photo: gary thomas
Mission Statement
The core mission of Perpetual Motion Dance is to stimulate and inspire cultural development in Oklahoma through modern dance performance, education and choreography. Perpetual Motion is also committed to creating a collaborative network of artists and institutions to establish and sustain a unique multidisciplinary arts performance and education program for the community.
Company Overview
Perpetual Motion Dance is an Oklahoma City based non-profit dance company. Founded in 2002, Perpetual Motion Dance has since grown to become the premier modern and aerial dance company in Oklahoma.
The company’s repertory is evocative, visceral and innovative, aspiring to harness the energies of the human imagination. Original cutting edge works, created by company choreographers as well as nationally-acclaimed guest artists, transform Perpetual Motion’s concerts each year. Perpetual Motion is the first company in Oklahoma to incorporate aerial dance, setting them apart as a groundbreaking company.
In 2006, Perpetual Motion began the annual Oklahoma Contemporary Dance Festival, which brings together local dancers and choreographers for a month long series of rehearsals and classes. The Oklahoma Contemporary Dance Festival is a truly unique, collaborative event that unites the Oklahoma dance community.
In addition to presenting annual concerts in Oklahoma City, Perpetual Motion tours both regionally and nationally, including: ROGUE (CA), Out of the Loop Festival (TX), PILOT: Choreographers Take Flight (TX), and the New Genre Festival (OK).
Perpetual Motion’s touring program includes:
-Full-length concerts, averaging two hours in length and including eight to ten modern and/or aerial dance works.
-Performance Appearances, fifteen to thirty minute performances of one to four modern and/or aerial dance works.
-Private Party Appearance, aerial or modern dance performance custom to your event theme.
Perpetual Motion’s public dance education program includes:
-Modern and Aerial Dance Classes, weekly classes in modern and aerial dance technique.
-Master classes, teaching modern dance, improvisation, and choreography for private studio and secondary students at all levels.
-K-12 School Tours, which teach children in Kindergarten through 12th grade the importance of artistic expression as part of their overall education by focusing on the dance elements of space, time, and energy.
-PM2, Perpetual Motion’s teen company founded in 2010. PM2 creates a professional dance experience for dancers ages 13 and older. Through this program, dancers gain insight into the inner workings of a professional dance company as well as learning modern, contemporary ballet, and aerial dance technique.
About the Members
Michelle Dexter- Artistic Director
Michelle is director of Perpetual Motion, a modern and aerial dance company celebrating it’s 10th season in 2012. Recently named in the Top Five Performing Arts Groups in the Oklahoma Gazette, Perpetual Motion has toured nationally and produced local concerts of fresh and evolving contemporary choreography by company members as well as local and national choreographers. Michelle's performance and choreography has been a part of numerous concerts and festivals, including four American College Dance Festivals, ROGUE in Fresno, CA, and the New Genre Festival in Tulsa. As a freelance choreographer, Michelle’s unique aesthetic sensibilities have been sought after for commissioned works by Texas Christian University, Texas Tech University, and Muscle Memory Dance Theater. Michelle is Adjunct Dance Faculty at the University of Central Oklahoma where she received her BA in Dance Education. She completed her Master of Fine Arts in Dance at Texas Woman's University in May 2005 and was awarded the Excellence in Choreography scholarship. Michelle has been strongly influenced by her professional training at institutions including the Bill Evans summer intensives, the Lou Conte Dance Studio in Chicago and Dance New Amsterdam in New York City. Michelle is continually striving to fulfill the Perpetual Motion mission of creating a collaborative network of artists to establish and sustain a unique multidisciplinary arts performance and education program for the community. Perpetual Motion is thrilled to host the 5th Oklahoma Contemporary Dance Festival celebrating local choreographers and community performers.
Kim Kieffer-Williams- Aerial Arts Director
Kim Is a graduate of the University of South Florida where she studied Eastern Humanities and Modern Dance. Prior to joining Perpetual Motion Kimberly danced with CoMotion Dance Theater in St. Petersburg, Florida, and Zuzi Move It, O-T-O Dance and New Articulations Dance Theater in Tucson, Arizona.
Kimberly's work has been presented at arts festivals in Oklahoma, Florida and California. Kimberly also conducts aerial workshops for the public.
Rebecca Borden- Rehearsal Director
Rebecca began singing and making dances with her sister and any/all pop singers of the 80's. She is a native of California and a graduate of Arizona State University, where she received a B.A. in Spanish. She completed her post-Baccalaureate studies at the University of Houston and currently holds certificates in Secondary Spanish education in Texas and Oklahoma. Before joining Perpetual motion, Rebecca performed with Suchu Dance, Psophonia, Planet Funk, Leslie Scates, and Ariel Dance Theatre. Her Latin Ballroom choreography was featured nationally as part of the Kohler Company trade show tour. Her dance style is influenced by her study of various concentrations, including Modern, Jazz, Hip-hop, Latin Ballroom dance, and gymnastics.
