Our Story
Formerly Portico Dance Theatre, Oklahoma Movement has over a ten year history of bringing together dance artists to experience the meaning of movement through engaging the audience in thought-provoking works that both challenge and expand the viewer’s experience. With at least one full-length production every year, past works such as “WO”, “Mob Mental.ity”, “Legends of Darkness,” etc, we create original choreography that challenges the audience to ask questions and contemplate current issues.
In 2020, Founding Artistic Director, Jen Alden and Co-Artistic Director, Nina Madsen Puckett, determined that they wanted to shift the artistic direction of the Company from a performance-based company to a focus on outreach, advocacy and education. With the full support of the Board, the Company changed our name, mission and vision towards a reflection of our core values, providing the opportunity to move people both physically and mentally.
Artistic Statement
from the Directors
We believe that to dance is to move with intention. That intention may be subconscious, such as walking to the refrigerator to get a snack, or conscious, such as dancing to choreography from an evening length performance. Whatever the motivation behind the movement, when someone moves, the inner workings of the mind and outer experiences of both the mover and the viewer crystallize.
Our original choreographic works consist of a fusion of our combined artistic voices, and we strive to create works with meaning and purpose, often referencing and examining through our combined choreographic lens the current and past issues affecting our world.
We believe our movement to be a conduit of engagement through the arts. The repertoire we present and conversations we host range from themes addressing women’s issues, mental health awareness, the mentality of mobs, systemic racism, equality and more. We endeavor to preserve and respect classical/traditional dance techniques (Balanchine and Bournonville style of Ballet), Postmodern Techniques (Safety-Release Technique), and fundamentals of movement theory and practice (Laban Movement Analysis and Bartenieff Fundamentals) to create the movement foundations to convey our message.
Our work provides the viewer a chance to explore, challenge and question what is considered “dance,” in real time, by deriving movements and phrase work from a wide range of techniques and theories to move our audiences in a meaningful way.
We often use movement motifs that consist of simple, gestural type movements that the audience can relate to, so they can leave a performance both understanding and questioning themes of social relevance. Our choreography also intends to harmonize the body with the auditory sense in a seamless way.
Through pushing the boundaries of what is considered dance and using the universal language of movement, something that connects us all as human beings, we believe in the enormous potential for change. We are continually seeking to provide the community with opportunities to both view and experience the many physical and emotional benefits of movement.
Our Team
-
Jen Alden
-
Nina Madsen Puckett
-
Kymber Sage
Creative Team, Aerial Director
-
Valeria Fleming
Creative Team
-
Kate Jacobs
Dancer Manager
-
Matt Reed
Production Lighting Director
-
Jennifer Hertel
Production Stage Manager
-
Elizabeth Szymanski
Social Media Manager
-
Bayleigh Head
-
Kimberly Wall
-
Lexie Sweeney
-
Karmen Golden Bough
Company Dancers
Cassie Waggoner, Kimberly Wall, Kate Jacobs, Bayleigh Head, Jen Alden, Lexie Jo Sweeney, Kymber Sage, Valeria Fleming, Emma Morris, Linda Davis, Kate Jacobs, Elizabeth Szymanski, Jennifer Cooper, Andrea Ellis, Ashley Runnells, Allie Kwon Scrivner, Kate Bibens, April Robertson, Brittany Moore, Aris Grace, Dana Callery, Karmen Golden Bough, Makayla Knoche, Lily Folkerts
Board of Directors
Danielle Jester | Vice President
Kasey St. John | Fundraising Chair
Jen Alden | Creative Team
Jennifer Hertel | Board Member
Donna Collins | President
Andrea Ellis | Treasurer
Faith Fizer | Secretary
Nina Madsen Puckett | Creative Team
Calveta Burger | Board Member
Kate Jacobs | Board Member | Dancer Liason
Stephanie Wheeler | Board Member
Oklahoma Movement is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization based in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Our mission: Oklahoma Movement is a collective of artists that empowers and inspires our community through movement.
Oklahoma Movement aims to bring current issues surrounding mental health, addiction, and social inequality facing our community to light. It is our belief that movement is something in which we can all relate to and seek to enable the community to experience the many benefits of movement and dance.