FRONTIERS
Music, Dance, & Discovery​
Biorhythmic Polychrome
Direction & Choreography:
Alicia Hann*
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Performance & Choreographic Contributions:
Ellie Bearss
Samantha Conte
Alex Graban
Lisa Horton
Sarah Price
Anne Raspe
Sarah Vah
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Music Performance:
Erin Helgeson Torres, flute
Ben Shaheen, marimba, crotales
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Music:
Dream, by John Cage
arranged by Johan Bodin Eriksson
Studies in Water, Mvt 3, by Jacob Reed
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Duo for Flute and Marimba, Mvt 1, by Robert Paterson
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​Beverly, by Ian Clarke​​​
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Music Director:
Jacob Reed
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~ 10 minute intermission ~
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Entangled
​For David​​
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Direction & Choreography:
Sarah Hixon
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Performance:
Ellie Bearss
Samantha Conte
Alex Graban
Alicia Hann*
Lisa Horton
Sarah Price
Anne Raspe
Sarah Vah
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Dramaturg:
Chris Leyva
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Sound Design:
Jacob Reed
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Science Consultant:
Dr. Gregory Mack
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Text Selections:
Noam Chomsky, Gregory Mack, Carl Sagan, Mackenzie Worrall
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Voices:
Christopher Austin, Gregory Mack, Abigail Worden
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Music excerpts:
Max Richter, Azerbaijani Classical Mugam, Alpha, Peruvian Song of Marriage, Decomposure
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Lighting Design after:
J Lillian Gray
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Additional Choreography contributed by:
Victoria Alesi, Julia Ayau, Danielle Kfoury, Rachael Riggs Leyva, Jordan McDowell, Jasmine Shafley, Marissa Thomas
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*The Victoria Alesi Company Position
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Please join us for a Talkback session with the artists following the performances on Friday and Saturday, moderated by
Dr. Hannah Kosstrin.
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Please silence all cell phones.
No flash photography or video.
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Production Team
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Stage Manager:
Grace Glowacki
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Running Crew:
Jonah Christy, Sarah Santilli​
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Videography:
Brandon Abbott
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Box Office:
Rachael Riggs Leyva, Jacob Reed, Jasmine Shafley
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Board of Directors:
Robert Estice, Aaron Greene, Sarah Hixon, Justin Johnston, Jacob Reed, Sarah Santilli
Very Special Thanks to:
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Columbus Dance Theatre
Susan Powell
Michael Torres and the OSU School of Music
J Lillian Gray
Dr. Hannah Kosstrin
Scott Orts at Relevate, LLC
Graeter's Ice Cream
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This production is supported by:
NOTES FROM THE DIRECTOR
In 2018, my friend Greg Mack sent me a bundle of hand-written pages outlining several science concepts that might make interesting dances. Greg—an astrophysicist—has a keen interest in dance, and how the arts can intersect with science. Though obviously not a scientist myself, I was especially intrigued by this idea as it called to mind many parts of my childhood. My father was an aerospace engineer who worked on many projects at Jet Propulsion Laboratories (JPL). Learning about space through his work always filled me with wonder and awe for the incredible mystery of space and our place in the universe.
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The impending collision of our galaxy with neighboring galaxy Andromeda is the inspiration for Entangled. The story of this colossal transformation led me to think of other narratives on different scales. From the vast galaxy to our small planet, and from our planet to the individual human life—what does transformation look like at these smaller scales? I began looking for new stories that could speak to our complex relationship with transformation and how it shapes our experiences. Dramaturg and playwright Chris Leyva wove together four texts: a commissioned writing by Greg, a commissioned text by playwright Mackenzie Worrall, and adaptations of work by political author Noam Chomsky and American astronomer Carl Sagan.
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These texts are powerfully intertwined with music in the commissioned sound score by Jacob Reed. The score includes selections from the Voyager Golden Record, humanity's calling card to the universe. This collection of language, music, and pictures is currently more than 15 billion miles from Earth, strapped to the side of Voyager 1--a craft that has been weathering deep space for over 47 years. It is simultaneously exhilarating and sobering to realize this human-made object may be the only relic of Earth that will out-survive not only humanity but the planet itself.
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For me, the Voyager mission encapsulates both the wonder I felt as a child and our sense of boundless curiosity and desire to connect. It reminds me of my dad, and how his pursuit of knowledge reflected the best of what it means to be human. Carl Sagan was instrumental in the golden record mission. Sagan’s work in science led him to believe in the importance of human connectedness, and I believe this is the only viable path forward for humanity. This dance strives to honor that vision.
