Mutual Dance Theatre
The resident company of Mutual Arts is called Mutual Dance Theatre. The organization also presents other dance companies, but MDT specifically refers to artists living and working in Cincinnati with the Company.
Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Centers is the result of a 2021 merger between Contemporary Dance Theater (est. 1972 by Jefferson James) and MamLuft&Co. Dance (est. 2007 by Jeanne Mam-Luft). Both organizations began as performing troupes, but in the early 1990s, CDT dissolved its resident company and focused on presenting out-of-town artists while continuing to support local artists in various ways. Today, in its 50th season (adopting numeration from the elder organization), the name Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Centers emphasizes collaboration, connectedness, and commonalities across individuality. The organization has combined both priorities: growing a virtuosic and viable local company while also bringing nationally-significant art to Cincinnati’s residents.
CDT has presented over 200 dance productions and founder Jefferson James was a recipient of the Scripps Corbett Lifetime Achievement Award. MDT has received awards and accolades from Cincinnati Magazine, CityBeat, and the League of Cincinnati Theatres. In 2015, the Enquirer’s David Lyman named MDT (as MamLuft&Co. Dance) amongst only two other, behemoth organizations (Cincinnati Ballet and Alvin Ailey) as having performed the most “exceptional moments in dance” in Cincinnati. CityBeat editorial staff named the Company the “Best Company Pushing the Envelope” locally in 2012.
MDT’s Company Members have come from across the country — from Utah to Massachusetts over the years. Guest choreographers have included Sarah Gamblin (Bebe Miller Dance Company), Amii Legendre (Pat Graney Company), Cody Szarko (Visceral Dance Chicago), John Litzler (River North Dance Chicago), Kristin O’Neal (Core Dance), Betsy Miller, Elisa de la Rosa, Leslie Dworkin, Jefferson James (Contemporary Dance Theater), Victor Lewis, Jr. (of PHILADANCO!), and Sidra Bell of Sidra Bell Dance New York.
Jeanne Mam-Luft
ARTISTIC AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Jeanne Mam-Luft is the Artistic and Executive Director of Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Centers, which she partly founded as MamLuft&Co. Dance in 2007 (later merged with Contemporary Dance Theater, founded by Jefferson James in 1972). Mam-Luft holds a Master of Fine Arts in Dance from Texas Woman’s University and a Bachelor of Architecture from Carnegie Mellon University. Mam-Luft studied at both American Dance Festival and Bates Dance Festival on full scholarships, as well as Carnegie Mellon’s acclaimed School of Drama, Pittsburgh Filmmakers, and Point Park University. Her training includes Sarah Gamblin (Bebe Miller Dance Company), Mary Williford-Shade (Dance Alloy), James Caton (Ballet Metropolitan), Melissa M. Young and Nycole Ray (Dallas Black Dance Theatre), Ming-Lung Yang (Trisha Brown Dance Company), Tatiana Baganova (Provincial Dances Russia), and many others. Mam-Luft was the Assistant Director of Contemporary Dance Theater for 4 and a founding member of Greater Cincinnati Dance Alliance. She is certified in Labanotation from the Dance Notation Bureau (NY) and is also a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional. As an artist-producer, Mam-Luft has produced dozens of evening length and 60+ shorter works (35 of which she was lead choreographer). She was the first and only dance artist to be named a Cincinnati Arts Ambassador Fellow in support of an original dance-for-camera she choreographed, filmed, and edited. She served on the board of OhioDance (the state-wide organization for dance) for 6 years. She has been a grant panelist for both the Ohio Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. She was raised in Texas after her family escaped the Khmer Rouge genocide. Most of her works are inspired by her family’s experiences. As a choreographer, her interests lie mostly in human connections and how that is portrayed through spatial relationships. She has guest-taught and/or set work on students at Texas Woman’s University, University of Cincinnati, Wittenberg University, Northern Kentucky University, University of Kentucky, Tarrant County College, and Kent State, where she was an artist-in-residence in 2016.
Hannah Williamson
REHEARSAL DIRECTOR
Hannah Williamson is a 7th-season performing Company Member, as well as the Rehearsal Director and a choreographer in Mutual Dance Theatre. She is a 2017 graduate of Wright State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance — Magna Cum Laude. Her senior choreographer project White Shores received the Adjudicated Choreography Award and was performed in the 2017 faculty concert alongside Testament, choreographed and set by Dwight Roden and Clifford Williams of Complexions Contemporary Ballet, which she also had the honor of perofrming in.
