Leni Wylliams and Mary Pat Henry were Kansas City arts pioneers.
Long before the Crossroads Arts District or the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, Wylliams and Henry saw Kansas City as the perfect home for their new dance company.
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News
Auditions, January 2016
Want to dance with or for Wylliams/Henry?
WHCDC will be holding an audition for The Riverside Dance Festival Intensive and for the WHCDC Company.
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Review | New works, new dance partners
New Dance Partners should be a must-attend event on every local arts lover’s calendar. Now in its third year, the program, hosted by the Performing Arts Series at Johnson County Community College, commissions new works by notable choreographers for the participating companies. This year, Gregory Dawson set twisted metal on Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company, Katarzyna Skarpetowska was paired with Owen/Cox Dance for La Locura, and new to the project this year, the Oklahoma City Ballet’s Speaking in Spheres was choreographed by Brian Enos. The diversity of movement and distinctive characteristics of each choreographer befit the paired ensemble. Read more
Review | “Affairs of the Heart” doesn’t miss a beat
Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company presented six dance works in its spring program, “Affairs of the Heart,” this past weekend. “Affairs of the Heart” featured the work of five choreographers who captured the vast and powerful emotions that come with falling in and out of love. The dances ranged from pieces about the joyful discovery of falling in love, the art of seduction, unquenchable desire, betrayal, and the insatiable human need for human connection.
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‘Modern Night at the Folly’ choreographic showcase displays creativity, strength
Vulnerability, frailty and ambiguity were the strengths of this year’s “A Modern Night at the Folly,” the 12th annual choreographic showcase presented by City in Motion Dance Theater. Despite the late winter storm Saturday night, an audience of dance enthusiasts gathered in the Folly Theater to enjoy a varied, creative program from local and regional artists.
Trailer for Upcoming “New Dance Partners” Documentary
Here is the trailer for the upcoming premiere of the New Dance Partners documentary which is produced by the students of JCAV-TV. Its public debut will be December 7th at 7pm, at the Rio Theatre in Overland Park, KS.
Review | “New Dance Partners” sees second successful showing (KCMetropolis.org)
Three collaborative new works premiered Friday night at Performing Arts Series at Johnson County Community College’s second annual “New Dance Partners.” Each of the three pieces, commissioned by the series, combined an up-and-coming national choreographer with an established local company. Considering that the series, led by general manager Emily Behrmann, continues to present some of the best high-class performances in the region, the audience turnout for this special program was underwhelming.
Review | Wylliams/Henry kicking it up a notch (KCMetropolis.org)
University of Missouri-Kansas City’s outdoor scene was bustling last Friday night, as was the arts landscape in general, but devoted dance enthusiasts could be found scattered throughout the White Recital Hall for Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company’s spring performance. The company closed their 23rd season celebrating the past and looking toward the future. Works by two well-known choreographers, Fred Benjamin and Eleo Pomare, bookended the seven-piece program.
Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company Opening
Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company opened its 2013–14 season Friday night with a series of works featuring dancers in small numbers. “1-2-3-4 Dance” included solos, duets, quartets, and one larger group finale.
High Praise for Wylliams/Henry!!! (Best of Dance 2012-2013)
Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company, Fall Program: Despite being one of the first performances last season, WHCDC left a mark with its 21st fall program. The program blended together past favorites from co-founders Leni Wylliams and Mary Pat Henry as well as new works for the company and an astonishing execution of Martha Graham’s Diversion of Angels. By far this was one of the strongest showings for the company in recent years. (September 2012)