Connectedness is a central theme of the newly commissioned work Biorhythmic Polychrome, the first piece on our program. After many years of collaborating closely with company dancer and rehearsal director Alicia Hann, I was delighted to ask her to develop a new work for the company. In collaboration with the dancers, Alicia explores the idea of spectrum and the interplay between the individual and the collective—themes that fit beautifully alongside those in Entangled. It has been wonderful to see and share in the development of this work. Alicia is the first choreographer commissioned to create for the company.
It is always a pleasure and inspiration to be surrounded by the many talented, generous, and creative artists that make Hixon Dance productions possible. To them I give my warmest thanks for their hard work and dedication to our collaborative art-making process.
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~ Sarah
ABOUT THE COMPANY
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Hixon Dance is a modern dance performing ensemble founded in 2007 by Sarah Hixon that is active in the performing arts throughout central Ohio and beyond. The company regularly collaborates with other artists—especially musicians—and experts in other fields to inspire, create, and produce new work. The company is committed to a multidisciplinary creative process and is known for presenting impactful works that are accessible to audiences. Past collaborators include The Columbus Symphony Orchestra, The Columbus Ohio Discovery Ensemble, Opera Project Columbus, The Worthington Chamber Orchestra, Converging Arts Columbus, and others. They have recently worked with composers Jacob Reed, Lauren Spavelko, Michael Rene Torres, and award-winning poet Maggie Smith.
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Hixon Dance has been a mainstay of the Columbus dance community, participating in a wide array of community-centered performances including the Columbus Dances series, GCAC's New Choreography Project, Columbus Summer Dance Festival hosted by The Ohio State University, Vox Novus, Global Water Dances, OhioDance Festival, Ten Tiny Dances, and others. They host City Dance Showcase, an annual presentation of local independent dance makers.
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Education and outreach are a central component of the company’s mission, and strongly believe that the performing arts enrich our community. They offer noncompetitive and inclusive classes for ages 2 through adult at their studio in Clintonville, OH.
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They have been featured in The Columbus Dispatch, The Columbus Underground, The Columbus Alive!, The Clintonville and Worthington Spotlight, LifeLine Columbus, and other publications.
ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES
Sarah Hixon
Director​
Sarah Hixon is a choreographer, dance educator, and artistic director of Hixon Dance. Ms. Hixon studied choreography with Doug Varone, Bebe Miller, David Parsons, Susan Rethorst, Vera Blaine, Susan Shields, and others.
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She trained at The Washington Ballet, American Repertory Theatre, and The Milwaukee Ballet, among others. She holds a BFA in Dance from George Mason University and an MFA in Choreography from The Ohio State University.
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Hixon’s award-winning choreography has been presented at The Wexner Center for the Arts, The National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C., Joy of Motion, The Short North Stage, The Lincoln Theatre, The Fairfax Center for the Arts, The Pivot Center, and others. She has worked with Opera Project Columbus, the Worthington Chamber Orchestra, CATCO is Kids, Vox Novus, COSI, and many collaborators throughout the region. Recent collaborative partners include The Columbus Symphony, The Movement Project, poet Maggie Smith, and composer Michael Rene Torres. She has received special commendations for her work from Congresswoman Joyce Beatty and Ohio House Representative Beth Liston.
She has taught at several universities and pre-professional schools throughout Washington, D.C., and central Ohio including the OSU Department of Dance, BalletMet Columbus, New Albany Ballet Company, Wittenberg University, George Mason University, and The Peabody Institute among others.
Alicia Hann
Guest Choreographer, Rehearsal Director
The Victoria Alesi Company Position
Alicia Hann began her dance training at Dublin Dance Center, and pursued her study of modern dance at Ohio University where
she received a BFA in modern dance performance and choreography.
She is also a Dancing Mindfulness Facilitator, certified through The Institute for Creative Mindfulness and Mindful Ohio. Dancing Mindfulness is a form of conscious dance which incorporates meditation, improvisation, music, and community. She has had the privilege of facilitating at Amethyst Inc, a treatment center which helps recovering drug and alcohol dependent women and their families. Alicia is currently dancing at Hixon Dance as well as freelancing. She has worked with various choreographers from around the country. Notably, Miki Orihara, principal dancer from the Martha Graham Company in a reconstruction of Graham’s early works ‘Heretic’. She has also worked with Kelsey Bartman of Texture Contemporary Ballet, Hannah Williamson of MamLuft&Co. Dance, and was a guest artist for Alexandra Bodnarchuk’s ‘Something Pretty’ premiering at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater in Pittsburg.
