Mutual Dance Theatre
Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Centers is the result of a 2021 merger between Contemporary Dance Theater (est. 1972 by Jefferson James) and MamLuft&Co. Dance (est. 2007 by Jeanne Mam-Luft). Both organizations began as performing troupes, but in the early ‘90s, CDT dissolved its company and focused on presenting national artists and supporting local artists. The two organizations recently joined to create the aptly-named Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Centers, now in its 53rd season. Mutual Arts has honored and combined the priorities of both founding organizations: a virtuosic and viable local company and the presentation of Modern and Contemporary Dance from across the States (and sometimes, beyond). Through these and many other programs, MDTAC acts on its values for connecting across barriers and uplifting diverse voices.
The Jefferson James Contemporary Dance Theater Series continues to bring the vision of its founder, Ms. James, to life by bringing nationally-significant dance to Cincinnati. Recently, this include the first-ever performances in Cincinnati by Ballet Hispánico, RUBBERBAND, Blue13, Whim W’him, and others.
The local resident company is what we refer to as Mutual Dance Theatre, and it has received accolades from Cincinnati Magazine, CityBeat, the League of Cincinnati Theatres, and the Cincinnati Enquirer. The company has performed in Virginia, Kentucky, Texas, and will soon be featured in the St. Louis Dance festival. Originally focused on choreography by its founding artistic director Jeanne Mam-Luft, the company is now a repertory company, creating and re-staging works by a highly diverse mix of both national and regional artists. This includes McKinley Willis (Dallas Black Dance Theatre), Sarah Gamblin (Bebe Miller Dance Company), Amii Legendre (Pat Graney Company), Victor Lewis, Jr. (PHILADANCO!), Countess V. Winfrey (Dayton Contemporary Dance Company), Sidra Bell (Sidra Bell Dance New York), and Cecilia Benitez (Rosie Herrera Dance Theatre).
Jeanne Mam-Luft
Jeanne Mam-Luft is the Artistic and Executive Director of Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Centers. Mam-Luft holds a Master of Fine Arts in Dance from Texas Woman’s University and a Bachelor of Architecture from Carnegie Mellon University. Mam-Luft studied at both American Dance Festival and Bates Dance Festival on full scholarships, as well as Carnegie Mellon’s acclaimed School of Drama, Pittsburgh Filmmakers, and Point Park University. Her training includes Sarah Gamblin (Bebe Miller Dance Company), Mary Williford-Shade (Dance Alloy), James Caton (Ballet Metropolitan), Melissa M. Young and Nycole Ray (Dallas Black Dance Theatre), Ming-Lung Yang (Trisha Brown Dance Company), Tatiana Baganova (Provincial Dances Russia), as well as countless masterclasses from members of the companies of Ronald K. Brown, Baba Chuck, William Forsythe, Paul Taylor, and many more. Mam-Luft was the Assistant Director of Contemporary Dance Theater for 4 years. She is certified in Labanotation from the Dance Notation Bureau (NY) and is also a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional. As an artist-producer, Mam-Luft has produced dozens of evening length and 70+ shorter works (35 of which she was lead choreographer). She was the first and only dance artist to be named a Cincinnati Arts Ambassador Fellow in support of an original dance-for-camera she choreographed, filmed, and edited. She served on the board of OhioDance for 6 years. She has been a grant panelist for both the Ohio Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. She was raised in Texas after her family escaped the Khmer Rouge genocide. Most of her works are inspired by her family’s experiences. As a choreographer, her interests lie in the amazing range that dancers are capable of. She has guest-taught and/or set work on students at Texas Woman’s University, University of Cincinnati, Wittenberg University, Northern Kentucky University, University of Kentucky, Tarrant County College, and Kent State, where she was an artist-in-residence in 2016.
