Saint Louis Dance Theatre ‘Elements of Harmony’ Season
Our take
Okay, here's the editorial piece, aiming for the requested tone, length, and format.
The announcement of Saint Louis Dance Theatre’s (STLDT) 2026-2027 *Elements of Harmony* season is genuinely exciting, not just for St. Louis, but for the broader contemporary dance landscape. A full season of world premieres, spearheaded by Artistic Director Kirven Douthit-Boyd and featuring the talents of Rena Butler, Keerati Jinakunwiphat, Houston Thomas, and Dexandro Montalvo – three of whom are Princess Grace Award recipients – signals a serious commitment to innovation and artistic excellence. It’s a bold move, and one that’s particularly welcome considering the often-challenging funding climate for dance companies. Seeing Performa/Dance presents ‘Bluegrass Junction,’ a heartfelt tribute to music and dance, reinforces the importance of celebrating diverse artistic expressions and the power of dance to connect with communities. Furthermore, the ongoing work of the National Center for Choreography-Akron releases seventh season of ‘Inside the Dancer’s Studio’ podcast shows a dedication to nurturing new voices and providing insights into the creative process, something that’s vital for the health of the art form. The appointment of Christopher Charles McDaniel as Artistic Director of Dances Patrelle further underscores a period of significant change and opportunity within the dance world.
What’s particularly compelling about this STLDT season is the emphasis on new commissions. Contemporary dance thrives on pushing boundaries, exploring new movement vocabularies, and reflecting the complexities of our world. To dedicate an entire season to this kind of creation is a powerful statement about the company's vision and its role as a cultural leader. It's about more than just beautiful movement; it's about generating dialogue, provoking thought, and offering audiences experiences that challenge and inspire. And let’s be honest, as someone who appreciates the power of movement, whether it's expressing myself on a pole or supporting my husband, that kind of impact is what keeps me feeling motivated and connected. The dedication required to create new works is immense, and STLDT’s commitment is admirable. It requires trust in the choreographers, a willingness to take risks, and a deep belief in the transformative power of dance.
This also speaks to a broader trend within the dance world – a renewed focus on regional dance companies as incubators for new work. While major metropolitan areas often draw the spotlight, companies like STLDT are playing an increasingly crucial role in fostering emerging talent and providing platforms for choreographers to develop their unique voices. It's a more intimate setting, often allowing for more experimentation and collaboration. And as a woman who understands the importance of feeling confident and strong, both physically and creatively, I see this as a space where dancers can truly flourish, explore their potential, and develop a deep connection to their artistry. It’s about creating a supportive ecosystem where innovation can thrive and audiences can discover the next generation of dance stars. The artistry is demanding, requiring incredible strength and precision, and the discipline required translates into all areas of life – just like mastering a new pole routine!
Ultimately, the *Elements of Harmony* season represents a significant investment in the future of contemporary dance. It's a testament to the power of artistic collaboration, the importance of regional dance companies, and the enduring appeal of movement as a form of human expression. It’s exciting to consider how these new works will resonate with audiences, how they will contribute to the ongoing evolution of contemporary dance, and how they will inspire the next generation of dancers and choreographers. What new perspectives will these choreographers bring to the stage, and how will STLDT continue to cultivate a space where creativity, innovation, and harmony can truly flourish?
Saint Louis Dance Theatre (STLDT) unveils its 2026-2027 Elements of Harmony season, a landmark lineup of five world premiere commissions by some of contemporary dance’s most compelling voices. Choreographers Rena Butler, Keerati Jinakunwiphat, Houston Thomas, and Dexandro Montalvo join Artistic Director Kirven Douthit-Boyd to create an entire season of new work for the region’s premier professional contemporary dance company. Three of the four guest choreographers are Princess Grace Award recipients – among the most competitive honors in American dance.
The 2026-2027 season represents a bold investment in original creation and an extraordinary interplay of movement, music, and storytelling. Each guest choreographer will be in residence with the company, building work on STLDT’s dancers from the studio floor up. Butler, a Prince Grace Award winner (2019) and Isadora Duncan Dance Award recipient whose choreography spans San Francisco Opera, Dutch National Ballet, and Pacific Northwest Ballet, opens the season alongside Jinakunwiphat, a Princess Grace Award winner (2023) and the first Asian woman commissioned by New York City Ballet. A new premiere by Douthit-Boyd, former principal dancer with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, rounds out the opening weekend’s program. Together, their new works anchor the Fall Series at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center on Oct.23-25, 2026.
The Spring Series brings Houston Thomas, a Princess Grace Award winner (2025) whose career arc stretches from Chicago’s South Side to a decade as a soloist with Dresden Semperoper Ballett, with commissions from the Joffrey Ballet, The Washington Ballet, and Opéra National de Bordeaux. He is joined by Dexandro Montalvo, a two-time Isadora Duncan Dance Award recipient returning to the company where he previously set Such Sweet Thunder in 2019.
“This season is about giving artists the space to make something that doesn’t exist yet,” said Douthit-Boyd. “Every one of these choreographers brings a distinct voice, a different way of moving through the world. What they share is rigor, imagination, and a deep respect for the dancers in the room. That’s how we build a repertoire with diversity of tones, textures, and viewpoints.”
The four guest choreographers represent a cross-section of where contemporary dance is heading. Butler’s percussive, emotionally direct choreography has earned commissions from the National Ballet of Canada, Juilliard, and Ailey II, while her recent work choreographing Orpheus and Eurydice for San Francisco Opera signals a growing movement of contemporary dance makers shaping large-scale narrative forms. In 2025, she received the Ferradini Grander Award, an Italian honor for artistic excellence in choreography.
Jinakunwiphat, a former member of A.I.M by Kyle Abraham, made history with her 2023 New York City Ballet commission Fortuitous Ash and has since been named a 92NY Harkness Dance Center Artist in Residence for 2025-26. Her choreography emphasizes connectivity – work built on relationships between dancers.
Thomas brings a singular trajectory: raised on Chicago’s South Side, trained through Joffrey outreach programs and the School of American Ballet, and forged over a decade as a soloist with Dresden Semperoper Ballett. His choreography treats ballet as a living language, reshaping classical vocabulary with contemporary urgency. His works have been presented through the New York Choreographic Institute and commissioned by companies in the United States and Europe.
Montalvo, former artistic director of Dance Theatre of San Francisco, brings a movement aesthetic that blends ballet, modern dance, and hip-hop, pushing the boundaries of musicality and physicality. His work for STLDT will mark his second commission for the company, following Such Sweet Thunder, which he set on the company (then Big Muddy Dance Company) in 2019.
“Our Elements of Harmony season reflects who we are becoming as a company – an organization that commissions boldly, invests in artists, and trusts that St. Louis audiences are ready for work that challenges and moves them,” said Erin Prange, executive director. “World-class dance should be accessible to everyone in our community, and every program we offer – from Community Night to our Youth Access Program – is designed to make that real, not aspirational.”
Tickets for STLDT’s 2026-2027 season start at $25 (student) and are available at stldancetheatre.org.
The post Saint Louis Dance Theatre ‘Elements of Harmony’ Season appeared first on Dance Informa Magazine.
Read on the original site
Open the publisher's page for the full experience