Jacob Reed
Music Director
Jacob Reed writes immersive and transformative music that pulls the audience into a distinct sonic world. As a pluralist, he draws on a diverse musical background to write engaging & thrilling music for orchestras, choirs, chamber & jazz ensembles.
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Reed is intrigued by the intersection of music with other arts and collaborates frequently with choreographers, writers, and visual artists. He serves as Music Director of Hixon Dance and teaches vocal music in the Worthington Schools. He studied with Augusta Read Thomas, Tom Wells, and Joe Ong and holds degrees in Composition, Music Theory and Music Education from The Ohio State University. Recent commissions include The Central Ohio Symphony, The Johnstone Fund for New Music and UCelli Cello Quartet, The Worthington Chamber Orchestra, and the Ohio Music Teachers Association among others.
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Samantha Conte
Company Manager ​
Samantha Conte is a performer, dance educator, and choreographer. Her previous training includes fourteen years at South Dayton School of Dance under the instruction of Gina Walther, Gigi Gardner, and Erin Robbins.
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In 2012, Samantha was awarded the "Monticello Award for Emerging Choreography” for her work Inferno which was selected to perform in Montreal as a part of Regional Dance America. She continued her training at Ball State University where she graduated with her B.F.A. in Dance. She has been on staff at many local dance studios, as well as spending time in Hamilton area pre-schools to give children early exposure to dance. Throughout her professional career, Samantha has worked with guest artists such as Sidra Bell, Rodney A. Brown, Leslie Dworkin, Cody Szarko, John Litzler, Ruka White, William B. McClellan, Jr., and Debbie Blunden-Diggs. When not in the studio she spends her days as a College Planner, helping students with career exploration and college preparation! Samantha previously danced with Mamluft&Co. Dance in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is now in her fifth season with Hixon Dance.
Ellie Bearss
Dancer
Eleanor Bearss received a degree in Dance studies and Political Science from Ohio Wesleyan University. On campus she was part of the departments dance company and college dance club. In the past she has had the opportunity to train at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre and UNCSA. She is so excited to be part of this collaborative company. She thanks her Mom, Dad, Anne Raspe, Jacey Scheffel and Rashana Perks-Smith for their continued support and love! This is her second season with the company.
Alex Graban
Dancer
Alex is excited for his 3rd season with Hixon Dance! He began dancing at age 3 at New Albany Ballet Company, training in ballet, modern, contemporary, jazz, and tap. After graduating high school, he joined Columbus Modern Dance Company, and joined Hixon Dance a season later. He has choreographed for Columbus Dance Theatre, New Albany Ballet Company, Columbus Modern Dance Company, Weathervane Playhouse, WYART, and Granville High School. Some of his pieces have been featured in the Columbus Arts Festival and the New Albany Dance Festival. Alongside dance, Alex has also been involved in musical theatre, onstage and off. At Weathervane playhouse, WYART, and Granville High School, he has performed in countless shows including Cats, A Chorus Line, In The Heights, The Full Monty, and many more. Offstage, he has worked with theatrical lighting, sound, stage management, teaching, and choreography. Alex would like to thank his mom, dad, Mark, Carolyn, Lewis, and most importantly all of his pets for the endless love and support!
Erin Helgeson Torres
Flute
Highly regarded as an educator, clinician, soloist, new music specialist, and chamber and orchestral musician, flutist Dr. Erin Helgeson Torres has performed and taught throughout the United States and abroad in the United Kingdom, France, Austria, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Albania, China, and Canada. Erin most recently completed a performance tour through the Balkans as a solo artist on the Derek Han Tribute Concert Series, sponsored by the U.S. Embassy. She is Visiting Assistant Professor of Music at Ohio Northern University where she teaches the flute studio and various musicology courses. Erin is the Principal Flutist of the Lima Symphony Orchestra, Acting Principal Flutist of the Newark Granville Symphony Orchestra, Second Flutist/Piccoloist with the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra, Principal Flutist of the Worthington Chamber Orchestra and Queen City Opera and Solo Flutist with the Columbus Ohio Discovery Ensemble (CODE), a contemporary music ensemble. She performs regularly as a substitute flutist in various orchestras including the Columbus, West Virginia, Louisville, Springfield, Central Ohio and Westerville Symphonies. Additionally, she performs in the flute/saxophone duet, Tower Duo, with her husband, Dr. Michael Torres. Their debut album, CROSSWIND, under the Ravello label for Parma Recordings was released in January 2019.
