Movement Migration

05/20/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Moonlight in Motion 🌙✨

The intimacy of the space, the artistry of our dancers, the beautiful live music (bravo Claudio!), and the energy of our audiences made it a truly special weekend.

We are thankful to every artist, choreographer, staff member, and production team member who helped make this show happen. Thank you to The Long Room and the ASC for giving this evening such a beautiful space to exist in.

And a big shoutout to YOU! None of this work happens without this community. Your support, and your belief in our work, means everything to us. We hope to see you again soon 💫

Photos: Miguel Alejandro Sanchez-Nuñez
Artistic Director: Kim Jones
Pianist: Claudio Olivera
Stage Manager: Janise Rodriguez
Assistant Stage Manager: Rexy Brundige

Choreographers: E.E. Balcos, Tadej Brdnik, Masha Dashkina Maddux, Kaustavi Sarkar, Alyce Cristina Vallejo, Cecilia Whalen, Tamara Williams
UNCCStudent Choreographer: Abbi Gray
Martha Graham - “Adorations Reimagined” by Kim Jones
Dance artists: E.E. Balcos, Tadej Brdnik, Kim Jones, Kaustavi Sarkar, Cecilia Whalen, Natasha Schmid, Tamara Williams, Alyce Cristina Vallejo, & Dominique Willis
Apprentices: Ava Guest, Kari Sescourka, Laura Isabel Vélez Figueroa
UNCC Student Dancers: Avery Allen, Magdeline Gragg, Alexis Holloway, Ella Zuchowski, Aliyah March, Luna Peterkin

This performance was supported, in part, by the Venue Access Grant, funded by Mecklenburg County and proudly administered by the Arts & Science Council. Thank you to the Blumenthal Foundation for their generous support of “Moonlight in Motion.”

05/11/2026

✨ We were beyond thrilled to welcome Tadej Brdnik to join us for our show in Charlotte.
Tadej was the very first dance partner of our Artistic Director Kim Jones when they were just 18 years old dancing together in New York City — making this reunion especially meaningful. ❤️
These photos capture beautiful memories from the past alongside moments from today, celebrating decades of friendship, artistry, and dance.
We were also honored to have former Martha Graham Dance Company Principal Dancer Maurizio Nardi in the audience and featured in these special photos as well.
What a full-circle moment celebrating the enduring legacy of dance, connection, and lifelong artistic bonds. ✨
TadejBrdnik MaurizioNardi DanceCommunity MarthaGrahamDanceCompany DanceLife

05/08/2026

Opening night tonight!!!! Link in Bio!!!
7 PM tonight at the Long room, in Plaza Midwood, Charlotte, North Carolina ☀️
Tomorrow 1 PM matinee and 5 PM show followed by a soirée.

05/06/2026

Our show is almost sold out! Do not wait to get your tickets today!!

Moonlight in Motion , presented by Movement Migration, is an intimate evening of live piano and modern dance. The program centers on celebrated works by composers such as Chopin and Beethoven, performed live alongside the dancers by pianist Claudio Olivera.

05/02/2026

Don’t miss this opportunity 💫
📍Charlotte, NC
Join Movement Migration artist and Open Door Studios founder, Jacque White, for an accessible ballet conditioning class designed for every body 🩰using the progressing ballet technique.

🗓 Sunday at 10 AM🌐 Sign up on the Open Door website. 🔗 in Bio.

Come as you are, move, breathe, and connect 💛

📸 photography

05/01/2026

You may have recognized some new names in our previous posts 🌙✨ We are excited to welcome two artists who will be making their Movement Migration debut at "Moonlight in Motion" — please welcome our newest apprentices, Kari Sescourka and Laura Isabel Vélez Figueroa!

Kari and Laura both studied under Artistic Director Kim Jones & E.E. Balcos in the Department of Dance at UNC Charlotte, and we are so proud to have them stepping onto the stage as part of the company!

Kari Sescourka began her training at Artistic Motion School of the Arts, where she performed principal roles including Kitri in “Don Quixote” and the Sugar Plum Fairy in “The Nutcracker.” She is currently pursuing a B.A. in Dance and a B.S. in Exercise Science at UNC Charlotte, and has completed an Undergraduate Certificate in Professional Training with Charlotte Ballet.

Laura Isabel Vélez Figueroa, born and raised in Puerto Rico, began her dance training in ballet before expanding into Puerto Rican folklore and musical theater. She performed as a company member with Ballet Sangre Viva and continued her training at UNC Charlotte, where she earned a B.S. in Exercise Science with a minor in Dance. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Kinesiology.

