CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF DANCE
City in Motion was founded by artistic directors Randy Barron, Kathleen Kingsley, Arielle Thomas Newman, Rick Hillis, and Jean Dickinson. These five choreographers dreamed of bringing together modern dancers from all over Kansas City, to provide a laboratory for professional modern dance in the Midwest region.
We have come a long way since the company's first public performance on May 17, 1985, at Arts Fest ’85 in Crown Center Square.
1985
City in Motion has it's first performance in Crown Center Square for Arts Fest '85.
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1986
City in Motion moves to it's first home: West Side Christian Church.
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1987
City in Motion Children's Dance Theater is founded.
1990
City in Motion begins touring outside of KC to the surrounding states.
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1992
City in Motion performs in Seville, Spain for the World's Fair.
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1999
City in Motion helps produce the first Dance in the Park in Roanoke Park, along with area neighborhood leaders.
2002
City in Motion partners with Penn Valley to offer ballet and modern to students.
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2004
KC Star names CiM performance, "On the Move" one of the top performances of the year.
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2006
Performances break ground at the Nelson Atkins and Kauffman Center.
2010
For it's 25th anniversary Spring Show, CiM performs at the historic Gem Theater.
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2011
CiM performs at grand openings for the Bolender Center and Kauffman Center.
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2013
The 10th annual "Modern Night at the Folly", an adjudicated choreographers' showcase.
2017
City in Motion bids farewell to old studio, and paints a mural through dance to commemorate the space.
Studios are moved into Plexpod's Westport Commons.
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2018
City in Motion celebrates the 15th Annual Modern Night at the Folly, and its 20th annual Dance in the Park.
They participate in their first collaboration with Open Spaces.
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2020
City in Motion offers first-ever virtual dance classes, Fall Festival, and site-specific Youth Dance Theater Improvisation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Modern Night at the Folly marketing campaign wins Silver Philly's Award through Nonprofit Connect.
2021
City in Motion continues to offer virtual dance classes at no-cost to the Kansas City community. School of Dance welcomes new director AJ Hopes Pflumm.
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2022
City in Motion is funded by the Health Forward Foundation to provide free dance classes for youth in partnership with the Linwood YMCA. City in Motion also offers classes at Lorna's Studio of Dance in Waldo. City in Motion Dance Theater welcomes new Artistic Co-Directors Ann Shaughnessy & Bobbi Foudree.
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2024-2025
City in Motion moves to our current location at 3036 Gillham Rd. Dance in the Park celebrates 25 years; the company celebrates 40 years. City in Motion founders Randy Barron, Arielle Thomas Newman, and Kathleen Kingsley return for the 40th Anniversary reunion & Spring Show "Past Present Future".