Movement Migration

✨ We were beyond thrilled to welcome Tadej Brdnik to join us for our show in Charlotte.
Tadej was the very first dance partner of our Artistic Director Kim Jones when they were just 18 years old dancing together in New York City — making this reunion especially meaningful. ❤️
These photos capture beautiful memories from the past alongside moments from today, celebrating decades of friendship, artistry, and dance.
We were also honored to have former Martha Graham Dance Company Principal Dancer Maurizio Nardi in the audience and featured in these special photos as well.
What a full-circle moment celebrating the enduring legacy of dance, connection, and lifelong artistic bonds. ✨
TadejBrdnik MaurizioNardi DanceCommunity MarthaGrahamDanceCompany DanceLife

Our show is almost sold out! Do not wait to get your tickets today!!

Movement Migration's "Moonlight in Motion" — Movement Migration Moonlight in Motion , presented by Movement Migration, is an intimate evening of live piano and modern dance. The program centers on celebrated works by composers such as Chopin and Beethoven, performed live alongside the dancers by pianist Claudio Olivera.

You may have recognized some new names in our previous posts 🌙✨ We are excited to welcome two artists who will be making their Movement Migration debut at "Moonlight in Motion" — please welcome our newest apprentices, Kari Sescourka and Laura Isabel Vélez Figueroa!

Kari and Laura both studied under Artistic Director Kim Jones & E.E. Balcos in the Department of Dance at UNC Charlotte, and we are so proud to have them stepping onto the stage as part of the company!

Kari Sescourka began her training at Artistic Motion School of the Arts, where she performed principal roles including Kitri in “Don Quixote” and the Sugar Plum Fairy in “The Nutcracker.” She is currently pursuing a B.A. in Dance and a B.S. in Exercise Science at UNC Charlotte, and has completed an Undergraduate Certificate in Professional Training with Charlotte Ballet.

Laura Isabel Vélez Figueroa, born and raised in Puerto Rico, began her dance training in ballet before expanding into Puerto Rican folklore and musical theater. She performed as a company member with Ballet Sangre Viva and continued her training at UNC Charlotte, where she earned a B.S. in Exercise Science with a minor in Dance. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Kinesiology.

Welcome to the family, Kari and Laura! 🦋

🎫 See their debut performance at “Moonlight in Motion” — https://tinyurl.com/moonlightinmotion

📸 Kat Lawrence and Amy Hart

Adorations, Reimagined ✨

We're closing our spotlight series with "Adorations, Reimagined" — choreography by Martha Graham, reimagined by Movement Migration Artistic Director Kim Jones, and performed by UNC Charlotte dance students Avery Allen, Magdeline Gragg, Ava Guest, Alexis Holloway, Aliyah March, Luna Peterkin, Kari Sescourka, Laura Isabel Vélez Figueroa, and Ella Zuchowski.

With this performance, Movement Migration partners with GRAHAM100, the centennial celebration of the Martha Graham Dance Company. Invited by the company's artistic director to reimagine Adorations — which Graham created for a public television broadcast in 1975 — Kim Jones has developed a work that both honors the historical choreography and creates a vibrant contemporary work for the stage.

Costumes by Karen Young, supported by a UNC Charlotte Faculty Research Grant. Set to music by Albeniz, Cimarosa, Dowland, and Frescobaldi, loosely transcribed by Anthony Strilko.

Don’t miss "Moonlight in Motion," May 8 & 9 at The Long Room! – https://tinyurl.com/moonlightinmotion

📸 Amy Hart

Meet Claudio Olivera — the pianist bringing the sound of “Moonlight in Motion” to life 🎹

Claudio will perform live alongside our dancers, bringing the music of Chopin, Liszt, and Beethoven into direct conversation with movement. There's nothing quite like hearing the "Moonlight Sonata" played live in the room with you! 🌙

Claudio Olivera began his musical studies in Venezuela at age eight and debuted as a soloist with orchestra at 12. A prize-winning performer, Olivera has performed with nearly every major Venezuelan orchestra and internationally in Germany, Italy, Chile, Spain, France, and the U.S. He obtained an undergraduate degree in Production Engineering at the Universidad Simón Bolívar in Caracas, Venezuela. He also holds a Pianist Certificate from Juan José Landaeta Conservatory and a Master’s in Piano and Pedagogy from Germany’s Martin Luther Universität Halle-Wittenber.

He later earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance from the University of South Carolina. Since 2020, he has also worked in audio/video editing and livestream production for the Four Seasons Chamber Music Festival, Seattle Chamber Music Society, and Vivace Music Foundation.

Based in Charlotte since 2021, Olivera often collaborates with Opera Carolina, rehearses and performs regularly at Myers Park Baptist Church and is the main accompanist for Queen City Performing Arts. In 2025 he joined the Department of Music at UNC Charlotte as the staff pianist.

We are so excited to have Claudio join us! See Claudio at "Moonlight in Motion," May 8 & 9 at The Long Room! Tickets at https://tinyurl.com/moonlightinmotion

📸: By Mei Podvojsky of UNC Charlotte's Niner Times