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Selected Concert Productions

*Kaleidescopea (2004) 55mins
Dances based on color. Direction by Valerie Williams, choreography by Valerie Williams and dancers. Music by Beethoven,

*Up and Coming Gods (2004) 55mins
Dance and technology. Direction and choreography by Valerie Williams. Music by Pergolesi,

*Dimensions (2003) 60mins
Investigation of form will inspired dances this year. Two acts showed dances based on forms in space, the forming of dances in time, and two stories: "Flatland", by Edwin Abbott, and "In the Land of the Perpendicular", by Susan Cantine. Music by Bach. Set and costumes designed by Valerie Williams.

*Connections (2002) 67mins
Family, physical, emotional connections. Music by Reselman, Partch, Potter/Motion. Set and costumes designed by Valerie Williams.

Song of Solomon (2002) 59mins
A Westminster Arts Series production, this dance concert is based on text from the Bible's Song of Solomon. Choreography by Kathleen Hurley. Music by Steve Russell.

The Protecting Veil (2001) 1: Choreography by Marc Kotz. Music by John Tavener, played by the Westminster Orchestra.
*Ashes to Ashes (2002) 20mins
A memorial to the survivors of the events of September 11, 2001. Inspired by watching, talking with friends, visits to New York City, and the text from interviews of survivors of the terrorist attacks. Original music by Anne Deane. Choreography by Valerie Williams. Design by Valerie Williams.

*That was Fast!! (2002) 45mins
Dances for a short attention span. No dances longer than 3 minutes, most under 2 minutes. Music includes selections from The Bobs, Part, Purcell, and Schickele. Choreography by Valerie Williams. Design by Valerie Williams.

*Mementoes (2002) 90mins
Dances in memory of loved ones and loved places. Produced in a large dance studio with the 'audience' sitting in the balcony and 3/4 around the floor, this concert was as much a happening as a concert. Several dances were choreographed, but several were left open for improvisation and audience participation. The concert was divided into sections inspired by people, photographs, poetry, and music. The audience recited poems from their memories, contributed photographs, and also occasionally joined the dancers on the floor. Music included selections from Brahms, Fats Waller, and Schickele. Choreography by Valerie Williams and Janice Baker. Design by Valerie Williams.

*STEEL FOREST (2001) 90mins
Steel Forest consists of three related dances entitled Steel, Stone, and Fence. The choreography is inspired by a kinesthetic and philosophical response to incarceration, meditation and will. Steel expresses emotions aroused by lack of freedom, desire for freedom and fear of expression. Stone is a meditation on freedom and responsibility. Everyday tasks, the burdens of family and relationships force humans to confront and consider their behavior. Fence expresses the rebelliousness that can lead to incarceration unless it can find an appropriate outlet. Fence begins in anarchy and active countering and then, like most of the natural world, finds balance. Music by Bach, Tavener, Morricone. Choreography and design by Valerie Williams.

*SWAN'S LAKE, AND OTHER DANCES (2001) 90mins
The dancers invited everyone to join them for a rollicking good time as they performed some of their most popular humorous dances. Selections will include How Sweat It Is, Write Your Legislator, Don’t Think Twice, Four Wet Pigs, and Odile, the Story of a Swan Gone Bad. Music includes selections from Tchaikowsky, Telemann, Penguin Cafe Orchestra, and a suite of comical songs by Greg Brown. Choreography by Valerie Williams, Chris Gauger, and Marius Petipas. Design by Valerie Williams.

*TRAPPING STATES (2001) 65mins
A new concert of dances about opposite pulls, disturbances, highs and lows. In mathematics a trapping state is the final energy position; one where you are left when all other possibilities have been exhausted. It can apply to a gravity well, particles, black holes, orbits and couch potatoes. This concert relates these concepts to human relationships. This concert feature athletic partnering, formal arrangements of movement and a somewhat cynical view of the human condition. Choreography and design by Valerie Williams. Video by Valerie Williams

