Photo By Una-Kariim Cross

Moving Art Dance Co. blends yoga with modern dance at Gabriel's Corner.

When I heard Cincinnati was to become home to a resident modern dance ensemble once again, my first thought was, "Finally!" MOVING ART DANCE COMPANY kicks off its inaugural season with Still Elements, presented at Gabriel's Corner this weekend and next. The group currently operates under the umbrella of Cincinnati Experimental Arts, the folks who brought us the Fringe Festival. Founded by Artistic Director COLLEEN MCCARTY, a modern dance alumna of Antioch College, Moving Art offers a unique blend of styles from diverse influences: yoga, a modern dance sense of weight, momentum and gravity, body-mind connections and more. But what's most integral to this show is breath. In fact, it's woven into much of the choreography and the process that created it. McCarty explains, "Breath is where I start for a lot of my movement ...

my being in touch with breath and movement combined. So it's present in the choreography, just as a place of impulse ... there's also music that has breath like hah-hah-hah-hah (she forces air out rapidly and rhythmically using abdominal muscles). It's very visible in the piece." With themes revolving around the four physical elements (earth, fire, water and air), the piece features a blend of live and recorded original music by company member Rebecca Vie Parker. Imagine diverse instrumentation and singing, occasionally peppered with ambient sounds from Costa Rican jungles. The company's next show (March 2005) will feature choreography by member Holly Price as well as McCarty, but with an entirely different spin. Considering the provocative working title, Grrls With Guns, one envisions a decidedly more feminist slant but, according to McCarty, not one without humor. "It will probably be a little bit funnier than this, not so meditative. I see prom dresses and guns and boots!" In addition, the group has been invited to present a piece for the Performance Time and Arts Series. In June, they will wrap up their season with performances at the Fringe Festival. But first things first. No doubt McCarty will breathe a sigh of relief once the premiere night pressures exhale. Tickets: 513-621-2787.