Wellspring's Fall Concert of Dance: Epic Moments opens this weekend at the Cori Terry Theatre in Downtown Kalamazoo's Epic Center, celebrating the dance company's 45th year of artistic innovation and community engagement. The program specifically honors the 25 years Wellspring has called the Epic Center home, featuring a curated selection of works created within the venue since the company's 2000 move from the Park Trades Center.
Artistic Director Marisa Bianan emphasized the significance of this anniversary season. "Our fall concert is thoughtfully crafted to center works that were created in our home, the Epic Center, as we celebrate 25 years of dance making within these walls," Bianan stated. "And our 45th season promises a packed performance lineup with visionary choreography and immersive experiences in exquisite venues in Kalamazoo and across southwest Michigan."
The concert program balances historical works with contemporary creations, showcasing the evolution of modern dance in the region. Audiences will experience revivals of founder Cori Terry's early Epic Center works, including Family Altar (2001) with original costumes by Elaine Kauffman and set design by Paul Marquadt, and the rhythmic Dervish (2002) set to music by Kalamazoo-based Blue Dahlia. The spectacular full-company work At This Very Moment Breaking (2008), known for its sweeping lifts and striking lighting design, also returns to the stage.
Bianan contributes two powerful contemporary pieces to the program. The Ground Has Thawed (2025) originally premiered with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra's Burdick-Thorne String Quartet and will be performed in its entirety for the first time. Woven Together (2025), created for the YWCA's 140th Anniversary Gala, features stunning wearable chainmail art by Elaine Unzicker and represents Wellspring's full-production premiere of this work.
The performances feature Wellspring's professional company joined by guest artist Sam Crouch. The company includes Bianan, Alexis Smith as Rehearsal Director, Angel Sutton, Emma Kent, Sarah Holcomb, Elliott Vargas, and Emily Prymula, though Prymula will not perform in the fall concert.
Accessibility remains a priority for the organization, with the Epic Center and Cori Terry Theatre offering wheelchair accessibility and hearing loop assistive listening technology. The concert schedule includes multiple performance options, including a sensory-friendly performance on Saturday afternoon in collaboration with Unmask the Arts and a Friday evening performance featuring a post-concert talkback with Wellspring and artist Elaine Unzicker.
Tickets are available through multiple pricing tiers to ensure broad community access. Patrons can purchase tickets online at https://WellspringDance.org/season or by phone, with options including General Admission at $30, Pay-It-Forward at $40, Youth/Student tickets for those under 18 at $15, and Pay-What-You-Can starting at $5. Student Rush Tickets for ages 25 and under will be available at the door for $5.
This concert represents more than just a performance—it demonstrates how professional dance companies contribute to regional cultural identity and community cohesion. As one of the nation's longest-standing small professional modern dance companies, Wellspring's continued operation through multiple decades highlights the importance of sustained arts funding and community support for cultural institutions.
The 45th season continues through May 2026 with additional events including the 17th Annual RADFest in March 2026 at The Epic Center and Downtown Kalamazoo, Movement in the Museum at the Grand Rapids Art Museum, and the Spring Concert of Dance returning to the Cori Terry Theatre in May. These ongoing programming efforts reinforce Wellspring's role in advancing Kalamazoo as a home for modern dance that moves hearts, bodies, and minds while providing accessible artistic experiences for diverse audiences.
