page6

Kathleen Martinez-Hughes, originally from Edmonton Alberta, and Mary Jo Mullins, from St. Catharines Ontario, are the Artistic Directors of the Niagara Dance Company. Having met at The School of Toronto Dance Theatre in 1995 while continuing to pursue professional training in modern dance, they quickly realized they shared more than friendship.

In February 1999 shortly after completing their training at the STDT, they co-founded a modern dance collective in Toronto named Aurora Dance Community. This dedicated collective was formed together with Patricia Beatty, Serena Camacho, Kim Fiocca, and Carly Wong. The gifts of mentorship from Canadian modern dance pioneer, Patricia Beatty, (Co-founder Toronto Dance Theatre, Member of the Order of Canada) gave the members of Aurora Dance Community: several years of sophisticated dance classes based on the elegant forms of the Martha Graham technique, opportunities to perform for various Canadian dance artists, expertise in dance composition skills, and much guidance and support in the production of several of their own vibrant original works.

The first full-evening presentation by Aurora Dance Community was in December 2000. This evening presented works by members of the collective, including a remount of Gaia (1990) by Trish Beatty on Ms. Hughes. This stunning piece of choreography is an example of Ms. Beatty's commitment to creating dance work that brings the essence of the spiritual realms to the physical world. The evening also marked the premiere performance of Hara (2000) by Mary Jo Mullins. This deep and mysterious solo work was originally performed by Ms. Mullins and has since become a part of the repertoire for the Niagara Dance Company. Aurora Dance Community went on to produce fundraising events, workshops, and three additional seasons of original choreography. They also commissioned work by other dance artists, made several trips to fFIDA (The Fringe Festival of Independent Dance Artists) and were sought after by various dance artists.

Aurora Dance Community commissioned ensemble works from Nicole Fougere (The Seer, 2000), Graham McKelvie (Untitled, 2002) and Naoko Murakoshi (Her Silence Softly Breaks, 2003). Among independent work, the members of the collective also performed as an ensemble in the internationally acclaimed Fringe Festival of Independent Dance Artists (fFIDA) in 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, & 2004 to critical acclaim. Now known as the Toronto International Dance Festival, fFIDA 2002 marked the second of three mountings of Cycles (2001), by Kathleen Martinez, for the collective. This elegant work for three female dancers, including Mary Jo Mullins, is based on the triple goddess of maid, mother, and crone. Paula Citron of the Globe and Mail critiqued the working saying that "Cycles is a beautiful return to the Martha Graham archetype aesthetic, masterfully portraying in gorgeous ritual, the triple icons...of the feminine goddess... ". Cycles is also a part of the repertoire for the Niagara Dance Company.

By January of 2004 after fifteen years of training and performing, the two were ready to build on their years of experience and artistic lineage to form a professional dance company. The increased power and presence evident in their dancing gave way to an intense desire to create an original body of work to perform. The urge to pass on their lineage to budding young dancers was also growing. The two co-founded Inspiration Dance Theatre with Anna Cairns from Toronto and based the company in the city. This short lived, yet very successful union, led to the creation of four new works and more performances. These artistic pursuits brought about the addition of, American born, Justin Hughes as a dancer and choreographer to the company. And, their interest in working with young people was solidified when four dance students from the Niagara Region performed for the company in fFIDA 2004.

By August 2005, there was also a great interest in making a home for the new company in the Niagara Region. So, the following year was dedicated to delivering professional workshops in Niagara dance schools, choreographing and performing with Niagara artists, and developing modern dance classes to train local dancers. In the tradition of the pioneering spirit of their mentor Patricia Beatty, Ms. Hughes and Ms. Mullins co-founded the first professional modern dance company in the Niagara Region in August 2006. The Niagara Dance Company was born.