Lisa Horton
Dancer
Lisa Horton is a dancer, creator, and dance educator. She received her B.A. in Dance with a business cognate from the University of Akron.
She has performed in several shows with The University of Akron Dance Company in styles of ballet contemporary, modern, contemporary jazz and tap. Along with performing, her work was presented in the Spring UADC show through the Choreographer’s Workshop. In addition, she’s worked with various artists and companies like Gibney Dance, Body Traffic, Ben Needham-Wood, Dance Heginbotham and more. Lisa has worked as a dance educator at Martell School of dance for the several years, Weathervane Playhouse as an Akron after-school dance teacher and leader for the Neighborhood Playhouse Camp. This is her second season with Hixon Dance.
Chris Leyva
Dramaturg
Chris Leyva is a neurodivergent writer who is often called “super nice.” He was raised by Jesus Christ Superstar and Walt Disney. It took him by surprise to find his home in Columbus, Ohio after growing up in Albuquerque, NM in a Mexican/Puerto Rican household.
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In his comedies, Chris asks big questions in meaningful ways and is driven by a hopefulness for the future. Chris is a forever “theatre kid,” having a theatre degree in directing from Coe College and an M.F.A. from the Playwrights Workshop at The University of Iowa. Most recently he was chosen as a fellow for the National Hispanic Media Coalition’s Series Scriptwriters Program.
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Chris has been awarded multiple Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Awards for his work and his plays have been commissioned and developed by The Contemporary Theatre of Ohio, CLIMB Theatre, MadLab Theatre, Alliance Theatre, Curtain Players New Play Initiative, Great Plains Theatre Conference, and the Columbus School for Girls, among others.
Gregory Mack
Science Consultant
Gregory Mack, Ph.D., is a science program officer focusing on astrophysics at The Kavli Foundation, a private philanthropic organization based in Los Angeles that supports astrophysics, nanoscience, neuroscience, and theoretical physics research. Prior to joining the Foundation, he held roles at the National Academy of Sciences, the American Physical Society (the main professional society for physicists in the US), and the National Science Foundation, all involving work in different aspects of the fields of physics and astronomy.
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Prior to his transition to the policy, management, and philanthropic side of science, Dr. Mack was an assistant professor of physics and astronomy at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, OH, from 2009-2013. He also trained in ballet and modern dance and was a company dancer with Hixon Dance. Interested in seeing connections between art and science, he has investigated ways to integrate the two, such as collaborating with Hixon Dance in the creation of dance works that were inspired by and incorporated physics and astronomy concepts. At Ohio Wesleyan, he crafted a science talk about the history of the universe which used dancers instead of traditional slides in 2012, and he also performed and co-choreographed a modern dance work with Sarah Hixon and Amanda Whiteman inspired by mathematics principles for the Cultural Programs of the National Academy of Sciences in 2015. In June 2024, he gave an invited lecture at 836M, a non-profit arts organization in San Francisco, where he spoke about the integration of dance with astronomy and physics and showcased the Hixon Dance work "Entangled" via video.
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Dr. Mack earned his Ph.D. in physics from The Ohio State University in 2008 specializing in theoretical particle astrophysics and cosmology, and for his undergraduate education he received B.A. degrees in physics and astronomy from Ohio Wesleyan.
Sarah Price
Dancer​
Sarah Price is a performer as well as a teaching artist at Hixon Dance. Sarah attended Western Kentucky University where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Dance.
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While at Western, Sarah was a member of the WKU Dance Company as well as the National Dance Education Organization WKU student chapter. In 2021 Sarah choreographed multiple pieces for WKU student showcases including her piece titled, “See My Voice.” Sarah has had the privilege of training under various masters such as Nan Giordano, Ballet Hispánico, Roni Koresh, and Jon Lehrer. Her training consists of an eclectic mix including Ballet, Pointe, Modern, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Contemporary, Irish, Acrobatics, and Aerial Arts. Sarah is thrilled to be dancing her second season with Hixon Dance.
