What Can I Expect?

I have always sought to tell what feels lke the truth through my work, be it the exploration of something painful, disturbing and challenging or something joyous, tender amd sweet.  The last two years I have lived in a place which was remote from a large dance community as a result creating many solos. This offered me the opportunity to look at what I really want to say with dance and how I want to say this. My solos tend to be very personal and emotional and were created largely to heal by sharing certain sides of myself I usually don't. More recently I have tapped into a wonderful dance community in Santa Cruz and have begun to work with other dancers.  I am excited to see where my work can go with more bodies to express and move! A future inspiration of mine is to begin creating works around larger global issues that surprise and astound me.  I am also really excited to continue to explore blending various artistic mediums together.

Who Are You?

Kerstin Stuart currently works as a choreographer, dancer, and dance/pilates instructor in Monterey, California with occasional gigs as a private chef!   She returned to school to get her second BA in Dance from UC Santa Barbara in order to pursue her dreams.  She has performed with Cid Pearlman, Stephanie Nugent, Karl Schaffer, Fran Spector and Monterey Dance Collective.  She has also studied extensively with Joe Goode who has deeply influenced her work. This is her first time touring her own work and she is thrilled to be a part of 3Cities, 3Choreographers.

What About the Art?

3 Cities: 3 Choreographers will feature 4 works from Kerstin Stuart.

"Love is a River" is a collaboration with musicians Jen Shayani and Arlene Petalver.  This piece is based on a somewhat loose structure exploring how much emotion could be expressed through the simplicity of legs, feet, sliding and running.  Created out of the sadness of the loss of a love, it was a beautiful piece to work on and is always healing to share.

"Here I am" is a recent work created in Fall 2007.  This piece feels like a culmination of many improvisation solos performed about the journey deep inside myself that brought me to a whole new realm.  Though this journey continues for me personally, the piece was the clearest I have been able to communicate what this has felt like.  It is also my first time creating my own soundtrack using my voice.

"Mitten Drinnen" was an extremely fun and entirely new approach to creating work.  The inspiration comes mostly from the rich oil paintings of Linde who lives and sells her work in Carmel, Ca.  With a German heritage, Linde's work spoke to my own background and I was drawn to the sense of structure, line and strong direction coupled with loose, flowing strokes.  As a duet these qualities then were explored between two people.  Created with dancer Cherise Richards, this piece will be performed with dancer Ana Flecha.

My latest and as of yet, uncompleted work is another duet with the working title "Zu-sam".  With multiple sections on an array of experiences around romantic relationships, my intention has been to get to the purest place for each feeling/scenario I am exploring here. The work is layered with song, text and movement and continues to be an adventure in creating. This piece will be danced with Sebastian Grubb.