Wellspring Dance Celebrates 45th Season with Epic Center Retrospective

Wellspring Dance Company launches its 45th anniversary season with Fall Concert of Dance: Epic Moments, running November 21-23, 2025, at the Cori Terry Theatre in Downtown Kalamazoo's Epic Center. This significant production serves as both a celebration of the company's longevity and a testament to the artistic output generated within their performance home since relocating there in 2000.

The concert's importance extends beyond mere anniversary recognition, representing a crucial documentation of Kalamazoo's cultural heritage through dance. Artistic Director Marisa Bianan emphasized the intentional programming, stating the 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. This approach provides audiences with a living history of the company's artistic evolution while demonstrating how physical spaces can shape creative output over decades.

The retrospective program features revived works by company founder Cori Terry, including Family Altar from 2001 with original costumes by Elaine Kauffman and set design by Paul Marquadt, and Dervish from 2002 set to music by Kalamazoo-based Blue Dahlia. The inclusion of these historically significant pieces, alongside the spectacular full-company work At This Very Moment Breaking from 2008, creates a through-line connecting the company's past achievements with its current artistic direction.

Bianan contributes two contemporary works that balance the historical selections: The Ground Has Thawed, originally premiered with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra's Burdick-Thorne String Quartet, and Woven Together, created for the YWCA's 140th Anniversary Gala featuring wearable chainmail art by Elaine Unzicker. This programming strategy demonstrates how cultural institutions can honor their legacy while continuing to innovate and respond to current community needs.

The concert's impact extends to accessibility initiatives, including a sensory-friendly performance in collaboration with Unmask the Arts and varied ticket pricing options from general admission to pay-what-you-can arrangements starting at $5. These efforts reflect Wellspring's commitment to making dance accessible to diverse audiences, reinforcing the organization's role in building inclusive cultural communities.

For the regional arts economy, Wellspring's sustained operations represent stability in the often-volatile performing arts sector. The company's 45-year presence has contributed to Kalamazoo's reputation as a home for modern dance that moves hearts, bodies, and minds, attracting artists and audiences to the downtown area. The upcoming season continues with multiple events including the 17th Annual RADFest in March 2026 and performances at the Grand Rapids Art Museum, further extending the company's regional influence.

Tickets for the fall concert are available through WellspringDance.org/season, with performances scheduled throughout the weekend to accommodate different audience schedules. The company's professional dancers will be joined by guest artist Sam Crouch for these performances, maintaining the organization's tradition of artistic collaboration that has characterized its four-and-a-half decades of operation.