Anne Raspe
Dancer
Anne Raspe is a performer, choreographer, and dance advocate. She received a degree in Dance Studies, under the instruction of Rashana Perks-Smith, at Ohio Wesleyan University and maintained many leadership
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positions within the campus dance company, clubs, and department board. She is passionate about keeping art accessible and has thoroughly enjoyed dancing alongside her company members. When she isn’t dancing she works at Opening Night in both Dublin and Gahanna. This is her second season with Hixon and has loved every moment so far.
Ben Shaheen
Marimba​​
Ben Shaheen is a versatile percussionist and educator in Columbus, OH. Currently, Ben serves as the percussion director at Worthington Kilbourne High School, where he directs the percussion ensemble, teaches percussion lessons, coordinates the front ensemble, and leads concert band sectionals to students at the high school and three feeder middle schools. Along with teaching, Ben performs with several regional orchestras. He serves as the principal percussionist of the Worthington Chamber Orchestra and performs regularly with the Newark Granville Symphony and Westerville Symphony. He co-founded Summit Ridge in 2018 with his wife and violinist, Kelsey Shaheen. Together, they are sharing their passion for new music in innovative ways and experiences. He received his Doctor of Musical Arts from The Ohio State University in 2022 after serving three years as the GTA in the percussion studio. He completed Master's degree in percussion performance from OSU in 2019, his undergraduate degree in percussion performance from the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music in 2017. Ben proudly endorses Innovative Percussion Products.
Sarah Vah
Dancer​
Sarah Vah received her B.A. in Dance Studies from Kent State University, along with a double minor in Arts Entrepreneurship and Disability Studies.
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She was a 3-year member of the Kent Dance Ensemble and served as
the Student Artistic Director and Social Media Representative. Sarah was also a member of the Student Dance Education Organization and served as the Event Coordinator and Social Media Representative. She has performed around Ohio at the Cleveland Dance Festival, The Ohio Statehouse Tree Lighting Festival, and the American College Dance Association Conference. Sarah has had the privilege of working with renowned artists such as Micaela Taylor, Lisa Viola, Hope Boykin, Stefanie Batten Bland, Catherine Meredith, Tiffany Rea-Fisher, and Ray Mercer. In 2022, Sarah choreographed her own piece for Kent’s student dance concert titled “Not Just Yet." Sarah is excited for her second season as a Hixon Company member!
Grace Glowacki
Stage Manager​
Grace Glowacki has been working with students in the performing arts and early childhood settings for over 10 years. Grace participated in multiple performing arts during middle and high school, before she began directing. While working for the Worthingway Arts Program, she began to help backstage with Hixon Dance Company performances. In 2021, Grace officially began working for Hixon Dance as Studio Operations Administrator. She has since become our Studio Manager. Grace’s favorite part about working for Hixon Dance, and supporting both the Education Program and the Company, is that there is always something new to learn and fun to have along the way.
Hixon Dance Supporters 2024-2025
Encore ($2,500+)
The Greater Columbus Arts Council
The Columbus Foundation
The Ohio Arts Council
Cardinal Health
Victoria Alesi
Stanley Wolfersberger
Ovation ($500-$2,499)
Jacob Reed
Michael Reed
Cheers ($100-$499)
Dan and Susan Barco
Katharine and Dick Burnett
Sharon Ferguson
Andrew Grunauer
Justin Johnston
Brenda Mougey
Allison Potvin
Nancy Taylor
Kathy Trask, in memory of Ray Trask
Applause ($1-$99)
Jackie Ariail
Loren Bucek
Antoine Clark
Erin Feiler
David Frego
Spencer & Amy Hixon
Nick & Emily Koval
Bebe Miller
Patricia White
Your contribution matters!
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We are here to make dance accessible, meaningful, and joyful through our performance and education initiatives. Financial contributions are essential to help us do the work we do and allow us to have a more powerful impact on our community.
We gladly accept donations in any amount. Even as little as $20 can help fund our student scholarship program. $50 pays for the creation of a new costume piece. $100 helps sponsor a dancer!
Your donation is tax-deductible and can be made securely online here at our website or by mail.
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Become a sponsor today, and thank you for supporting local independent dance!
Hixon Dance is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!
We value your opinion and want to hear about your experience. We hope you enjoyed the performance. Please take a few minutes to let us know about your experience. Your feedback will help us improve future programming and understand the ways our work is advancing our vision and mission for the community. Your responses are anonymous and confidential.
Thank you for joining us!
