Owen/Cox Dance Group and Park University International Center for Music have teamed up to create this great performance titled, “Images.” These world premiere dance works feature the amazing dancers of Owen/Cox combined with the virtuosic musicians at Park University.

“Images” will feature works in the classical canon by Brahms, Bach, Debussy, Kreisler, and Mozart, each with all new choreography by OCDG Artistic Director, Jennifer Owen.  Featuring award-winning students from Park ICM including Igor Khukhua, Orin Laursen, Ilkhom Mukhiddinov, Ilya Shmukler, Sihao Qin, and Kyroshiro Hirama. Dancers from Owen/Cox include Marian Faustino, Laura Jones Wallner, Cortney Tayler Key, Sam McReynolds and Christopher Page-Sanders.

Saturday, October 9, 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, October 10, 2:00 p.m.

Polsky Theatre, Midwest Trust Center, 12345 College Blvd, Overland Park, KS 66210.

Tickets are only available by calling the JCCC Box Office at 913-469-4445, Monday-Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Concerts include a post-concert Q&A.

Program appeals to dance lovers and classical music lovers alike.
The high quality of musicianship and dancing will make for an extraordinary evening of the two forms joined together. The repertoire includes music composed by Mozart, Bach, Brahms, Kreisler, and Debussy, and the works were selected for how strongly they inspire movement. From the virtuosity of the Bach Partita No. 1 for violin to the emotional depth of the Mozart Adagio in b minor, the program offers a vast range and complexity all in one concert.

Collaboration allows both dancers and musicians to perform live on stage together creating synergy and interaction that is not possible with an orchestra in a pit or with recorded music. When presenting dance with live music, both the musicians and dancers have to enter into a heightened sense of awareness while performing, and this creates a palpable energy that is shared the audience.

Johnson County is one of the most highly vaccinated counties in Kansas (yes, this is true!) and the safety protocols in place with socially distanced seating and mandatory masks ensure audience members are in a safe and comfortable environment.

Quote from OCDG’s Jennifer Owen:
“Choreographing these works has been one of the most artistically rewarding experiences for me to date. Each piece of music on the program is unique and inspires choreography. When I create a dance, I become deeply connected to the music, listening to it over and over to the extent that I form a relationship to the music, discovering the subtleties and trying to imagine what movement might express the composer’s intent. It’s an act of discovery, and I can’t wait to bring the dancers and musicians together to premiere these works.”

Quote from Park ICM’s Lisa Hickok:
“Our students are so excited to perform these beautiful works with the incredible professional dancers of Owen/Cox. It’s one thing to perform in a quartet or orchestra. Performing with live dancers, and being on stage with them, is a whole new and valuable experience. This will be something truly special that audience members won’t want to miss.”