling, stage pole, lyra), martial arts (Tai Chi and Kung Fu), flow arts (Buugeng, club juggling), grounded dance (modern dance, belly dance), and acrobatics (Cyr wheel, stilt-walking).
The Moving Order Band will play entirely original live music throughout the duration of the show to accompany the movement arts you will see 'unfurling' and unfolding on and high above the stage.
Both evening showings will also feature a special one-hour artist reception from 6:00 - 7:00 pm for visual artists Gretchen Lopez (oil painter) and Debra Williamson (watercolorist), featured artists creating works especially for Unfurl.
The show title of Unfurl was inspired by the modern dance duet of the same name originated by professional dancer Christine Eaton of Nikolais Dance Theatre featuring her daughter Taylor Marie (2012). The name evokes a sense of plant life unfurling its petals and leaves, reaching toward the sun, nourished by and rooted in the earth. To unfurl is to awaken, unravel, and to begin with hope renewed in Spring. Taylor and her father William Eaton later created an adaptation of the piece (March 2022) as an aerial dance and live music duet with silks and harp guitar. Unfurl (2023) is dedicated to Taylor's parents, William and Christine Eaton, multi-talented artists and co-founders / co-directors of Old Town Center for the Arts.
Unfurl features performances of aerial dance (silks, trapeze, corde lisse, aerial chains, aerial sling, stage pole, lyra), martial arts (Tai Chi and Kung Fu), flow arts (Buugeng, club juggling), grounded dance (modern dance, belly dance), and acrobatics (Cyr wheel, stilt-walking).
The Moving Order Band will play entirely original live music throughout the duration of the show to accompany the movement arts you will see 'unfurling' and unfolding on and high above the stage.
Both evening showings will also feature a special one-hour artist reception from 6:00 - 7:00 pm for visual artists Gretchen Lopez (oil painter) and Debra Williamson (watercolorist), featured artists creating works especially for Unfurl.
The show title of Unfurl was inspired by the modern dance duet of the same name originated by professional dancer Christine Eaton of Nikolais Dance Theatre featuring her daughter Taylor Marie (2012). The name evokes a sense of plant life unfurling its petals and leaves, reaching toward the sun, nourished by and rooted in the earth. To unfurl is to awaken, unravel, and to begin with hope renewed in Spring. Taylor and her father William Eaton later created an adaptation of the piece (March 2022) as an aerial dance and live music duet with silks and harp guitar. Unfurl (2023) is dedicated to Taylor's parents, William and Christine Eaton, multi-talented artists and co-founders / co-directors of Old Town Center for the Arts.
Unfurl
FIRST HALF
***COMING SOON***
INTERMISSION
***COMING SOON***
SECOND HALF
CAST
Tyler Barnard
photos and bio coming soon
Emerald Forest — Witch Hazel
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Emerald Forest — Belly Dance, Lyra
My love of movement and the healing power of kinesthetic practices has most definitely saved my life. After college I moved on to begin a lifelong study of yoga and flexibility training, becoming certified as a teacher in 1999 by Lex Gillan and the Yoga Institute. But it was only in 2015 that I discovered fusion belly dance, and developed an obsession with this form of movement, discipline and expression. I spent the last seven years evolving myself into a dancer and giving myself permission, finally, to follow my joy and to fully express myself through movement arts. I have been fortunate to train with some of the most influential fusion belly dancers in the world—Rachel Brice, Zoe Jakes, Tiare Tashnick and Deb Rubin. I am certified in Rachel Brice's Eight Elements of Belly Dance Level 1, and Deb Rubin's Dance Therapeutics Level 1 and 2. I also completed a year long dance intensive with Deb Rubin in 2021. Finally, I fell in love with aerial circus arts in 2020 beginning with Lyra and have been studying pole at Momentum in Flagstaff for the last year. I am as inspired by creative possibility and expression, as I am about the process of embodiment. |
Grace Livermore — Earth, Fire
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Grace Livermore — Modern Dance
Grace has a background in classical ballet and has dabbled in modern/contemporary, burlesque, hip hop, bhangra, and Latin dance forms. She has been doing aerial silks and lyra for 3 years and aerial rope for 2 years. Recently she has started working in aerial harness, taking workshops with Bandaloop and collaborating with Dark Sky Aerial. 
