Young Michigan Dances with Tibbits presents Cultural Influences in Dance at Tibbits Opera House

This event is by donation. Doors will open and seating for this event will begin 30 minutes prior to showtime.

When we think of common “dance moves” or popular dance trends, we don’t often consider the origin of these movements. Beau Hutchings will present this unique perspective of our cultural connectivity, the theme of the county-wide, month long Cultivating Community celebration.

In this presentation, Hutchings will dissect some widely known dance steps you may see performed anywhere from a wedding line dance to a current “TikTok Trend,” and understand the cultural origin from which they derive. The art form of dance has rich multicultural roots and this discussion will be sure to have your toes tapping in your seat, aisle or on stage!

A native of Marshall, Michigan, Hutchings has a history with both Tibbits Summer Theatre and Young Michigan Dances (YMD).  Having danced in numerous YMD productions as a young dancer since 2003, he now acts as a guest artist and occasional choreographer for YMD Spring productions performed at the Marshall Franke Center for the Arts.

Hutchings studied Music Theatre Performance at Western Michigan University, and promptly moved to New York City where he worked as a professional Dancer/Singer/Actor for 12 years. Notable credits include playing Riff in the US National and European International tours of “West Side Story” (dancing original choreography by Jerome Robbins); ensemble and principal understudy in Royal Caribbean’s Broadway on the Seas Production of “Chicago” (dancing original Bob Fosse choreography); and dancer for “Broadway Bares” a summer fundraiser presented by Broadway Cares: Equity Fights Aids at New York City’s famous Hammerstein Ballroom in 2019 (created and produced by Tony Award Winning Director and Choreographer Jerry Mitchell). Hutchings currently resides in Marshall, where he works full time with Starr Commonwealth based in Albion. In his spare time, he keeps busy and involved in the arts by choreographing musicals for the Franke Center Youth Theatre program He also sits as a judge for the Applause Talent National Dance Competition Circuit, and for Impact Dance Adjudicators (IDA) based out of New York City.

As Coldwater’s own dance company, YMD is proud to include this lecture presentation in the Cultivating Community schedule as it celebrates its 50 years of bringing the finest in dance to youth in our region. Since it was founded by Stanley Godfrey in 1972 with its first presentation of “Nutcracker,” YMD has reached more than 30,000 youth through its school programs and public performances. It has presented classic ballets such as Coppelia,” “Peter and the Wolf,” and “The Sleeping Beauty” prologue as well as original theatrical dance productions like “The Snow Girl,” “Legends of the Great North Woods,” “Goldilocks,” “The Emperor and the Nightingale,” “Wonder Tales from Around the World,” “The Dancing Princess,” “The Wood Maiden,” and “Tales from Mount Olympus.” These new productions in collaboration with playwrights Charles Burr and the late Bobb James, combined live dance and theatre to bring new dimensions of storytelling to the stage.

Come and enjoy a dynamic lecture presentation and gain a deeper understanding of the culture of dance. This event is free, but donations will be accepted at the door.