Island Moving Company

The Artists

Mysterious. Athletic. Graceful. Evocative. 

Great movement. Grassroots camaraderie and big city technique…a group of working dancers going for broke. A complexion slight and strong and deep. Mysterious, athletic, graceful, evocative.

That’s not our writing and instead actual reviewers’ words depicting the genius of Newport, Rhode Island’s acclaimed Island Moving Company and the mastery of its creative leadership, now headed by newly named Executive Director Edward McPherson and Artistic Director Miki Ohlsen. McPherson succeeds outgoing Executive Director Dominique Alfandre who successfully led the non-profit organization for 35 years.

One need only skim a few of the blog entries on Island Moving Company’s website to understand how broad and deep a reach this remarkable contemporary ballet company has. Here’s one sample; here’s another.

Originating new works to the never-ending excitement of adults and children, committing major time and hands-on effort to mentor those kids, creating remarkable educational programs like its Math into Movement program for second graders, and staging captivating newly choreographed dance performances year after year seen by thousands, Island Moving Company’s creative leadership, choreography, and captivating dancers meet the highest standards – according to reviewers, exceeding those standards all the time – in everything they do.

Which is why the data shows that Island Dance Company’s audiences are growing all the time, and always coming back to see more!

Edward McPherson

Miki Ohlsen

The Artistry

Island Moving Company was founded in the belief that collaboration and a supportive environment enhance the creative process, producing great works of art representing profound expressions of the human spirit and experience.

The Company develops dance as a valuable art form for audience and community, presenting original works of choreography which connect audiences to their own emotions. Each presentation provides a shared experience transcending cultural boundaries. Through its educational initiatives and outreach, the Company assures that dance enriches the life of its community and positively impacts the individual’s sense of self.

History

Island Moving Company is a classically trained contemporary ballet company based in Newport, RI, which produces new dance works through a collaborative creative process. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Miki Ohlsen, the Company has, for over 30 years, produced and presented dances by a diverse group of choreographers, working with musicians, poets, and visual artists.

Island Moving Company has become known for its creative use of unusual venues, creating site-specific work for Rosecliff mansion (The Newport Nutcracker), Belcourt Castle (Dracula) and other Newport sites. Its site-specific dance and art festival, Open for Dancing, has engaged over 500 participants in the Newport community as well as choreographers such as Monica Bill Barnes, Joanna Haigood, Noemie Lafrance and Third Rail Projects’ Zach Morris and Tom Pearson.

The Great Friends Touring Project uses a 10-day summer dance festival as the basis for a network of partnerships with other dance companies around the country and world. It has brought Island Moving Company to audiences in Missouri, California, Texas, Colorado, Florida, New York and even Kazakhstan. Island Moving Company also works extensively in K-12 schools, creating curriculum-based movement residencies throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts that imaginatively links movement and curriculum. The Company’s dancers work with over 5,000 children annually.

Island Moving Company received the Arts & Business Council’s Jabez Gorham Award for artistic and organizational excellence.

La Tierra Giro – Island Moving Company

Photo Credits: Thomas Palmer Photography, Elena Petrova

Click the image below to see a beautiful Island Moving Company image gallery!

Sponsor Opportunities

Contact NPAFE to find out how you can be recognized locally, regionally, and even nationally for your role in making these great performing arts events possible.

    • IMC’s Spring Performance at the GAMM Theatre
      May 10 & 11       Newport’s contemporary ballet company makes its debut appearance at the new GAMM Theatre in Warwick, RI for two performance, May 10th and May 11th at 7:30pm. For this evening Artistic Director Miki Ohlsen has programmed premieres by acclaimed choreographers.
    • Nuit Blanche: Summer Gala at Bellevue House
      July 5
    • Newport Dance Festival Great Friends, Great Dance, in Great Places, July 12 – 21
    • Newport Nutcracker at Rosecliff November 27 – December 6

What Others Say

“Ohlsen’s ‘Of Beauty and Light’ done to Phillip Glass, presents two wonderful dancers, Carol Tang and Jose Gonzalez. They move carefully, vibrantly, through a series of moments in what seems their relationship. This is one of those dances that allows you your own take on what being seen on the floor. I saw a life together, in all its wonderful and difficult times. Tang and Gonzalez gave that a complexion both slight and strong, and deep.”

-Bill Gale, Rhode Island Public Radio, RI

“Two beautiful lifts, one as Genest rolls high across the back of Juarez’s shoulders and the next as he holds her up and describes that same arc, are breathtaking. The eye-catching gesture of toes turning in and out on the floor, with hands running up cheeks, captures the ambivalence and pain of leaving a lover.”

–Johnette Rodriguez, The Providence Phoenix, RI

“As a European tourist living in America, I couldn’t resist the invitation to see a “Nutcracker” in one of the most spectacular mansions in Newport, RI…And — though I certainly loved my first trip to Newport, the drive around the wonderful coastline, the spectacular mansions, and my walk in the Rosecliff gardens down to the sea — my delight in this “Nutcracker” was principally in the performance.  The secret of “A Newport Nutcracker at Rosecliff” is in its sense of scale, proportion, musicality and good stage manners.”

-Alastair Macaulay, New York Times, New York

“Gracious, energetic performance of emotionally centered work distinguishes the troupe.”

-Gus Solomons, Jr. Gay City News, New York

“…a refreshing combination of grassroots camaraderie and big city technique…a group of working dancers going for broke.”

-Marilyn Russo, Attitude, The Dancers’ Magazine, New York

“Island Moving Co. secured its reputation for fusing conceptual risk with technical prowess.”

-Lewis Segal, Los Angeles Times

“Wow, great movement, Bravo…One does not have to go to Boston or New York when there is so much talent right here! …You make me want to dance! …Mysterious, athletic, graceful, evocative, wasn’t boring, funny, body ink distracts, fascinating, worth more than $25 …First time watching a show like this and loved hearing Philip Glass, beautiful interpretation of his music …Love the beige couple, saw them at a fundraiser in a pool …The Met has some Moves …I have goosebumps …Etudes, amazing …Stunning!! …You guys successfully tackle diverse matter …Love to see the new group piece. It amazes me how seamlessly two companies from different regions meld together in two weeks …I didn’t know shoulders could be so expressive! …Loved the shadows on the walls, great job with the lighting …Keep pushing and blurring the boundaries of dance, music and language …Incredibly high energy”

-Great Friends – Audience Responses