Hannah Williamson
Hannah Williamson is an 8th-season performing Company Member, as well as the Rehearsal Director and a choreographer in Mutual Dance Theatre. She is a 2017 graduate of Wright State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance, magna cum laude. While a student, her senior choreography project White Shores received the Adjudicated Choreography Award and was performed in the 2017 faculty concert alongside Testament, choreographed and set by Dwight Rhoden and Clifford Williams of Complexions Contemporary Ballet, which she also had the honor of performing in. Williamson’s works created after her studies have been selected for presentations, including two choreographic residencies with Columbus Modern Dance Company, Contemporary Dance Theater’s Area Choreographers Festival (2018 and 2021), Mutual Dance Theatre’s New Dance Laboratory, and Yes! Virginia Dance Festival. Williamson also received a commission from MDT for the creation of a half-evening of work titled Variations in a Brainstorm (2021) and “Nacht” (2024). She was honored to be chosen to teach Advanced/Intermediate Modern for Wright State’s prestigious dance program in the fall of 2022. She has recently been hired as an adjunct professor for the college’s advanced musical theatre program and was also honored with the opportunity to create original work for the school’s faculty concert.
Ms. Williamson is also a performer in the company.
Claire Dieringer
Claire Dieringer is a 2016 graduate of Kent State University where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Magna Cum Laude. Claire also studied at American Dance Festival in Durham, North Carolina with numerous teachers in styles from all over the world. Claire has worked professionally as the Director of the Dance Program at Lake Bryn Mawr Camp in Pennsylvania. In 2017, Claire joined Mutual Dance Theatre (when it was MamLuft&Co. Dance) after training in New York. She was hired full-time as the organization’s Education and Outreach Coordinator and now holds the role of Studio Director and Programs Manager. Claire oversees the daily operations of Mutual Arts Centers’ education and academy programs in both Hartwell and Clifton. In 2019, she performed in Géographie, a multi-week installation by French choreographers Annie Vigier and Franck Apertet (les gens d’Uterpan) at the Contemporary Arts Center, as well as in the Area Choreographers Festival (Contemporary Dance Theater). Most recently, Claire’s choreographic works have been chosen to be presented in the Synergy Dance Series and at Northern Kentucky University’s Dance ’24 performance. Claire is excited to be dancing with MDT for her eighth season!
Linda Garza
Linda Garza is a 2022 graduate of Miami University where she received her Bachelor of Science in both Chemical Engineering and Engineering Management. During her time at Miami, she also earned minors in environmental engineering and dance. Prior to joining Mutual Dance Theatre, Linda was a member of Miami University’s Dance Theatre (under Lana Kay Rosenberg) where she performed in a variety of pieces by both student and guest choreographers. Some of her favorite pieces from her time in the company include “A Pep Talk for This Life” (choreographed by Bessie-winning and internationally-acclaimed Joanna Kotze) and “The Kids Are(‘nt) Alright” choreographed by Liza Torrence. Linda is a second year company member with Mutual Dance Theatre and has performed in works by Countess V. Winfrey and McKinley Willis.
Kaleigh Hampton
Originally from Louisville, KY, Kaleigh Hampton began her training in ballet, Limón, Graham, jazz, and tap dance. She then went on to receive her Bachelors of Arts in dance and Bachelors of Science in exercise science from Western Kentucky University. During her time in college, Kaleigh spent her summers at Complexions, Hubbard Street, and New Dialect. Additionally, she was awarded the Faculty Undergraduate Student Engagement Grant and presented a choreographic work about how gravity affects anatomical structures within different dance genres. Kaleigh is excited to be starting her career at Mutual Dance Theatre!
Ana Hart
Born in Osijek, Croatia, Ana Hart joined Mutual Dance Theatre in 2021. Since then, Ana has performed works by Sidra Bell, Victor Lewis Jr. (PHILADANCO!), Steven Evans, Jasmine Snellen, Rowan Salem, Hannah Williamson, Glenda Figueroa, and Gabriel Martinez. Ana has also performed works by Terrence Marling, Braeden Barnes, Adeline “A” Else, Christian Warner, Matt Pardo, Gregory Dolbashian, Ryan Corriston, Stephanie Liapis, Darla Stanley, and Chien-Kuei Chang (Chang Dance Theatre). Ana also performed with Rosie Herrera Dance Theatre as a featured soloist. Ana expanded her training and artistry through the b12 Berlin Workshop Festival and has attended the GroundWorks DanceTheater Winter Intensive, the Sidra Bell Dance New York Summer MODULE Satellite, and the American Dance Festival. Her choreography has been presented at the inaugural Synergy Dance Series, as well as the OhioDance Festival. Her work has been described as “cinematic” and “dynamic and dimensional.” Ana graduated magna cum laude from James Madison University and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and a Bachelor of Arts in Media Arts & Design with a concentration in Interactive Design. Her cross-disciplinary interest in design and dance enhances her artistry and informs her unique approach to choreography and performance.
