Kansas City Ballet’s New Moves celebrates innovation, giving audiences the chance to witness the evolution of dance and discover fresh artistic voices. This season, KCB dancers Olivia Jacobus and Amira Hogan are making their choreographic debut with an original work for the program, running Jan. 30 through Feb. 2 at the Todd Bolender Center for Dance & Creativity.
Olivia, a California native and KCB Company Artist since 2022, and Amira, a Texas native who joined KCB as an Apprentice in 2023, embraced the opportunity to push their creative boundaries. Collaborating for the first time, the duo brings their personal experiences, love of music and contemporary movement to New Moves.
1 – What inspired you to move from dancing to choreography?
Olivia: During my first year here, I remember watching New Moves and thinking, “How cool would it be to choreograph a piece on the company?” I’ve dabbled in choreography before and always found it challenging – but as a dancer, I love a challenge. When I was asked if I wanted to choreograph, I jumped at the chance. Collaborating made it less intimidating and felt like a shared journey. It’s exciting to try something new, develop a new skill, and see if this was something I can grow into. The dance world is so versatile now, and having multiple skills feels essential.
Amira: When Olivia approached me, I immediately said, “100% let’s go for it!” Being on the other side of the art form – creating instead of dancing – is so inspiring. As a dancer, I’ve been part of so many choreographers’ worlds, and now I get to create my own. It’s exciting to build a safe, creative space for the dancers and see what this side of the process feels like.
2 – Why start with New Moves?
Olivia: I love seeing the dancers in this company move in ways we don’t usually get to see. We’re often in pointe shoes, performing very classical choreography, but New Moves highlights how versatile and beautiful these dancers are. That’s what inspired me in past seasons to try new ways of moving – it’s challenging, but you grow new skills. That’s why I was so open to choreographing this time, especially doing it together.
Amira: It’s really cool to see all these different artists come together to create something new. The camaraderie around New Moves is infectious – it brings this unique energy to the season, like a refreshing midpoint. Seeing what everyone creates is inspiring. Funny enough, when I was younger, I didn’t like contemporary movement at all. It felt too unstructured, with so few rules.
Olivia: But you’re so good at it!
Amira: Thank you! I had to shift my perspective. I realized I needed to embrace it because it’s such a big part of the dance world. Over time, I taught myself to love it.
3 – Choreography is already a complex art form, and collaborating with another person adds even more layers. How do you navigate that challenge?
Amira – You have to stay open to every idea because you never know what might work. Sometimes the other person will say, “Wow, that’s amazing – I never would’ve thought of that myself.”
Olivia – Exactly. We’ve already had moments where I’ll do something as a joke, and Amira will say, “Wait, that’s really good – we should use that!” Collaboration involves so much give and take. It’s double the ideas, and as long as you’re open and willing to share, it can be incredibly rewarding. When you’re working alone, it’s easy to second-guess yourself – “Do I like this? Does it fit?” But with someone else, you have a sounding board. They might say, “I really like that,” or suggest a way to tweak it.
Amira: The possibilities are endless when you collaborate. I was also excited to see how our contrasting styles would blend – my movement is more grounded, down to the floor, while Olivia’s is focused on the pointe work and the energy exchange.
Olivia: Oh – the ‘energy exchange’ – I love that phrase!
4 – Can you describe your process for creating a new ballet, from concept to execution?
Amira – I start by turning on music and letting myself move to see what I’m feeling. I focus on the purpose behind the piece – what’s the story, what does it mean to me, and what emotion do I want to evoke? I approach with the mindset that any movement can work, and it’s fun to think outside the box because the possibilities are endless.
Olivia: I’m similar in that I go with whatever vibe the music gives me. Music really shapes how I approach movement – how the same steps can look different to a classical or modern piece. When we first started working together, we talked about the story and the intent behind it. If the movement has a driving force, everything else falls into place.
Amira: It’s truly a process of self-exploration.
Olivia: Exactly. With this piece, we wanted the intent to be universal so everyone could relate their own story to it. I’ve danced in pieces where I couldn’t connect with the story at all. We want the dancers to feel personally connected and add their own uniqueness to it. That sense of community is so important.
Amira: I agree – creating that open space to allow for community is key.
Olivia: Honestly, we didn’t have a clear idea for the intent or story at first. But one day, I saw a quote on Instagram that really resonated with me. I sent it to Amira, and she loved it. It became the central piece of our work – totally accidental, but it really connects with both of us.
5 – How do you select music for your choreography, and how does it shape your creative process?
Olivia: Music is honestly one of the hardest parts for us. We’ve gone back and forth so many times. We love so many different kind of genres, but it’s important to us that the music feels cohesive. While we want to explore different styles, the music has to connect with the movement and intent.
Amira: For me, the music has to match the intent and the story. If the music doesn’t fit, I feel disconnected. I need to be deeply connected to the music to bring the piece to life.
Olivia: We both love music – we’re always listening to it, whether it’s in the car, in the dressing room, or in the studio.
Amira: And if it stops playing, we’re singing it!
Olivia: We love all kinds of music – from R&B to musical theater.
6 – What can audiences expect from your New Moves piece?
Amira: A unique connection – a sense of peace, confidence, and the ability to connect with the piece in their own way.
Olivia: I agree. I want the dancers to feel joy and community, reflecting how much they enjoyed creating this. Hopefully, the audience can feel that too, applying their own life experiences to the piece.
The annual New Moves production provides dancers like Olivia and Amira with invaluable opportunities to perform innovative works, fostering their artistic growth and creativity. Audiences, too, benefit from experiencing fresh and dynamic choreography that keeps the art form vibrant. The Jeffrey J. Bentley Fund for Innovation & Creativity encourages the creativity of artists and others who are the essence and future of dance. Established in honor of Jeff Bentley’s 25 years of leadership as Executive Director of Kansas City Ballet (1998-2023), the fund helps to advance the creation of new works such as New Moves. You can support Kansas City Ballet new dance endeavors with a gift to the Bentley Fund or contact impact@kcballet.org.
Header image: Olivia Jacobus and Amira Hogan at the Todd Bolender Center for Dance & Creativity. Photo by Kelly Leahy.