*SON OF SPIKED (2000) 100mins
Co’Motion Dance Theater produces this now annual sendoff of the Nutcracker Ballet this year including music by Jingle Cats, Klezmer Shirim, besides the zany arrangements by Spike Jones. True to the original ETA Hoffmann story, this concert features a line dance around the Christmas tree accompanied by klezmer music, a cell phone ballet for the parents, Cat soldiers backing feuding Nutcrackers and Wolves who are tamed to poodles. Divertissements include a a real arabian dance by Mirage Middle Eastern Dance Troupe, as well as the usual wacky pleasantries. The ever popular baton twirling Sugar Plum Fairy makes a return visit and all ends happily. Choreography by Valerie Williams and Traditional. Performed by C’MDT, Kids’ Co’Motion, Mirage Middle Eastern Dance Troupe, and guest professionals. Design by Valerie Williams.

*VIRTUE AND VICE IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM (2000) 75mins
A look at the dubious and ever changing nature of virtues and vices. Beginning from the premise that human beings have not changed much over the millennia, even though social mores and political structures have, these dances illustrate us as we are now. The Three Duets look at love not just through the millennia, but through the ages of life and include teenagers, middle aged dancers and senior citizens. Dances include Narcissus, Variations Part 1, Young Love, Girls, Me, Conformity, Crank, Gossip, Variations Part 2, Ambition, Duet 2, Girls continued, Jump Quick, Blizzard Rope, Unsquare Dance, Variations Part 3, Duet 3. Music by Debussy/Tomita, Ravel, Part, Art of Noise, Villa Lobos, 242, Smith, Mozart, Marquart/Manesis, Brubeck. Choreography and design by Valerie Williams. Lighting by Virgil Kleinhesselink.

*VARIATIONS (2000) 75mins
Includes 17 Variations, Lacrimosa/Variations on Grief, Light, Adversary, Of Determined Purpose. Music by Ravel, Brahms, Cage, Webern, Preisner and Bach. Choreography and design by Valerie Williams. Video by Gerry Sheble and Valerie Williams

*SPIKED 4ever (1999) 105mins
Co’Motion Dance Theater produces this now annual sendoff of the Nutcracker Ballet this year including music by Gilbert and Sullivan besides the zany arrangements by Spike Jones. Divertissements include a Lindy Swing, the ever popular baton twirling Sugar Plum Fairy, and fouettes in a swan planter. Choreography by Valerie Williams and Traditional. Performed by C’MDT, Kids’ Co’Motion, the ISU Ballroom Dance Company, the Family Martial Arts Center and guest professionals. Design by Valerie Williams.

*HIGH SUMMER REVEL (1999) 70mins
A romp in the park to celebrate a fine summer evening. Valerie Williams produced and choreographed dances that include an audience of all ages. Music by Telemann, John Adams, Philip Glass, Ravel, Traditional. Performed by Valerie Williams with help from Kids’ Co’Motion, the audience and nature.

*SHAGGY DANCES (1999) 95mins
Co’Motion Dance Theater performs these dances made in collaboration. Composer Robert Fuller and Valerie Williams worked from each others' works to create Me About You. Cellist George Work plays three Bach Suites for Unaccompanied Cello for choreography by Valerie Williams, Kathleen Hurley, Lana Lyddon Hatten, and Paula McArthur. Princess Iolanthe Ruddigore Playing Patience in a Pinafore is a romp with Gilbert and Sullivan.
Music by Fuller, Bach and Gilbert and Sullivan. Danced by Valerie Williams, Kathleen Hurley, Lana Lyddon Hatten, Paula McArthur, and Janice Baker and guest artists from Vine Street Ballet, Kids' Co'Motion and local guests. Direction and design by Valerie Williams.

*Series Solo #3: SINGING OVER THE BONES (reworked 1999) 27mins
Based on characters from Estes' Women Who Run With The Wolves, this dance uses lighting effects and flying, along with highly personal dancing to illustrate one woman's journey to self acceptance. The music was chosen only for it's ability to move the choreographer. Music by Morricone, Mozart, Part, Mickey Hart, Orff, Villa Lobos, Traditional, Ornette Coleman.