Evelyn Lackney
Evelyn Lackney received her Bachelors of Arts in dance and communication studies from Western Kentucky University. Originally from Danville, KY, Evelyn danced with the WKU Dance Company and had the opportunity to work with choreographers across various styles. During her time in Bowling Green, KY, Evelyn was trained by artists from Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre, New Dialect, and Mutual Dance Theatre. Additionally, Evelyn has choreographed multiple modern works that were adjudicated and presented. Her choreographic pieces are known for their emotional storytelling, inspired by the belief that art exists in everything. She is thrilled to be with Mutual Dance Theatre for her second season!
Celeste Kennington
Celeste Kennington is a dancer and choreographer based in Cincinnati. She graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance from Wright State University. There, she studied under distinguished faculty and mentors such as Teressa Wylie McWilliams, Ashley Walton-Pabst, Gina Walther, Gregory Robinson, and Erin Robbins. During her time at Wright State, she had the opportunity to present a section from her senior thesis, “Lure”, at the department’s annual arts gala fundraiser. She was also a member of Dayton Contemporary Dance Company’s second company for the 2021-2022 season, where she danced alongside the main company and worked under choreographers Shonna Hickman-Matlock, Elizabeth Ramsey, Countess Winfrey, Matthew Talley, and Amy Jones. She has expanded her training and artistry by attending intensives at The Martha Graham School, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Stewart/Owen Dance, Eisenhower Dance Detroit, Water Street Dance, and Wasatch Contemporary Dance Company. Additionally, she has choreographed for Synergy Dance, Synergy Unplugged, Suttle Dance Detroit, and Sarasota Contemporary Dance’s summer intensive. She is thrilled to be dancing with Mutual Dance Theatre this season!
Caroline Nymberg
Caroline Nymberg was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. As a young dance student, she studied at Cincinnati Ballet, San Diego Ballet, and Company E. She graduated magna cum laude from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance. During her time at university, she had the honor to perform and work with esteemed artists, including Bill T. Jones, Hope Boykin (Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre), Karen Reedy, Rob Kleinendorst, and Christopher D’amboise (for whom she was a rehearsal assistant). Recently, Caroline had the honor of performing at the OhioDance Festival. She is a fourth-year company member with Mutual Dance Theatre and has performed in works by Sidra Bell, Victor Lewis Jr., Cecilia Benitez, and McKinley Willis.
Courtney Ziegelmeyer
Courtney Ziegelmeyer hails from Northern Kentucky and is a graduate of the University of Michigan. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from the School of Music, Theater, and dance as well as a Bachelor of Science in movement science from the School of Kinesiology. She has studied and taught a wide variety of movement techniques, including ballet, Modern (Graham and Humphrey), jazz, contemporary, tap, and acrobatics. As a performer, she has had the honor to dance in works such as “Chair Pillow”, “Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor”, “Studio A”, “Will You Die With Me?”, and “Cuca Deluxe” by world-renowned choreographers Yvonne Rainer, Doris Humphrey, Jennifer Harge, and Carols Pons Guerra. Ziegelmeyer has participated in numerous concerts and festivals, including Arts in Color, A World Beyond, and Oakland Dance Festival. As a choreographer, she has collaborated in many creative processes, which has included working with chamber musicians. She is eager to share her passion for movement and the musculoskeletal system through new opportunities and experiences. Ziegelmeyer is returning as a third-year member of Mutual Dance Theatre’s company.
Presented by Mutual Dance Theatre and the Jefferson James Contemporary Dance Theater Series
Blue13 Dance Company
OCT 25-26, '24
ARONOFF CENTER FOR THE ARTS
Presented by Mutual Dance Theatre and the Jefferson James Contemporary Dance Theater Series
Whim W'him
MAR 7-8, '25
ARONOFF CENTER FOR THE ARTS
2024-2025 Sponsors
Our work is supported in part by: individual donors, big and small; the generosity of more than 40,000 contributors to the ArtsWave Community Campaign; the National Endowment for the Arts; and state tax dollars allocated by the Ohio Legislature to the Ohio Arts Council. To support Mutual Dance Theatre’s important work that keeps the genre of Modern Dance in Cincinnati, please visit mutualdance.org/support