Grace Livermore, James Ismert Photography
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Taylor Marie — Earth, Fire, Coyote, Lullaby, Vine
Taylor Marie, James Ismert Photography
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Taylor Marie – Director, Co-Producer, Head Choreographer. Modern Dance, Corde Lisse. Harp guitar, guitar, vocals.
Taylor Marie is the founder, artistic director, and head choreographer for Hydrangea Sky Movement Arts. Taylor Marie is a performing artist (aerialist, dancer, and musician/singer-songwriter), visual artist (painting, drawing, mixed-media, clothing design), and researcher/writer in sustainable lutherie and plant neurobiology for Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery and Wisdom Tree Institute, in addition to working and performing regularly at Old Town Center for the Arts in Cottonwood, Arizona (home venue for Hydrangea Sky Movement Arts). Taylor has a background in modern dance and ballet and currently performs on aerial silks, lyra, corde lisse, trapeze, and invented apparatus. Taylor has performed as a professional musician and aerialist/dancer, in addition to teaching workshops in aerial silks and partner acrobatics, across the Southwest and in France. Taylor has trained in aerial dance at Frequent Flyers, Altitude Aerials, Scorpius Dance Theatre, Vertical Fix, Illuminar Aerial, and Momentum Aerial. 
William and Taylor Eaton, photo by James Ismert Photography
As a musician, Taylor has headlined her own concerts as a soloist (under the former stage name “Ty”) including appearances at the Old Town Center for the Arts (Cottonwood, Arizona) and the Tempe Center for the Arts, and has opened for Arizona legends Walt Richardson, Big Pete Pearson, and Anthony Mazzella. She has toured with four-time Grammy Finalist William Eaton, violinist Allen Ames, and flutist Claudia Tulip of the William Eaton Ensemble throughout the Southwest playing original music. Taylor spent three years performing all-original music weekly at L’Auberge de Sedona resort in Arizona. Her first album, Standing On My Head, was published and released in 2008. Most recently, Taylor is the founding member of the Moving Order Band, a musical group of various members performing live music for Hydrangea Sky Movement Arts during their aerial dance and movement arts performances. Taylor performs with several musical groups, including the Moving Order Band, the William Eaton Ensemble, and Ty in the Sky.
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Clay Massey — Forest Guardian, Inner Nature
photos and bio coming soon
Kristen Massey — Earth, Winter Solstice, Mistletoe
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Kristen Massey — Modern Dance, Stage Pole
Kristen first fell in love with the graceful, dance-like movements of rock climbing. Rock climbing was her first pathway to embodiment, and the strength, freedom, and altitude it allowed her to access paved the way for silks. Kristen has always been drawn to the aerial arts, and her first silks experience was over 12 years ago. Now, two kids and a full time career later, she feels privileged to have access to a local gym and formal classes the last four years. Her aerial interests include silks and pole dance. 
Kristen Massey, James Ismert Photography
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Sunn Mixon — Earth
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Sunn Mixon — Modern Dance, Aerial Sling
Sunn was first introduced to aerial and performance arts 8 years ago while training in partner acrobatics. After moving to Flagstaff 5 years ago, she fell in love with aerial dance and has been practicing ever since. She now teaches for Momentum Aerial, specializing in solo and duo lyra and has recently taken up a passion for aerial sling. Her love of movement and somatic based practices has led to a deep connection to movement arts that allow her to express through her body and motions. 
Sunn Mixon, James Ismert Photography
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Kevin Ringle — Fire, Pink Polka Dot Plant
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Kevin Ringle — Poi, Club Juggling
Juggling and flow arts has let Kevin travel the world. Starting out as just a hobby, this art form soon led Kevin to teach workshops throughout the USA, and later to perform in Berlin, Germany. Kevin enjoys the challenge presented by prop manipulation. Starting out as a poi spinner at the age of 12, he quickly grew to love how one can spin and throw objects to create art and tell a story. Kevin started juggling at 19 and never looked back. It took another 6 years before he found his passion for hat juggling. This niche style of juggling lets Kevin express himself more so than any other prop. The joy brought to the audience by Kevin’s hat juggling is unlike any other circus show. “My love for juggling and flow arts has created the way I look at life. This art form has taught me patience, creativity, and body awareness. I use what I have learned from prop manipulation in my every day life. I would not be the person I am today without it.” |
Mazzy Rose — Earth, Skull Cap, Lullaby
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Mazzy Rose — Modern Dance, Silks. Piano.