*Series Solo #2: ROOM TO SPARE (1999) 35mins
Color, line and the presence of living dance. An experiment with sculptural dance. Music by Part, Monk. Performed and choreographed by Valerie Williams.

*OFFICIUM reworked (1999, premiered 1996) 60mins
The progression of the day is a metaphor for the journey of life. Officium was inspired by a contemplation of contemporary hours. Choreography by Valerie Williams in collaboration with visual artist Carol Prusa. Live music by the MusicMen singing Casals, and Anonymous. Music by Hilliard Ensemble and Jan Garbarek, de Morales, Perotinus, de La Rue. Featuring Lana Lyddon Hatten, Paula McArthur and Carol Prusa.

*Series Solo#1: DANCE THEIR PANTS OFF (1998) 45mins
A chronological series of autobiographical dances. Music by Morton Gould, Beethoven, Richard Wagner, Paganini, Fats Waller, Pete Johnson, Ethel Smith, Astor Piazzolla/Gary Burton, Johannes Brahms, Debra Marquart/Peter Manesis, Carl Orff, John Williams. Performed and choreographed by Valerie Williams.

*3 SPIKES AND YOU'RE OUT! (1998) 100mins
Co’Motion Dance Theater produced this sendoff of the Nutcracker Ballet. Music arranged by Spike Jones. Choreography by Valerie Williams, Lisa Rich-McKelvey, Traditional. Performed by C’MDT, Kids’ Co’Motion, the ISU Ballroom Dance Club, the Family Martial Arts Center and guest professionals.

*OUR TIMES (1998) 90mins
"Life and Love and Fire don’t happen in 4/4 time." From a passionate tango to the questioning Leanings, these dances explore the human condition using music that isn’t in 4/4 time. Choreography by Valerie Williams. Music by Piazzolla, Smith, Saint-Saens, Mozart, Stravinsky, Bartok, Brubeck. Performed by Co’Motion Dance Theater.

*CARMINA BURANA (1998) 30mins
Selections from Carl Orff’s ‘secular songs’ choreographed by Valerie Williams. Performed by Co’Motion Dance Theater, Kids’ Co’Motion and guest dancers, Iowa State Singers and Oratorio Chorus, ISU Wind Ensemble. Conducted by Robert Molison. Produced by ISU Music.

*SPIKED! AGAIN! (1997) 90mins
Co’Motion Dance Theater produced this sendoff of the Nutcracker Ballet. Music arranged by Spike Jones. Choreography by Valerie Williams, Beth Clarke. Performed by C’MDT, Kids’ Co’Motion, the Octagon Tappers, the Family Martial Arts Center and guest professionals.

*REQUIEM (1997) 90mins
Dances from memories and in memory of people and events. Music by Fuller, Smith and from the requiems of Brahms, Mozart, Faure, Rutter. Design by Valerie Williams.

*SPIKED (1996) 90mins
Company regulars are joined by community groups to present this side-splitting alternative to the traditional Nutcracker with music arranged by Spike Jones. The Tchaikovsky music is a small part of the aural experience, many other Spike Jones arrangements such as "Cocktails for Two", and "Holiday for Strings" complete the mania. From a flamingo bower version of the Waltz of the Flowers to a tapped Cygnettes ballet, SPIKED is loaded with wit and more than just a little sarcasm. Design by Valerie Williams.

*OFFICIUM (1996) 61mins.
The progression of the day is a metaphor for the journey of life. Officium was inspired by a contemplation of contemporary hours; how we divide our time and space. Collaboration with visual artist Carol Prusa. Music by Hilliard Ensemble and Jan Garbarek, de Morales, Perotinus, de La Rue.

*FOXGLOVE AND FOXTROT (1996) 90mins
A celebration of Iowa's Sesquicentennial in dance. Social dances that have been done in Iowa in the past 150 years form the basis for the choreography that explores Heading West, Coming Together, Building Community, Dancing with the One that Brought You. Music by Albert Ammons, Mike Bell, Greg Brown, Michel Faubert, R. Firpo, Grever, Tom O'Neil, Luke Thomasson, Toujours, Traditional

*OF DETERMINED PURPOSE: POTENT WOMEN (1995) 78mins.
Strong women, strong music and strong ideas inspired this evening length dance. Women's lives and places in the world are examined in the sections titled: Endurance, Obstacles, Exclusion, Crazed, Conviction and Integrity. Music by Hildegard von Bingen, Part, Visser, Heyman/Young, Carmichael/Mercer, Hollander/Lerner, Mozart, Piazzolla.

