ALONA CHRISTMAN is a founding member of Bellingham Repertory dance, a Cornish College of the Arts graduate, a former member of Dance Gallery, the co-creator of the Firehouse Arts Center and a kick ass human. She likes to waste her time running, reading, hiking, riding on the back of her husband’s motorcycle with him, while exploring what this great nation has to offer, or working at the College of Fine and Performing Arts at WWU. She would like to thank Pam for taking a chance on her no-longer-dancing-body and she is deeply grateful to once again roll around in the studio with all the amazing artists in this piece.
Photo - Robin Dude
VANESSA DAINES is a BFA graduate from Western Washington University, a former member of Bellingham Repertory Dance (Season 2007 - 2016), and has been an artist with Kuntz and Company since 2008. In her free time, she can be found exploring the outdoors with her husband and two kids, patching up old jeans, and dancing in her living room. She is so grateful for this vibrant dance community and the opportunity to participate in another Kuntz and Company production!
PAM KUNTZ is an educator, dancer and choreographer living and working in Bellingham, WA. She founded Kuntz and Company in 2005 after discovering a passion for working with the community to tell their stories through the arts. With Rick Hermann, in 2012 Pam created a dance class for people with neurological disorders, was a founding member of Bellingham Repertory Dance, and has been on the faculty at WWU since 1999 where she teaches all levels of Contemporary Dance Technique, Ballet, Dance History, and Anatomy for Dancers. She particularly enjoys creating new work with WWU dance students. Pam has received some lovely awards from community organizations and grant makers, listed below, and is both thankful and proud of this recognition and support. Beyond dancing in and with the community she is most happy hanging out with her family and dreamboat husband Mark.
KATE STEVENSON has practiced the splits every day of her life, and when asked (regularly) why this has become her practice her response is always: “Why not?! Use it or lose it.” When she is not single handedly helping the Bellingham community become more inspired and more fit, she is on the move. Her supportive husband, sweet and athletic son, and creative compassionate daughter frequently exclaim how lucky they are to have such a dynamo for a mama/spouse. Kate is a lover of movement, sequined dance recital-wear, mowing the lawn, playing with her Dog Ruby, and winning at connect four. She is a veteran Kuntz and Company collaborator and is thrilled to perform with this group of dancers.
Kuntz and Company has received funding from The National Endowment for the Arts, Bossak Heilbron Charitable Foundation, The City of Bellingham, PeaceHealth, The Washington State Arts Commission, Chuckanut Health Foundation, Western Washington University, Whatcom Family and Community Network, WECU, the Community Food Co-Op, and the Whatcom Community Foundation.
KC’s artistic director is proud to be the recipient of a 2016 and a 2007 Bellingham Mayor's Arts Award, a 2015 Artist Trust Fellowship, a 2012 Artist Trust GAP award, a 2012 Peace Builder award, and a 2011 Ken Gass Community Building Award…all for the work she has created with Kuntz and Company. She is also proud to have been recognized by the American College Dance Association for her choreography with students from WWU. WOOP WOOP!
PAST ARTISTIC COLLABORATORS
Brendan Aanes
Francie Allen
Jessica Ardis
Evyn Bartlett
Naquoia Bautista
Ian Bivins
Amanda Brings
William Coogan
Alona Christman
Cara Congelli
Vanessa Daines
Robin Dude
Paul Dutton
Ben Estes
Brooke Evans
Suzanne Fogarty
Paige Fredlund
Jaynie Hancock
Cecelia Hanford
Pat Harlin
Nate Harpel
Stephen Harvey
Annie Hewlett
Troy Hightower
Jessica Hoage
Nolan Hoppe-Leonard
Angela Kiser
How Loud Media
Jessica Kruger
Ella Mahler
Gabby Malagreca
Samantha Martin
Yuki Matsukura
Nolan McNally/Cambrian Visions
Jaime Monsef
Susan Newkumet
Dionne Noble
Kathy Pottratz
Hannah Reclam
Caitlin Schafte
Sarah Schermer
Richard Scholtz
Gregory G. Schott
Angela Sebastian
Kate Stevenson
Bo Stewart
Nicole Styles
Kerrie Thornton
Spencer Thun
Lena Traenkenschuh
Ruthie V.
Diane Williams
Jessica Young
Zach Wymore