September 18 & 19, 2025, 7:30 pm
Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts, Main Stage
310 Chestnut Street
Wilmington, NC 28401
Tickets are $37.45 general admission and includes all taxes and fees. Please contact the Thalian Hall Box Office online or call 910.632.2285 for ticket reservations.
Forward Motion Dance Company presents a stunning and innovative dance event with their annual performance, Cape Fear Arts in Motion: Shimmer, Steps, Strings. This performance unites dancers and choreographers with musical and visual artists to bring the art form of modern, contemporary, classical and jazz dance to the beautiful and historic Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts for a varied and collaborative event that showcases the talents of Choreographer Tracey Varga. Presented are new dance performances along with re-creations of works from the past and features a piece danced to live music performed by guitarist Edward Stephenson and violinist Bella Garcia, film by Patrick Ogelvie, and a jazz piece from guest choreographer Alison Dutka Jones, Director and dance instructor at GAFA Studios in Wilmington, NC.
Forward Motion Dance Company is thrilled to feature onstage Entrance to the Enchanted Castle (1993) from the extraordinary American painter and sculptor Dorothy Gillespie (1920-2012). From the Thalian Hall archives, this majestic sculpture will be displayed for the first time with the return of the dance piece “Mystical Journey”, choreographed for seven dancers to music by Swiss harpist Andreas Vollenweider.
The program also brings new modern/contemporary works by choreographer Tracey Varga and includes a piece set to classical guitar and violin by composers Isaac Albéniz, Francisco Tárrega and Luigi Boccherini in three sections with eight dancers, a duet danced by FMD dancers Nicole Dalier and Savannah Brooks with music by Peter Gabriel, as well as new dance with teen dancers from local studios set to the KREAM remix of Kate Bush’s “Running up that Hill” and a striking film from Patrick Ogelvie. Presented also is “Come Join”, a piece that premiered at the 2025 Wilmington Dance Festival, with music by David Byrne. “Night Out at Birdland” highlights the music of jazz greats Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Amy Winehouse and features eight dancers. From our guest choreographer, Alison Dutka Jones, “Terminal to Tulsa” is a delightful jazz dance set on four company dancers with music from Herbie Hancock. Alison is a Wilmington native and has called GAFA Studios home for two decades, currently as Director, as well as dance instructor and leader of the GAFA performance companies.
Forward Motion Dance Company core dancers are Kara Abbott, Savannah Brooks, Katie Crosby, Nicole Dalier, Trilby Shier Newkirk, Becky Spivey and Susan Turner. Guest dancers are Kimberly Brumsey, Star Coltrin, Rachael Crawford, Lorena Holliday, Wells Jackson, McCall Milliken, Stephanie Nadeau, Stephanie Stone, Linda Ann Webb and Vanessa Welch.
In a show not to be missed, come be astounded by an inspired evening of music, film, and modern, contemporary, classical and jazz dance that Cape Fear Arts in Motion: Shimmer, Steps, Strings brings to the main stage of the beautiful and historic Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts.
Forward Motion Dance Company with founder, director and choreographer Tracey Varga, is a Wilmington, NC, based non-profit 501(c)(3) dance organization whose mission is to provide local and regional communities with quality modern contemporary dance and education in the art of dance, as well as enhance the local arts community by providing performance opportunities for area dancers and performance artists. FMD is an all-volunteer organization proudly supported by local, state and national grants, and community sponsors. For more information, please visit our Facebook page or www.forwardmotiondance.org.
Edward Stephenson
Alanna/Sony Recording Artist, Raleigh-based classical Spanish/flamenco guitarist from Toronto, Eduardo de Rosamaria (Edward Stephenson) has performed throughout North America and recorded extensively as a soloist and in multiple ensembles. Originally accepted into Peabody Conservatory under Aaron Shearer, he followed Mr. Shearer to University of North Carolina School of the Arts, where he graduated. He has performed extensively in North Carolina, in multiple engagements with the North Carolina Symphony, Raleigh Symphony, North Carolina Theater, North Carolina Bach Festival, the Raleigh Ringers, and North Carolina Guitar Quartet.
Since his graduation, Edward has been an adjunct professor or given master classes at major institutions. Some of those include University of North Carolina School of the Arts, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of North Carolina Wilmington, University of North Carolina at Asheville, Cleveland Institute of Music, The University of Akron (Ohio), The University of Toledo (Ohio), and Shenandoah University (Virginia).
