How Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre Pushes the Boundaries of Dance

Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre dancers rehearsing for their upcoming performance, Interactions © Shoccara Marcus

One Atlanta-based ballet company is bringing together art and science during its upcoming spring /summer performances.

Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre is working on two pieces that explore the intersection of movement and mental health in a way that keeps its audiences engaged and entertained. One is a socially distanced outdoor performance, and the other is a cinematic experience. But first, a little backstory.

Founded by five principal dance artists, Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre is an Atlanta-based ballet company that combines classical and contemporary dance forms. What does this mean? It means some of the best professional dancers come together to create works that are rooted in classical ballet but aren’t limited by it. Their performances are infused with modern aspects of dance across its choreography, music, costumes, performance venues, and collaborations.

Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre dancers in their Atlanta studio © Shoccara Marcus

And in the case of Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre’s two upcoming pieces, it’s the collaborations that make them so unique.

Let’s take The Poet, the company’s new dance film. That’s right – it is a performance made explicitly for the camera, and Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre has collaborated with director and cinematographer Joseph Guay to create a big-screen-worthy experience. The film also has an original score by Andy Kurtz and features the poetry of Kahlil Gibran.

Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre’s upcoming dance film, The Poet © TMBT

Tara Lee, the creator and choreographer of The Poet © TMBT

The Poet tells the story of an 80-year-old man with Dementia, where choreographer Tara Lee delves into the difference between reality and imagination through movement. "My interest for this piece is to find the beauty that potentially remains in one's mind amidst the fundamental losses that come with dementia," says Lee. “Despite the fading of memory, can someone still find themselves through art and remember what is most emotionally life-affirming?” 

The Poet will be available for purchase starting June 11, and audiences will be able to watch the film on-demand any time, as many times as they’d like.

And expect to see more dance films from Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre in the future. “Film opens up a whole new world of opportunity for dance as an artistic expression,” says John Welker, Director of Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre. “It’s a lesson we learned during Covid, and it’ll be part of our ongoing content we create.”

Another performance where Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre explores mental health through movement via collaborations is Interactions | Boundaries of Identity & A.I. Through a partnership with leading neuroscientists from Georgia Tech and Emory University, Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre explores the role of artificial intelligence inside the human body.

Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre dancers preparing for Interactions © Shoccara Marcus

In other words, Interactions sheds light on the idea of the human cyborg. Specifically, it focuses on the ethics around using neurotechnology to treat mental illness. The technological change is outpacing the ethical conversation around this subject, and this performance helps the audience navigate the line between technology and humanity as parts of their identity.

If you think about it, movement – and dance, in particular – is the perfect way to explore the role of A.I. inside the brain. “The ability of the human body not just to move, but to express through movement emotions and feelings is very much a mystery,” says Welker. “With neurological disorders that medications fail to treat, movement can bring some of the issues to light in a way that is evocative and thoughtful,” he adds.

Interactions is part of the Georgia Tech Arts Skyline Series, so it’s an outdoor performance that takes place on the Georgia Tech campus. Tickets for the May 18 performance are on sale now, and the seating is sectioned off into two or four-person socially distanced pods.

Following the Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre program, choreographer Troy Shumacher and some of the neuroscientists will hold a panel discussion to give insights into the research and collaboration behind Interactions. The May 18 show is the first part of a three-part performance, so be on the lookout for part two and three throughout late 2021 and early 2022.

Personally, I hope you get a chance to partake in both the live performance and the digital film. This way, you’ll get to know Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre across multiple mediums, which truly showcases the company’s extraordinary ability to mix storytelling with dance. Be sure to check out their website for more details about all their offerings.

Anna Lanfreschi is a digital content creator and strategist based in Atlanta. She posts about food and travel on her blog, AnnaFeasts, and on Instagram @AnnaFeasts.

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