Photography, history and beautiful art combine in Störling Dance Theater’s newest production, “Dorothea’s Lens,” premiering April 10-11 and kicking off the company’s 30th anniversary season.
Set during the Great Depression, “Dorothea’s Lens” brings to life the captivating images of Depression-era photographer Dorothea Lange, highlighting the beauty and resilience of the human spirit.
The show moves through Lange’s still images to recreate stories of the lives captured in them. Störling’s artistic director, Mona Störling-Enna, deftly employs the articulate frames of company dancers, in conjunction with her signature, innovative use of sets and props, to travel audience members through the physical and emotional journeys of those striving to survive.
But Störling-Enna wants the audience to know “[the show is] not going to be depressing!”
As only she can, and in a way Kansas City audiences have come to anticipate over the past 30 years, Störling-Enna weaves together an inspirational story filled with truth, fun, humor, beauty and hope.
The production moves through the historic stock market crash, dust storms, migrant camps, White Angel Breadline and even letters to Eleanor Roosevelt. Störling-Enna pulls from the lives of the real people featured in Lange’s iconic photographs, like the famous “Migrant Mother,” Florence Owens Thompson, and Nettie Featherston, both of whom are featured on the show’s promo images. She and Co-choreographer Tiffany Best use sweeping, graceful movements and fun, jazzy steps to present a snapshot of these stories of resilience.
The Depression-era also inspired other aspects of the show’s production. “Dorothea’s Lens” features an original song recorded at The Culture House, which intentionally includes instruments migrants would have been able to carry as they traveled. Additionally, Störling-Enna gives a nod to the resourcefulness of families striving to make ends meet, using thrifted items for the sets and props whenever possible.
From photography to history to beautiful art, “Dorothea’s Lens” has something for everyone!
“Dorothea’s Lens” performances are April 10 at 7 p.m. and April 11 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at The White Theatre at the J (5801 W. 115th Street, Overland Park, KS 66211). Tickets can be purchased at www.storlingdance.org/new-events.
Störling Dance Theater is a neoclassical modern dance company based in the Kansas City metro. Founded in March 1996, it is the professional dance company of The Culture House. The company passionately pursues excellence in portraying authenticity and the depth of humanity through the beauty of dance and the power of story. To learn more, visit www.storlingdance.org.
