Events


Open Call for Dancers – Modern Dance Primitive Light (MDPL 2024)

Open Audition Information:

  • Date: Sunday, August 25, 2024
  • Time: 1:00 PM
  • Location: Tennessee Conservatory of Fine Arts
  • Proposed Performance Dates: December 19-21, 2024
  • Rehearsals: Most rehearsals will take place on Sundays at the Tennessee Conservatory of Fine Arts. Some choreographers may choose alternative rehearsal spaces and schedules.
  • Key Dates:
    • Showings: Sunday afternoons/evenings leading up to the performance (exact dates TBD)
    • Full Run-Through: December 15, 2024
    • Dress Rehearsal: December 18, 2024
Modern Dance Primitive Light

About Modern Dance Primitive Light:

At Circle Modern Dance, we believe that every body has the right to dance. We welcome you to audition for Modern Dance Primitive Light, our annual winter solstice celebration and performance. This event is a community-driven dance experience that embraces dancers of all abilities and backgrounds, encouraging them to express themselves through movement.

Why Audition?

Whether you’re a seasoned dancer or someone who has never stepped onto a stage, we invite you to be part of Modern Dance Primitive Light. This performance is more than just a show—it’s a celebration of community, diversity, and the shared human experience through dance. We welcome participants of all ages, abilities, backgrounds, and levels of dance experience to join us in creating a powerful and inclusive expression of art.

Contact Us

Have questions? We’re here to help. Reach out to us at circlemoderndance@gmail.com


 

Join us and experience the joy of dance in an environment where every body is celebrated and welcomed. Audition for Modern Dance Primitive Light and become part of a community that believes in the power of movement to connect and inspire.

Modern Dance Primitive Light 2023

Modern Dance Primitive Light 2023

Laurel Theater, 1538 Laurel Ave, Knoxville, TN 37916

December 14 8PM
December 15 7PM & 9PM
December 16 7PM & 9PM

Open dress rehearsal December 13 at 7PM

Circle Modern Dance is proud to present Modern Dance Primitive Light, back home at the historic Laurel Theater in downtown Knoxville.

Modern Dance Primitive Light is an intimate event featuring original dance works from Circle Modern Dance past and current core members, local guest artists, and a live band – all in the historic Laurel Theater.

Modern Dance Primitive Light is a show for all ages and participates in the Penny4Arts program, allowing children to attend for free when accompanied by an adult.

Tickets can be purchased at the door with cash, check, or credit card or reserved before the date of the show on TicketTailor at the link above. This project is funded under a Grant Contract with the State of Tennessee, Tennessee Arts Commission. Additional support provided by the Arts & Cultural Alliance, Penny4Arts, and Tennessee Conservatory of Fine Arts. As always, students and veterans get a $5 discount!

 

Summer Open House

Summer Open House

Sunday, July 9th from 1-3PM

Mark your calendar! We’re hosting our Summer Open House on July 9th.

Join us for a FREE modern and ballet demo classes. No dance experience necessary. Come see what Circle is all about.

One-day-only SUMMER SALE discounts will be available on five-class and semi-annual passes! We can’t wait to see you there!

Intermediate/Advanced Ballet Workshop

Intermediate/Advanced Ballet Workshop

Sunday, May 21, 1PM – 3PM

Darby O’Connor is circling up with us to teach a FREE intermediate / advanced adult ballet workshop. This is the last event of our spring semester before summer break, so don’t miss out! Let’s do some leaps and turns!

Darby O’Connor, co-founder of Go! Contemporary Dance Works, has been a dancer, teacher, and choreographer for countless regional dance companies and earned undergraduate degrees in dance from both the University of Alabama and Middle Tennessee State University. While studying with the MTSU dance program, Darby had the opportunity to work with Laurie Merriman and Teena Marie Custer as a student and performer. She has also attended master classes from Stephanie Batten Bland, E.E. Balcos, T. Lang and Alberto del Saz. She was an active member of MTSU Dance Theatre for three semesters and attended the American College Dance Festival in 2010 and 2011.

Modern Technique Workshop

Modern Technique Workshop

Saturday, March 4th from 3-5 PM

Join Joshua Yarbrough in this intermediate-advanced modern technique workshop. The event will be focused on improving technique and learning choreography with the instructor.
Suggested donation of $20

Joshua graduated from Douglas Anderson School of the Arts as a dance major and right after he moved to New York with a full scholarship to the Joffrey Ballet. He then worked with many different dance companies such as Jazz Roots and Elsco and touring around the U.S. and Canada. In 2012 he received a Young Arts Award for dance and was invited to perform in Miami, Florida for their exhibition. There he had the privilege of interviewing with Bill T Jones and Mikhail Baryshnikov. In New York, Joshua created a dance company that performed at Alvin Ailey studios.

Joshua has an extensive experience in the field of dance and working one on one with world-class ballroom dancers, commercial/Broadway dancers and USAG gymnasts. Joshua believes that “Dance is a creative expression but it’s built on strict repetition. Creativity is built on a strong foundation of hard work and discipline.”

Modern Dance Primitive Light 2022

Modern Dance Primitive Light 2022

Laurel Theater, 1538 Laurel Ave, Knoxville, TN 37916

December 15 8PM
December 16 7PM & 9PM
December 17 7PM & 9PM

Open dress rehearsal December 14 at 7PM

Circle Modern Dance is proud to present Modern Dance Primitive Light, back home at the historic Laurel Theater in downtown Knoxville.

Experience the magic of Circle’s annual winter show, a Knoxville tradition celebrating connection and community. Each night features modern dances from local choreographers set to music from a live band.

This year, choreography by Darby O’Connor-Lanigan features Studio Arts for Dancers alumni in a special tribute piece to their shared movement background. Core dancers Louisa Rader, Kelly Arsenault, and Megan Wolfkill dance two duets by Klay Brooks and Kim Matibag, and Callie Dozier and Nate Barrett present new group pieces.

Grab a cup of warm, homemade wassail and celebrate this season by having a heart-to-heart with soloist Jill Frere and welcoming Circle’s newest choreographer, Alex Bruce.

Tickets can be purchased at the door with cash, check, or credit card or reserved before the date of the show on Eventbrite. This is a Penny4Arts production, so kids get in free with accompanying adult admission. As always, students and veterans get a $5 discount!