Mazzy Rose began her aerial journey in 2018 after being inspired by performances from Circus Bacchus and Dark Sky Aerial. She began training on silks at Momentum Aerial before taking a break from that apparatus to build strength on lyra. When she returned to silks, corde lisse seemed like a natural evolution to add to her training. She loves the feelings of freedom and empowerment that come with exploring the aerial arts. 
Mazzy Rose, James Ismert Photography
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Evan Thibodeau — Praying Mantis, Fire
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Evan Thibodeau — Poi, Buugeng
I moved to Flagstaff at 21 in 2009 to study Forestry at NAU and just never left. I like to think that Northern Arizona is where I learned how to be an adult through my educational background here and now being a small business owner, and also how to be a kid again through performance and flow arts communities. I began spinning poi in 2018 after seeing it a few times at events or festivals, and immediately found myself head over heels with the specific movements art of poi and 3-poi juggling. I now facilitate poi classes and workshops, organize fire circles and fire performances, and create new acts every chance I get! 
Evan Thibodeau, James Ismert Photography
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Lilith Velarides — Fire
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Lilith Velarides — Aerial chains, Silks
Lilith is a self-taught aerialist with a diverse interest in apparatuses, doing everything from silks and lyra to trapeze, straps, sling, and aerial pole. Lilith's specialty is aerial chains, having begun performing in shows with Peppercorn Games in their home town of Flagstaff in 2022. Having never been a dancer before finding aerial arts, Lilith has become passionate about expression through dance and flow, especially on any apparatus you can use with boots on and metal music playing. 
Lilith Velarides, James Ismert Photography
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Colleen Walls — Earth, Fire, Tan Hua Flower, Coyote
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Colleen Walls — Tai Chi, Kung Fu, Modern Dance
Colleen Walls is a second-degree black belt in Shaolin Kung Fu and a certified instructor at Sacred Mountain of Fighting and Healing Arts. She specializes in the tiger crane 108 system, northern long fist, and tai chi. Colleen is also an active member of Sacred Mountain's lion dance team and has experience performing the head and the tail parts of the Chinese lion. Her passion is giving martial arts demonstrations in front of a live audience, and she has competed and placed at several state and national championships. In 2021, she received the ICMAC Women's Tai Chi Grand Champion award. Colleen enjoys sharing her passion for Chinese martial arts with her community. 
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Jeffrey Williamson — Creosote
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Jeffrey Williamson — Trapeze
Jeffrey saw his first aerial performance on Valentine's Day of 2020. He was so inspired by the performance, he started training on trapeze that Fall at Momentum Aerial. Since then, Jeffrey has fallen in love with being in the air and specializes in trapeze, lyra, and silks. 
Jeffrey Williamson, James Ismert Photography
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LIVE MUSICIANS
William Eaton
William Eaton has been building one-of-a-kind guitars and multi-stringed instruments since 1971. His innovative instruments have been featured in Guitar Player, Frets, Acoustic Guitar, Experimental Musical Instruments, and many other publications. Eaton’s instruments have been displayed, at the Hollywood Bowl Museum, Museum of Making Music (Carlsbad, CA), Musical Instrument Museum (MIM – Phoenix, AZ), Tohono Chul Park (Tucson, AZ), Winter NAMM Exhibit (Anaheim, CA) among others.
A four-time Grammy Nominee, Eaton has composed for and performed with the Amadeaus Trio, Nouveau West Chamber Orchestra and the Nebraska Chamber Orchestra, and has performed as a soloist, with the Electric Harp Guitar Group, Ananeah, and the Nakai, Eaton, Clipman Trio. Eaton’s unique and original sound has been captured on 16 recordings for the Canyon Records label including his long time collaborations with R. Carlos Nakai and four recordings as the leader of the William Eaton Ensemble: an eclectic “world chamber fusion” group whose releases, have earned Billboard Critic’s Choice awards as well as charting in the top ten World album category.