Amy Nevius- Out Reach Coordinator 
Amy Nevius is a versatile and innovative teacher, dancer and choreographer. She is currently listed among the Oklahoma Arts Council’s Teaching Artist Roster, and additionally serves as a teaching artist through Community Arts Programming of the Arts Council of Oklahoma City. Through both arts organizations, she has brought arts education in the form of dance and creative movement to a wide range of populations including at risk youth as well as children and adults with special needs throughout the Oklahoma City Metro. Her passion for creative movement has also led her to serve as a dance artist among several elementary, middle, and high school settings, including her most recent work through the "Dancewise" project within the Putnam City School District from 2006 to 2010. Amy holds a B.A. in Dance Education from the University of Central Oklahoma and performed on scholarship with the Kaleidoscope Dancers Company during her four years there. Her professional training comes from a variety of institutions such as the Bill Evans Summer Dance Intensives and the Lou Conte Dance Studio in Chicago. She is a recipient of the State Superintendent's Award for Arts Excellence, and her choreography has been performed at New Mexico State University, Northeastern State University, The University of Central Oklahoma, St. Gregory’s University, and many other venues throughout Oklahoma. As a founding member of Perpetual Motion/Modern Dance Oklahoma, Amy enjoys expressing her love of dance by performing challenging choreography both in modern dance and Perpetual Motion's latest explorations in aerial dance.
Leah Watson 
Leah has been performing with Perpetual Motion since 2006. She received her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Modern Dance Pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma in 2003. While attending OU, she performed with the Modern Dance Repertoire. Leah was raised in Altus, Oklahoma where her interest in dance was nourished by her mother Jackie Watson. In Altus, Leah studied with Leah Wall at Off the Wall Productions. In high school, Leah attended the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute. Leah also studied on scholarship at the Urban Bush Women Summer Dance Institute in Tallahassee. Leah has performed in Florida, California, and Hawaii as well as numerous cities throughout the Midwest.
Kayla Jenkins
Kayla is a native Oklahoman, received her BFA in Dance Performance from the University of Central Oklahoma, where she was also a member of the Kaleidoscope Dance Company. Her teaching experience includes Victory School of the Arts, Legacy Ministries, and National Dance Alliance along with choreography for Unfold, Resonation, Wait, and Fixed On You Praise and Worship DVD's affiliated with Victory Church. Kayla's solo work "Inside" was selected for the 2007 American College Dance Festival at Texas Christian University and was also featured in the Oklahoma Contemporary Dance Festival. She also served as a teaching artist for the 2007, 2008, and the upcoming 2009 Dancewise project, a pilot dance education program through the Putnam City Public School District. Kayla’s own choreography will also be seen in affiliation with Danzare, in Works In Progress at Dance New Amsterdam in NYC.
Stephanie Letendre - Marketing Assistant 
Stephanie Letendre, currently is an Artist –in-Residence at St. Gregory’s University in Shawnee, Oklahoma. She is native to Jacksonville Florida and began her dance training at 31/2 at Polly B Dance Academy. She currently holds a Masters of Arts in Dance from Florida State University as well as a BFA in Dance and was awarded Cum Laude honors from both Universities. In Pontlevoy, France in 2005, she studied under Tonu Veiler (Ballet Estonia), Tony Thatcher (Laban), Dr. Ana Sanchez-colberg (Laban), and Christina Teague-mann (Backlight Dance company). She has taught dance courses at St. Gregory’s University, Florida State University and Jacksonville University. Her most recent accomplishment was working with The Leyte Dance Theatre Company in Tacloban City, Philippines. Currently, two of Stephanie’s Choreographic works are included in Leyte’s traveling repertory, which will be touring the United States in 2010. She is excited to be performing in her third year with Oklahoma City’s finest professional aerial and modern dance company Perpetual Motion.
Emily Dawson
Emily joined Perpetual Motion in the fall of 2009, with her debut performance in the spring concert “Velocity.” She is a graduate of the University of Central Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Dance. During her time at UCO, she was a member of the Kaleidoscope Dance Company and had the privilege of performing in several states and in Puebla, Mexico. Her choreography “Safety” was selected to be performed in the American College Dance Festival’s adjudicated concert, as well as in Perpetual Motion’s concert, “Chairoscuro.” She also presented her choreography “Untied Ends” at the American Dance Festival’s student choreography showcase in 2009. Emily is excited to premier her new work as well as a collaborative work in Perpetual Motion’s spring concert in 2011, and to continue her exploration of choreography and performance.