Williamson’s works created after her studies were selected for presentations, including two choreographic residencies with Columbus Modern Dance Company, Contemporary Dance Theater’s Area Choreographers Festival (2018 and 2021), Mutual Dance Theatre’s New Dance Laboratory, and Yes! Virginia Dance Festival. Williamson also received a commission from MDT for the creation of Variations in a Brainstorm (2021), a half-evening of work. She was honored to be chosen to teach Advanced/Intermediate Modern for Wright State’s prestigious dance program in the fall of 2022. She has recently been hired as an adjunct professor for the college’s advanced musical theatre program and was also honored with the opportunity to create original work for the school’s faculty concert.
Ms. Williamson is also a performer in the company.
Claire Dieringer
COMPANY MEMBER
Claire Dieringer is a 2016 graduate of Kent State University, from which she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Magna Cum Laude. Claire also studied at American Dance Festival in Durham, North Carolina with numerous teachers in multiple styles from all over the world. Claire has worked professionally as the Director of the Dance Program at Lake Bryn Mawr Camp in Pennsylvania. In 2017, Claire joined Mutual Dance Theatre (when it was MamLuft&Co. Dance) after training in New York. She was hired full-time as the organization’s Education and Outreach Coordinator and now holds the role of Studio Director and Programs Manager. Claire oversees the daily operations of Mutual Arts Centers’ education and academy programs in both Hartwell and Clifton. In 2019, she performed in Géographie, a multi-week installation by French choreographers Annie Vigier and Franck Apertet (les gens d’Uterpan) at the Contemporary Arts Center, as well as in the Area Choreographers Festival (Contemporary Dance Theater). Most recently Claire’s choreographic works have been chosen to be presented in the Synergy Dance Series and at Northern Kentucky University’s Dance ’24 performance. Claire is so excited to be dancing with MDT for her seventh season!
Linda Garza
COMPANY MEMBER
Linda Garza is a 2022 graduate of Miami University where she received her Bachelor of Science in both Chemical Engineering and Engineering Management. During her time at Miami, she also earned minors in environmental engineering and dance. Prior to joining Mutual Dance Theatre, Linda was a member of Miami University’s Dance Theatre (under Lana Kay Rosenberg) where she performed in a variety of pieces by both student and guest choreographers. Some of her favorite pieces from her time in the company include “A Pep Talk for This Life” choreographed by Bessie-winning and internationally-acclaimed Joanna Kotze and “The Kids Are(‘nt) Alright” choreographed by Liza Torrence. More recently, Linda performed at the 2023 OhioDance Festival in “The Blue Room” choreographed by Mutual Dance Theatre’s Jasmine Snellen. Linda is so excited to have the opportunity to dance with Mutual!
Ana Hart
COMPANY MEMBER
Born in Osijek, Croatia, Ana Hart graduated from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and a Bachelor of Arts in Media Arts & Design, with a concentration in Interactive Design. While attending JMU, Ana performed at the American College Dance Association, with the Contemporary Dance Ensemble, and with Virginia Repertory Dance Company. In 2021, Ana received the JMU Outstanding Dance Performance Award. Following graduation, she was honored to be an inaugural dance and design intern for the JMU Next Steps Summer Dance Intensive, a collaboration with DanceWorks Chicago. Ana has expanded her training and artistry through attending the American Dance Festival where she learned from Shayla-Vie Jenkins, Ray Schwartz, Maayan Sheinfeld, Noa Zuk, and Ohad Fishof. She has also attended the GroundWorks DanceTheater Winter Intensive, the Sidra Bell Dance New York Summer MODULE Satellite, and b12 Berlin Workshop Festival, where she studied with Leila McMillan, Zoe Gyssler, and Vasko Nasonov. Ana joined Mutual Dance Theatre in 2021 and has also performed works by Terrence Marling, Braeden Barnes, Adeline “A” Else, Christian Warner, Matt Pardo, Gregory Dolbashian, Ryan Corriston, Stephanie Liapis, Darla Stanley, and Chien-Kuei Chang (Chang Dance Theatre). Ana’s cross-disciplinary interest in design and dance serves MDT through her role as Marketing Manager.