A four-time Grammy Nominee, Eaton has composed for and performed with the Amadeaus Trio, Nouveau West Chamber Orchestra and the Nebraska Chamber Orchestra, and has performed as a soloist, with the Electric Harp Guitar Group, Ananeah, and the Nakai, Eaton, Clipman Trio. Eaton’s unique and original sound has been captured on 16 recordings for the Canyon Records label including his long time collaborations with R. Carlos Nakai and four recordings as the leader of the William Eaton Ensemble: an eclectic “world chamber fusion” group whose releases, have earned Billboard Critic’s Choice awards as well as charting in the top ten World album category.
Allen Ames
Allen Ames grew up in Phoenix, began playing the violin at age nine, and has studied with Wayne Clark, Max Mandel, William Majors, Frank Spinoza, Theodora McMillan and James Buswell. He studied composition with Janne Irvine and James DeMars, and has been featured in the N.E.A’s Composers in Concert series co-sponsored by the Arizona Composers Forum. He is a member of ASCAP.
He was apprenticed to the late Carl E. Reiter in 1980 as a violin maker and is listed in Wenburg’s Violinmakers of the United States. In 1995 he developed the Violira: a six-string, five octave instrument spanning the ranges of the violin, viola, and cello.
Allen has played with orchestras and chamber ensembles including the Arizona Opera and Ballet Orchestras, Nouveau West and La Forza Chamber Orchestras, the Phoenix, Amabile and Philharmonic String Quartets, the TOS Performing Arts Ensemble, and many others. He has also played baroque violin with the Camerata Sonora, Solis Camerata, and the Phoenix Bach Choir.
Allen has played jazz since high school days, adding guitar, bass, and drums to his stable of instruments, and has performed with many iconic Phoenix jazz artists over the years. More recently he has been specializing in Gypsy swing.
Since 1985 Allen has explored a wider field of musical improvisation, playing and recording with Mosaico Flamenco, harpist Ani Williams, Klezmer legend Schlomo Carlbach, Navajo musicians Sharon Burch, R. Carlos Nakai and Mary Redhouse, and other adventurous artists. He has toured as featured soloist in twenty-two states with Three Redneck Tenors. He currently plays with Lyra, the William Eaton Ensemble, Meadowlark, Zazu, and jazz singer Vismaya Hagelberg.
Allen has taught many music appreciation courses and given pre-concert lectures for the Phoenix Symphony and the Sedona Chamber Music Festival. As a published poet, he has given many performances combining music and poetry.
In 2007, he was included in Who’s Who in America.
He was apprenticed to the late Carl E. Reiter in 1980 as a violin maker and is listed in Wenburg’s Violinmakers of the United States. In 1995 he developed the Violira: a six-string, five octave instrument spanning the ranges of the violin, viola, and cello.
Allen has played with orchestras and chamber ensembles including the Arizona Opera and Ballet Orchestras, Nouveau West and La Forza Chamber Orchestras, the Phoenix, Amabile and Philharmonic String Quartets, the TOS Performing Arts Ensemble, and many others. He has also played baroque violin with the Camerata Sonora, Solis Camerata, and the Phoenix Bach Choir.
Allen has played jazz since high school days, adding guitar, bass, and drums to his stable of instruments, and has performed with many iconic Phoenix jazz artists over the years. More recently he has been specializing in Gypsy swing.
Since 1985 Allen has explored a wider field of musical improvisation, playing and recording with Mosaico Flamenco, harpist Ani Williams, Klezmer legend Schlomo Carlbach, Navajo musicians Sharon Burch, R. Carlos Nakai and Mary Redhouse, and other adventurous artists. He has toured as featured soloist in twenty-two states with Three Redneck Tenors. He currently plays with Lyra, the William Eaton Ensemble, Meadowlark, Zazu, and jazz singer Vismaya Hagelberg.
Allen has taught many music appreciation courses and given pre-concert lectures for the Phoenix Symphony and the Sedona Chamber Music Festival. As a published poet, he has given many performances combining music and poetry.
In 2007, he was included in Who’s Who in America.
Claudia Tulip
Claudia Tulip, a Music Together® Center Director since 1999, currently directs Under One Common Sky featuring the Music Together, KidStrums, Indigo Rhythm programs, small ensemble coaching and private lessons in flute, guitar, improvisation, ear training and songwriting. Classically and jazz trained, she has written music for dance companies, documentaries and theatre. Claudia was a contributing musician to Jerry Jacka's Emmy award winning documentary "Beyond Tradition" and the NAMA award winning CD 'Colors of My Heart' by Sharon Burch. Claudia's artistic life has always been a blend of performance and innovative teaching. She had the great fortune of participating in Master Classes with Marcel Moyse, considered to be one of the greatest flute masters of the 20th century.