Welcome to the family, Kari and Laura! 🦋

🎫 See their debut performance at “Moonlight in Motion” — https://tinyurl.com/moonlightinmotion

📸 Kat Lawrence and Amy Hart

04/29/2026

Adorations, Reimagined ✨

We're closing our spotlight series with "Adorations, Reimagined" — choreography by Martha Graham, reimagined by Movement Migration Artistic Director Kim Jones, and performed by UNC Charlotte dance students Avery Allen, Magdeline Gragg, Ava Guest, Alexis Holloway, Aliyah March, Luna Peterkin, Kari Sescourka, Laura Isabel Vélez Figueroa, and Ella Zuchowski.

With this performance, Movement Migration partners with GRAHAM100, the centennial celebration of the Martha Graham Dance Company. Invited by the company's artistic director to reimagine Adorations — which Graham created for a public television broadcast in 1975 — Kim Jones has developed a work that both honors the historical choreography and creates a vibrant contemporary work for the stage.

Costumes by Karen Young, supported by a UNC Charlotte Faculty Research Grant. Set to music by Albeniz, Cimarosa, Dowland, and Frescobaldi, loosely transcribed by Anthony Strilko.

Don’t miss "Moonlight in Motion," May 8 & 9 at The Long Room! – https://tinyurl.com/moonlightinmotion

📸 Amy Hart

04/27/2026

Liebestraum ✨

Our spotlight series for "Moonlight in Motion" continues with "Liebestraum," choreographed by guest artist Cecilia Whalen and performed by Cecilia and Natasha Schmid, set to Franz Liszt's "Liebestraum No. 3 in A-flat," performed live by pianist Claudio Olivera.

About the choreographer: Cecilia Whalen is an NYC-based dancer, choreographer, and writer. A graduate of the Martha Graham School and UNC Charlotte, she has performed professionally with the Martha Graham Center, the Merce Cunningham Trust, Liz Gerring Dance Company, and Jonah Bokaer Choreography. Cecilia was a 2025 Residency Artist at Baryshnikov Arts Center, and her choreography has been performed at venues across New York City and state.

About the dancer: Natasha Schmid is an NYC-based dancer originally from Florida. A graduate of Southern Methodist University, Natasha joined Martha Graham 2 upon her graduation and danced with the pre-professional company for two years. Since then, she has performed at the Joyce Theater, among other venues as a freelance dancer with various companies throughout New York City.

We hope you join us for "Moonlight in Motion," May 8 at 7 PM and May 9 at 1 PM & 5 PM at The Long Room. Soirée following the 5 PM showing 🌙

🎫 Tickets available now — https://tinyurl.com/moonlightinmotion

📸 Miracle Okoro, Robin Michals

04/26/2026

Don't miss this special contemporary masterclass with newest Movement Migration company artist, Tadej Brdnik!

🌟 Sunday, May 10 at in Charlotte, NC from 10-11:15 AM

Visit opendoorstudios.com, go to "workshops," and sign up to reserve your spot! Classes are $20 for general and $10 for students.

Slovenian-born and internationally acclaimed, began his professional career in Europe before moving to New York in 1993. For nearly two decades, he was a principal dancer with the Martha Graham Dance Company (1996–2015), performing some of the company's most iconic roles on tours across the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia. He has performed with choreographers including Maurice Béjart, Nacho Duato, Lucinda Childs, Susan Stroman, and Robert Wilson, and continues his relationship with the Graham Company as Régisseur.

Dance into spring with us!

04/24/2026

Meet Claudio Olivera — the pianist bringing the sound of “Moonlight in Motion” to life 🎹

Claudio will perform live alongside our dancers, bringing the music of Chopin, Liszt, and Beethoven into direct conversation with movement. There's nothing quite like hearing the "Moonlight Sonata" played live in the room with you! 🌙

Claudio Olivera began his musical studies in Venezuela at age eight and debuted as a soloist with orchestra at 12. A prize-winning performer, Olivera has performed with nearly every major Venezuelan orchestra and internationally in Germany, Italy, Chile, Spain, France, and the U.S. He obtained an undergraduate degree in Production Engineering at the Universidad Simón Bolívar in Caracas, Venezuela. He also holds a Pianist Certificate from Juan José Landaeta Conservatory and a Master’s in Piano and Pedagogy from Germany’s Martin Luther Universität Halle-Wittenber.

He later earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance from the University of South Carolina. Since 2020, he has also worked in audio/video editing and livestream production for the Four Seasons Chamber Music Festival, Seattle Chamber Music Society, and Vivace Music Foundation.

Based in Charlotte since 2021, Olivera often collaborates with Opera Carolina, rehearses and performs regularly at Myers Park Baptist Church and is the main accompanist for Queen City Performing Arts. In 2025 he joined the Department of Music at UNC Charlotte as the staff pianist.

We are so excited to have Claudio join us! See Claudio at "Moonlight in Motion," May 8 & 9 at The Long Room! Tickets at https://tinyurl.com/moonlightinmotion

📸: By Mei Podvojsky of UNC Charlotte's Niner Times