Evelyn Lackney
COMPANY MEMBER
Evelyn Lackney received her Bachelors of Arts in dance and communication studies from Western Kentucky University. Originally from Danville, KY, Evelyn danced with the WKU Dance Company and had the opportunity to work with various choreographers across various styles. During her time in Bowling Green, KY, Evelyn was trained by artists at Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre, New Dialect, and Mutual Dance Theatre. Additionally, Evelyn has choreographed multiple modern works that were adjudicated and presented. Her choreographic pieces are known for their emotional storytelling, inspired by the belief that art exists in everything. She is thrilled to be joining Mutual Dance Theatre!
KC Lyphout
COMPANY MEMBER
KC Lyphout, originally from Toledo, Ohio, began formally training in dance at the age of 12 at Toledo School for the Arts. After receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Wright State University in 2021, KC joined Dayton Contemporary Dance Company 2 as a dance artist for the 2021-2022 season. Additionally, KC has been a choreographer and dancer with Dayton Dance Initiative since 2022. As an emerging choreographer, she has had the pleasure of creating new dance works for Wasatch Contemporary Dance Company and Suttle Dance Detroit. KC is thrilled to be joining Mutual Dance Theatre this season.
Caroline Nymberg
COMPANY MEMBER
Caroline Nymberg was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. As a young dance student, she studied at Cincinnati Ballet, San Diego Ballet, and Company E. She graduated magna cum laude from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance. During her time at university, she had the honor to perform and work with esteemed artists, including Bill T. Jones, Hope Boykin (Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre), Karen Reedy, Rob Kleinendorst, and Christopher D’amboise (for whom she was a rehearsal assistant). She is a third-year company member with Mutual Dance Theatre and has performed in works created by Sidra Bell and Victor Lewis Jr.
Jasmine Snellen
COMPANY MEMBER
Jasmine Snellen began her dance training at Louisville Youth Performing Arts School where she studied Martha Graham’s technique and classical ballet. She is a graduate of the selective and esteemed Kentucky Governor’s School For the Arts. Snellen earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Shenandoah Conservatory and University where she trained with equal emphasis in Ballet, Jazz (classical, contemporary, and commercial), Modern (Graham, Limón, Horton), composition, and pedagogy. Snellen has had the honor of training with Alan Arnett, Tiffanie Carson, Ting-Yu Chen, Maurice Fraga, Elijah Alhadji Gibson, Erica Helm, Linda Miller, and Lisa Startsman among others, including mainstage features by Mike Esperanza of Bare Dance Company NYC, Company | E of Washington DC, and Brussels-based artists Katie Vickers and Albert Quesada. Jasmine has performed at Peridance Salvatore Capezio Theater in NYC, trained with LA Contemporary Dance Company and Sidra Bell Dance New York, and presented work at the Kentucky Center for the Arts. Snellen has a passion for design and digital media and has served as Mutual Dance Theatre’s Marketing Manager in the past. She has created two works on the company since joining in 2019. She conceptualized, choreographed, and edited a five-part dance-for-camera entitled FFIFF (2020), which explores society’s rapidly shifting polarity, clashes of beliefs, and the tethers of groupthink. In 2022, she created “Cingularity,” a 20-minute work exploring the idea that “singularity” might be reached, when humans and technology eventually become one (the title is also a nod to the 90s cell phone network, Cingular).
Presented by Mutual Dance Theatre and the Jefferson James Contemporary Dance Theater Series
Dallas Black Dance Theatre
Oct 20-21, '23
Aronoff Center for the Arts
Presented by Mutual Dance Theatre and the Jefferson James Contemporary Dance Theater Series
Rosie Herrera Dance Theatre
Mar 8-9, '24
Aronoff Center for the Arts
2023-2024 Sponsors
Our work is supported in part by: individual donors, big and small; the generosity of more than 40,000 contributors to the ArtsWave Community Campaign; the National Endowment for the Arts; the Louise Taft Semple Foundation; and state tax dollars allocated by the Ohio Legislature to the Ohio Arts Council. To support Mutual Dance Theatre’s important work that keeps the genre of Modern Dance in Cincinnati, please visit mutualdance.org/support