In addition to her B.A in music performance and study of the Dalcroze and Orff methods, Claudia attended jazz band directors' summer intensives at Eastman School of Music and Toronto's York University along with years of jazz study with "Coach" Barry Harris at the Jazz Cultural Theater in New York City. Since 1988, Claudia has been the flutist of the William Eaton Ensemble, a world fusion quintet, having released five albums for Canyon Records. 'Where Rivers Meet' earned a Billboard Critic's Choice and 'Sparks and Embers' garnered top ten play list in the World Music catagory in Japan and Canada in 2006.
During Claudia's time of tenure at New York's famed Saint Ann's School, she conducted the Middle School Chorus, Chamber Ensemble, Flute Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble while teaching Orff-inspired classes in Improvisation-Composition. She was one of 10 Music Faculty members at Saint Ann's. During the 2014 - 2015 school year, she taught innovative music expression to Grades 4-8 at Desert Star Community School. The Indigo Rhythm and KidStrums programs grew out of Tulip's desire to share the organic nature of exploring an instrument and using it as a creative vehicle for improvisation, composition, ensemble work and presence. Classes, lessons and workshops embrace the understanding that the muse within each of us need only be recognized and cultivated to express works of great beauty in resonant concert with others, Under One Common Sky*. Tulip is known for diving deep into the heart of music and creativity with people of all ages and many cultures.
In addition to her B.A in music performance and study of the Dalcroze and Orff methods, Claudia attended jazz band directors' summer intensives at Eastman School of Music and Toronto's York University along with years of jazz study with "Coach" Barry Harris at the Jazz Cultural Theater in New York City. Since 1988, Claudia has been the flutist of the William Eaton Ensemble, a world fusion quintet, having released five albums for Canyon Records. 'Where Rivers Meet' earned a Billboard Critic's Choice and 'Sparks and Embers' garnered top ten play list in the World Music catagory in Japan and Canada in 2006.
During Claudia's time of tenure at New York's famed Saint Ann's School, she conducted the Middle School Chorus, Chamber Ensemble, Flute Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble while teaching Orff-inspired classes in Improvisation-Composition. She was one of 10 Music Faculty members at Saint Ann's. During the 2014 - 2015 school year, she taught innovative music expression to Grades 4-8 at Desert Star Community School. The Indigo Rhythm and KidStrums programs grew out of Tulip's desire to share the organic nature of exploring an instrument and using it as a creative vehicle for improvisation, composition, ensemble work and presence. Classes, lessons and workshops embrace the understanding that the muse within each of us need only be recognized and cultivated to express works of great beauty in resonant concert with others, Under One Common Sky*. Tulip is known for diving deep into the heart of music and creativity with people of all ages and many cultures.
Bart Applewhite
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After graduating from R-V in 1993, Barton Applewhite stayed on to assist John Roberts with John’s exotic bird collection. Bart then went on to dedicate his time to recording and touring with his successful band, Kongo Shock, playing his one-of-a-kind Barton Basses and wowing crowds around the country. Bart still records and performs with his local band, Mr. Incommunicado and also performs with the Haley Green Band, Madman Theory, 2Tone Lizard Kings, William Eaton, Arizona Highwaymen and many others.
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Logan Turner
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Logan graduated from OCC with an Associates in Music in 2012 and then the Crane School of Music in 2016 with a BA in Music Business. During his time between The Crane School of Music and OCC, Logan studied with many accomplished percussionists in a vast number of different styles and instrumentation. Logan is a classically trained percussionist with a specialty in world percussion. Logan currently dedicates his time outside of his day job to study percussion at a high level and performing with various group in Arizona.
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Website: hydrangeasky.com
Instagram: @hydrangeaskymovementarts & @movingorderband
Facebook: Hydrangea Sky Movement Arts
Instagram: @hydrangeaskymovementarts & @movingorderband
Facebook: Hydrangea Sky Movement Arts
Venue:
Old Town Center for the Arts
633 N 5th Street, Cottonwood, AZ 86326
Old Town Center for the Arts
633 N 5th Street, Cottonwood, AZ 86326