Movers & Makers:
The Impact of a Weekend
Over the course of three days, the Movers + Makers dance workshop in Provo, Utah provided high caliber training, collaboration, and choreographic practice to over fifty dancers.
Hosted by Wasatch Contemporary Dance Company, Movers + Makers is a professional intensive for contemporary dancers hoping to pursue performance, choreography, and further dance education. The weekend also served as auditions for the company’s 16th season and brought together dancers from across the county, state, and nation. Participants networked with professionals, took master classes, and finished the experience with a performance.
Executive Director Jessica Heaton and Artistic Director Jocelyn Smith welcome patrons at the performance on Saturday. (Courtesy of Katie Bruce Sorenson, @dancenerd.photo)
Founded by Executive Director Jessica Heaton, Wasatch Contemporary Dance Company offers a unique channel for Utah County dancers to perform professionally—both emerging and experienced.
“We pride ourselves on being a really strong first experience for people to dance professionally,” Jessica shared. “It's a great first job, but it's also a great place to spend many years.”
The purpose of Movers + Makers is multi-faceted. The concept began as a creative approach to Wasatch’s company auditions.
Jessica described it as a “learning process” of figuring out what their audition style and what they wanted to see. Over time, it evolved into much more: a fourth performance opportunity for company members and patrons, and a meaningful educational experience for a diverse group of artists.
The intensive offers two tracks: Movers and Makers.
The Mover track is for dancers developing movement and performance skills.
Movers began the weekend by collaborating in two groups with Artistic Director Jocelyn Smith and Executive Director Jessica Heaton. In just one rehearsal, the groups each created an improvisational work.
Throughout the weekend, Movers took a variety of contemporary technique classes taught by the featured Makers, a floorwork class with Constance Anderson, and a company repertoire class led by Jaclyn Brown.
A highlight for Mover Julia Klumker was being able to “try on movement styles from so many different artists.”
In addition to class, Movers were cast in one of five new works created by the featured Makers, with daily rehearsals leading to the final performance.
“It was great to take class with new people but also to have so much time to connect with the dancers in my cast,” shared Mover Jordan Halterman.
Saturday morning classes in the Movers track served as auditions for the 2025-26 season. Dancers took both ballet and contemporary technique classes, in addition to showcasing skills in improvisation, partnering, and performance.
Dancers selected will go on to perform with Wasatch Contemporary Dance Company’s upcoming season.
The Maker track focused on cultivating choreographic skills for five selected choreographers and a few additional participants. Master classes led by local dance artists offered opportunities to explore different creative approaches.
Dancers Lael Battiste and Jordan Halterman participate in a Movers class. (Courtesy of Skylar Schmidt)
Alexis Diggs traveled from New York to participate. “The classes gave me the chance to observe and learn some really interesting and lovely things in a short period of time,” she articulated, “while also reflecting on how some of those practices can inform my own.”
Dancers explore Movement Through Lens in a class for Makers with Katie Bruce Sorenson. (Courtesy of Skylar Schmidt)
Sticky notes line the walls after a Narrative Techniques exercise with Makers and Michael Hankins. (Courtesy of Skylar Schmidt)
The highlight of the Maker track was the chance to develop an original work on a cast of professional dancers. Selected from nationwide applicants—Makers set pieces on Movers within just 11.5 hours of rehearsal.
“The challenge of creating a full work in the short time period forced me to prepare smarter, and work continuously without judgement of what I was making,” Alexis expressed.
The Movers + Makers workshop culminated in a performance at the Orem Library Hall on Saturday evening.
Alexis Diggs accepts the award for Winning Maker for her piece "The Perception of Threat, or, The Threat of Perception"
(Courtesy of Katie Bruce Sorenson, @dancenerd.photo)
Ten pieces were presented, including five by the featured Makers, three youth adjudicated works, two improvisation installations, and a piece set by company member Richelle Rindlisbacher.
At the close of the evening, adjudicators selected one piece as the winning dance work of the year. The choreographer receives a $500 honorarium and the opportunity to restage their work on the company. Alexis Diggs was announced as this year’s winning Maker.
“I was so moved by my work being named because of how much love, reverence, and appreciation I have for my dancers and the process,” Alexis said. “Their presence and efforts were a huge part of why the work’s energy felt so impactful. Getting to share that honor with them was the best part.”
Wasatch Contemporary Dance Company brought dancers together in a weekend of positive experiences.
Jessica Heaton expressed gratitude for the workshop’s influence, noting its expanding reach and reputation. She hopes dancers “are getting a great dance education, but also doing it in a place where they feel like they are welcomed and supported.”
She added, “that's what art does for us is—allows us to find shared humanity quickly and trust and co-create in the process. I love seeing people come together in different ways.”
Patrons and participants alike can continue supporting the arts through donations of time, money, and creativity.
Karli Scott, Alexa Firmage, Jordan Halterman, Mickayla Campbell, and Carissa Clay between classes. (Courtesy of Skylar Schmidt)
As Wasatch Contemporary Dance Company continues to grow, so does its impact—cultivating not only exceptional artists, but a creative community built on connection, collaboration, and shared purpose.
Movers + Makers 2025 (Courtesy of Katie Bruce Sorenson, @dancenerd.photo)
