Still I Rise (Spring 2023)

What has held you back in your life? What has pushed you forward? As you answer these questions for yourself, I invite you to see if the two answers are connected. In our journey to create this work, Amy Bramlett Turner asked the dancers to reflect on these questions and answers. And despite their various answers and reflections, there seemed to be a running theme of the very event, person, or characteristic that holds them back, is the very event, person, or trait that has also pushed them forward to their achievements. They found that despite the various traumas, characteristics, or challenges that we have faced, from those heartaches, adversity, and ashes, we rise.  This work is designed with each of the dancer’s own movement motifs and shows the continuous funneling of life with the contrasts of feminine strength and of fall and recovery. The Hot Springs Dance Troupe hopes to empower the audience with this work and remind everyone to not be held back by their specific characteristics, experiences or background, and rather, be inspired to grow strength and power. It is a reminder to always, rise. 

 

Imagine (Fall 2022)

Inspired by the harsh realities of our world, Imagine is a contemporary work choreographed by Amy Bramlett Turner that is performed to John Lennon’s “Imagine.” While this song was written in 1971 by John Lennon as a symbol to promote world peace, this song still stands to be an anthem of peace of light, inspiring the world over fifty years later. This work strives to inspire the light within all of us to shine despite the unprecedented time in our lives. The dancers represent each of us working to survive our struggles and hardships, and celebrate our differences and experiences to create unity in a world full of diversity.  While the troupe continuously trains year-around in technique classes, they also work diligently to raise funds to perform on tour with Stars of Tomorrow in the summer of 2025, where they will perform throughout Austria, Germany and Italy, like the troupe successfully did in 2018 and 2022.  Through this school dance program, students are growing to accept, respect, and celebrate their unique individuality and differences.  

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The New Normal (Spring 2022) 

Inspired by the overwhelming amount of traumatic and unprecedented events that have occurred in the last couple years, this dance explores the exhaustion of hearing news broadcast after news broadcast. The HSDT dancers researched and chose news broadcast stories and specific portions to layer over the music composed by Zach Hemsey, and compiled by HSDT Director, Amy Bramlett Turner. This dance brings an overwhelming perspective of our new reality. The HSDT hopes to bring awareness and hope to the audience because we truly believe movement has the power to create change. 

 

Found (Fall 2021)

Found uses music from the Broadway musical, Dear Evan Hansen, and is choreographed by Amy Bramlett Turner. Using pedestrian clothing and movements, this work tells a story of one who may have been bullied or hurt in their lives. The Hot Springs Dance Troupe was inspired by Unity Day, a day where we celebrate our connection to each other and discourage bullying.  
 

Gonna Live Until I Die  (Fall 2021)

As you will see, the costuming, gestures, attitude and historical steps such as the “Charleston” and skat-like movement all are embodied by these young dancers in the dance, Gonna Live until I Die.  Like the other jazz music of this era, this dance merges improvisation, “coolness” of African American influence, to create playfulness of jazz music and dance.  This dance premiered in the Fall of 2021. 

 

A Million Dreams (Spring 2022)

This contemporary work was originally choreographed in 2020 by Amy Bramlett Turner before the pandemic made us all stay home and realize how despite the chaos and uncertainty of these unprecedented times, we all still must strive to dream, to commit to our dreams, and have hope for our future. The HSDT is excited to perform this dance live for the Stars of Tomorrow audience as we hope to remind everyone to keep dreaming a million dreams. 

 

Ave Maria (Restaged Spring 2022)

The piece, Ave Maria, choreographed by Mrs. Amy Bramlett-Turner, is set to the music work composed by Franz Schubert, “Ave Maria.” The inspiration for this work was to find the balance of being a woman. Handling this challenge while maintaining grace and poise is the inspiration of Ave Maria. As women, we all face criticism and judgement that comes with attempting to prove ourselves in a world that often-times does not value female leadership, nor representation. This dance is meant to embody the struggle that all women face, of being too strong or too weak, too beautiful or not beautiful enough, too dedicated or not assertive enough. This continuous struggle that so many women face is the motivation for the choreography in Ave Maria.  

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Broken Reflection (Spring 2021) Music -”Spiegel im Spiegel” by Arvo Part

How do I look like I don’t have a father? What do you mean I don’t look like I speak two languages? Am I living with life with integrity to my heritage, yet openness to unlimited possibility? Choreographed by HSDT Director Amy Bramlett Turner and inspired by student reflections, Broken Reflection is inspired by the frustrations of preconceptions that do not necessarily represent individuals accurately. The past year has been chaotic with the Covid-19 pandemic and the growing concerns of racial injustices in our country. These student dancers reflected on their experiences, as well as the climate of our world, to dig into the possible questions, solutions, and roots of social injustices. 

 

Hallelujah- (Spring, 2016) Music by Tori Kelly and Jennifer Hudson 

Choreographed by HSDT Director Amy Bramlett Turner, Hallelujah was the first lyrical piece performed by the Hot Springs Dance Troupe and premiered at the 2016 Arkansas Relay for Life. In honor of those who have lost their lives,  their family members, and survivors, “Hallelujah” is meant to inspire a spiritual connection between people of all ages, ethnicities, backgrounds, religious beliefs, and abilities. The white costumes are meant to provoke virtuous visions that are vulnerable, yet devoted, to honor those who have lost loved ones this past year and connect those surviving family and friends in times of such uncertainty. 