Notable performances by Edward are with are the Peabody Symphony Orchestra under Aaron Copeland and the Winston-Salem Symphony Orchestra under Leonard Bernstein, and he has also performed for Canadian Broadcasting Corporation TV and Radio, National Public Radio, and Jeunesses Musicales du Canada.
Edward has multiple solo recordings which can be found on all major platforms, and will be releasing two new recordings in the fall, featuring him performing with the Raleigh Symphony Orchestra and the North Carolina Guitar Quartet.
Bella Garcia
Bella Garcia is a violinistpianist, and passionate music educator based in Wilmington, North Carolina. A 2025 graduate of the University of North Carolina Wilmington, Bella earned her degree in music and now shares her love of music both on stage and in private music lessons. She teaches violin and piano at the Brooklyn Arts Music Academy, where she works with young students to build confidence and creativity through music. Bella also performs regularly as a violinist with the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra. In addition to teaching and performing, Bella runs a wedding and event music business, providing live violin music for weddings, private events, and special occasions throughout the Wilmington area. Whether she’s performing in a concert hall, teaching in a classroom, or playing a bride down the aisle, Bella is dedicated to bringing music to life for her community.
Guest Choreographer Alison Dutka Jones
Alison Dutka Jones is a native of Wilmington, NC and has called GAFA Studios home for two decades. Alison is the current Director of GAFA Studios, also leads the performance companies of GAFA, and teaches most evenings in varying styles. Having trained at GAFA, formally known as Glory Academy of Dance Arts, for most of her formative years, she is very dedicated and attached to the mission of GAFA Studios. She left Wilmington in the fall of 2007 to pursue a B.A. in Dance from Belhaven University. Upon graduation she was offered employment at GAFA as pointe and ballet instructor. In 2011, Alison accepted an apprenticeship in London, UK with Springs Dance Company. The time spent at Springs was one which influenced her teaching methodologies as well as her choreographic processes. During this time, she was offered positions in the Kibbutz Dance Company apprentice program located in northern Israel, as well as Re: Birth Dance company in London, England. Alison has received training in technique and performance in North Carolina, Mississippi, Texas, New York, and the UK. She has toured internationally in England, Scotland, and Canada with Elevate Dance Company, and domestically with Intimation Dance Company and The Story Collective. Through her many years training and performing, her most favorite thing is creating thought provoking works of art that point upward towards our King and that share a message of hope, joy, and encouragement to our audience. She is so proud of all of her students, and could not ask for a better staff to lead alongside her. Truly the best job in the world with the best people in the world. Outside of the walls of GAFA, Alison enjoys cooking, traveling, and spending time with her husband, Patrick, her family, and little dog, Bennie.
About Forward Motion Dance Company:
Forward Motion Dance Company, Inc., is a Wilmington, NC, based non-profit 501(c)(3) dance organization whose mission is to provide local and regional communities with quality modern contemporary dance and education in the art of dance, as well as enhance the local arts community by providing performance opportunities for area dancers and performance artists.
Forward Motion Dance Company has a vision to find innovative ways to bring dance to the community, and cultivate an understanding and love of this art form. The company was founded by dancer and choreographer Tracey Varga in 2001 and incorporated in 2004, although Tracey has been dancing and choreographing in Wilmington since relocating from Seattle in 1996. Forward Motion Dance sponsors and co-sponsors public arts performances such as Cape Fear Arts in Motion and Arts Sensation!, and offers education for schools and community organizations including the Snipes Academy of Arts and Design, Wilmington School of Ballet, DREAMS of Wilmington, The Dance Element, The Dance Cooperative and the YWCA Lower Cape Fear.
Forward Motion Dance Company is a volunteer organization, and wishes to thank all those who donate their valuable time for rehearsal, performance, production, collaboration and fundraising efforts. The Board of Directors is Mary Scott Bethune, Diane Evers, Stella Johnson, Mary Smith, Becky Spivey, Susan Turner, Elizabeth White and Company Choreographer and Director Tracey Varga. Company Dancers are Kara Abbott, Savannah Brooks, Katie Crosby, Nicole Dalier, Becky Spivey, Trilby Shier and Susan Turner. If you are interested in volunteering, sponsorship, or an opportunity to become a board member, please speak to any member of the company or board.
Forward Motion Dance Company is honored to be a recipient of grants over the years from the Women’s Impact Network of New Hanover County, the Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County and the North Carolina Arts Council, the Landfall Foundation, NC Cares for the Arts, and the American Rescue Plan for the Arts, all to continue our mission to provide collaborative, contemporary dance performances in local venues which highlight the talents of Choreographer Tracey Varga and the many wonderful dancers, musicians, and visual and vocal artists who collaborate with us.
