I took the wee one to "MOVE!" for the first time â€" hers, not mine.

Having gone to all the other "MOVE!" dance productions, there was no way I would miss this one, and since the evening show started at 8, I couldn’t really drag the kid Friday night.  But Saturday’s 2 p.m. matinee was too perfect an opportunity to go share something I loved with my kid.

She was riveted (as was I, truth be told.)

Once again, "MOVE!" was a great compilation of creative expression, with a few stand-out treats thrown in for us to appreciate: the introductory film, a five minute piece by Tacoma’s own TV 12, showed the striped back of the wee one herself, enjoying herself at an MLKBallet class, and the following piece, “The Breaking” by The Can-Can Castaways of the Seattle Pike Place Market’s Can-Can Kitchen and Cabaret had a  toy-box feel to it that brought my kid immediately into the moment.

“Pendulum” by the Tacoma Dance Collective, showed the sinuous-strong talents of Lynn Wilmot-Stenehjeman, whom my daughter recognized from when she took dance classes at the YMCA, in collaboration with Trina Doss, Kristi Hoke, Robin Jaeklein, Mary Mabry, Laura Miltner. 

“Stella Alone,” a film by Christiana Axelson danced by Heather Budd, showed the kinds of fun you could have with heaps of clothes, a fridge and oven, and a rooftop (don’t try this at home, kids!)

Then “Moon” from the Selfick Ng-Simancas & Co delighted Miss thing â€" though the headdress on Ng-Simancas, designed by Lisa Fruichantie spooked my kid at first, seeing her teacher Kate in dancer-mode gave her inspiration.  The intensity and multimedia dimension of this piece (film was projected behind the dancers) created an involving dis-ease that reminded me of films like Farewell My Concubine, a fact that I appreciated as I read, in the program, that the intent was for the piece to evolve into a Chinese opera style ballet.

My last happy surprise was seeing former intrepid Volcano intern Jessie Fouts with her group of co-dancers from the School of the Arts.  This dance, “The Hunt,” captured the intensity of a hunt in nature, tigers versus Zebras.

I was impressed.

All the dancers impressed us, as did the show’s construction.  I loved seeing the poetic geometry and physical skill, and loved feeling swept away by the action on the stage. 
More, I loved knowing that the group sitting with us were helping to support MLKBallet, since proceeds go toward the free ballet school that brings such an amazing art form to people who might consider it “boring.”

See a "MOVE!" show and I guarantee, that “B” word won’t enter your vocabulary. â€" Jessica Corey-Butler