Equity Walk (Spring 2020)-Inspired by the popular relationship-building activity, a privilege or equity walk, this dance explores the individual obstacles and stresses that can often make us, as human beings, feel isolated, defeated, or hopeless. However, by recognizing that we all have obstacles and adversity in our lives as human beings, we can connect, strengthen and support one another. This dance is inspired by the personal obstacles and support systems of the dancers and those in their lives. We strive to give hope and build empathy in our audience with this work and through our underlying mission- believing movement has the power to create change.

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Cell Block Tango (Fall 2019)

 

Fever - (Spring 2019)

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Speech - (Spring 2019)

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Footloose, The Musical (Spring 2018)

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Greatest Showman (Fall 2018)

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Strange Fruit (Spring 2018)-Inspired by the horrific events of our past and ever-growing violence in our present, this piece is meant to bring awareness to humanity today. This piece originally debuted at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Prayer Breakfast, and was presented at the Arkansas MLK Commission and chosen for sponsorship. The dance contains a repeated movement motif of a handshaking in fear, heat, anxiety, and pain. Finally calmed by the touch and embrace of another, the dancers are meant to represent each and every one of us- different in our beliefs, capabilities, backgrounds, and opinions, we should find our similarities and celebrate our differences. By beginning with the graphic lyrics about our history of suffering, violence, and racism of our past, this piece is meant to change our future. Each of the dancers wrote and recorded their voices, as well as created the movement in their solo moments at the end of this piece. The circle at the end is meant to represent the connection and reliability we have on each other.  “Although conflicts may remain, we must establish unity in a world full of diversity.” 

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Too Darn Hot (Fall 2017)- (Fall, 2017) Music from Broadway musical,  Kiss Me Kate. This jazzy work from the hit 1948 musical “Too Darn Hot” is sure to get your toes tapping! The fringe on the costumes will remind you of the classic costumes of old Broadway, while the lighting enhances the formations that tell of the relationships between the dancers. The dance begins with the worn-out, hot and exhausted dancers scattered around the stage, while soloist, Peyton Hudson, enters the space to try to inspire dance and fun from the heat. This is a fun, energetic piece that premiered at the 2017 Women’s Chamber of Commerce’s Dancin for a Cause where the troupe won “Top Group Fundraiser” by raising over $4000 for student college scholarships. This is a favorite of the Hot Springs Dance Troupe and they hope you enjoy too!  

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Guys and Dolls, The Musical (Spring 2017)- 

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Our Piece of Peace (Spring 2017)-Through raw, pedestrian movement, this piece explores the layers of hate, violence, and differences in the human kind while inspiring hope, peace, and love. Through the vulnerability of fourteen dancers, the piece is an offering to humanity through contemporary movement, contractions, fall, and recovery. 

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Hallelujah (Spring 2016)- 

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Don't Mean a Thing (Fall 2016)- 

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669 (Spring 2016)- In 1939, a young man named Sir Nicholas Winton saved 669 Jewish children from the Czechoslovakia by arranging trains to safely transport them from Czechoslovakia to England when Europe was on the brink of war. With twelve dancers and four sets of real train seats, this contemporary work uses the popular jazz music of a Czech singer juxtaposed with the bitter sweetness of Clair de Lune to set a very time specific and period piece.  

 

Sing, Sing, Sing (Fall 2015)- A flashback to the Charleston and Swing Dancing, this high-energy piece uses classic jazz influence to create an atmosphere similar to the dance clubs of the swing era. With 14 women on stage, this work has been awarded the “People’s Choice Award” at the Dancing into Dreamland Event in Little Rock, Arkansas, and described as “cute chaos mixed with poise and professionalism.”  

 

Guys and Dolls (June 2015)- Under direction of The Muses, the full show of Guys and Dolls featured six Hot Box dancers and several singer/dancer males. The choreography used specific motifs of hand flicking, elbows clucking, quick turning, and high passes to create energetic, fast-paced, dance works in heels.  It is juxtaposed with the low plies and “cool smoothness” of the Crap Shooter Ballet, which features turns, big jumps, and dice throwing. 

 

The Muses Creative Project (January 2014-present)-Amy was the resident choreographer and featured dancer for the Opera House, The Muses Creative Project. I choreograph for local and guest artists to help create a cohesive show that incorporates and blends live musicians, opera singers, and dancers for four different seasonal shows per year. 

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Suffocating (Spring 2013)-This contemporary work set at Henderson State University, explores the tension of situations outside and inside the body. With a relatable approach of pedestrian movement layered with classical technique, this piece uses the sound of breath to explore tension and the panic of suffocation. 

 

Drowning (Spring 2011)-Beginning with the sound of water dripping, this contemporary work explores the contrast of pedestrian, real movement with the grace of ballet.  Influenced by physical theatre and Nina Martin's "fussy dance," Drowning explores isolation and self-inflicted pain that one can cause, and influences on relationships, with support from media including projection. Drowning was chosen by the TCU faculty to represent the School for Classical and Contemporary Dance in the annual Fine Arts Festival of Student Scholarship and Creativity. 

 

8 2 5 (Fall 2010)-This contemporary pointe work explores how five women, dressed in sleek black pencil skirts are strong, independent women that identify with the potential power in the business world. The repetition, ticks of the clock, and spinning office chairs create a tension that the five women must address.