*CHAMBER DANCE (1995) 90mins.
A collection of solo vocal literature with solo dance. Includes La Chanson d'Eve by Faure, Cappella with Danish songs, and Barber's Knoxville: Summer of 1915 and The Hermit Songs. Singers Lisa Baker and Steve Hoifelt with pianist Joyce Andrews share the stage with Valerie Williams in a variety of treatments of dancer/singer duets ranging from the traditional singer at the piano and dancer moving on the stage, to dancer and singer both engaged in the action.

*LULLABIES (1994) 60mins.
Lullabies from around the world, sung in their native tongues, accompany these generally gentle dances. The dances are in turn tender, frustrated, funny, wry, tongue in cheek, and gentle with a look at who we are and how we treat infants and children.

*CAPPELLA (1994) 40mins.
Musicians, a visual artist, a poet make dances with dancers that accompany each other. The performance includes choreographed works, but also improvisations between dancers and artists. Carol Prusa, painter, Debra Marquart, jazz poet, Ken Jolls, vibraphones, Steve Hoifeldt, tenor.

*DIVINE LITURGY (1993) 60mins.
Inspired by man's capacity to do good, this dance is an affirmation and celebration of the human spirit. Music by Komitas and Beethoven.

*1001 NIGHTS (1993) 45mins
A young people's performance that includes 7 young dancers as 'scene changers' (non-technical movement). The professional dancers take on many roles in stories that may have been told by Sheherazade. Design by Valerie Williams. Music by Rimsky-Korsakov.

*SIGN-APSE (1992, revised 1993) 75mins
Traffic signs are used as a metaphor in this examination of how people treat each other, as well as how children learn about social mores and habits. Design by Steve Brownless. Music by Mickey Hart, Art of Noise.
Videotaped in edited form for broadcast by Iowa Public Television.

*KANJI (1991) 35mins
Dances designed from the shapes as well as the meanings of Japanese kanji. Design and calligraphy by Dee Peters. Music by The Penguin Cafe Orchestra.

*MANIPULATIONS (1989, revised 1990) 65mins
Originally choreographed for gallery spaces; set, costumes and dancers manipulate and are manipulated in what becomes an individual's quest for the freedom of a unique voice. Installation by Carmon Slater. Music by Arvo Part.

*BARBER-ISMS (1989) 40mins
Samuel Barber's Knoxville: The Summer of 1915 and Hermit Songs danced into life with full set, soprano and pianist. Broadcast by Iowa Public Television. Design by Steve Brownless.

*ILLUMINATIONS: Kinetics for Body and Voice (1989) 70mins
Dances set to the poetry of Phil Hey and poetry set to the dances of Valerie Williams. Music by Copland, Tchaikovsky, Chopin and others.

*THE MEDICINE SHOW (1989) 90 mins
Dance comedy in the Vaudeville tradition including: Odile-The Story Of A Swan Gone Bad; How Sweat It Is; Write Your Legislator; Slapdash and others. Music by Tchaikovsky, Telemann, Chopin, Porter, Hayes, Madonna and others.

*LOCATIONS OF THE SOUL (1988) 60mins
Solo concert. A journey into the mind and soul, inspired by journal entries. Designed for a large space and danced in the round. Music by Beethoven, Fats Waller, Villa-Lobos, Cole Porter/Manhatten Transfer, Bach.

*IOWA COLLECTION (1986) 90mins
Dances based on works by Iowa artists, contemporary and deceased. Includes the visually spectacular Miss Buns, Miss Buns, Why Don't You Smile When You're So Good? based on paintings by Sharon Burns. Music by Greg Brown, Meredith Willson, John Cage, Philip Glass, Eberhard Weber.