About
We are four non-traditional women with an eclectic background in the arts sharing the common denominator of dance as community expression and prayer. Our diverse life pathways have intersected at a time when we have gained the skills, ability, and maturity to deeply listen, and this deep listening serves as a means to let us mine rich improvisational territory. We are able to respond to what comes up in the moment and go with the honesty of the initial impulse. Within our collaboration is pure joy and freedom, coupled with a strong sense that we aren't finished yet. We gather to reconnect, revive, and re-invent grateful for each performing opportunity that comes our way. In interest of expanding audiences we rehearse in open spaces with our indoor rehearsal time being Tuesdays at 6:15 at the Montecito School of Ballet.
Mission
To be fully present in the moment honoring the integrity of initial impulses to co-creatively give expression to dance as community celebration, prayer, and mindfulness with the intent to deeply touch and inspire our audiences.
History
The Nicole McKenzie Improv Group is a collaborative and co-creative dance group based in Santa Barbara. Founded in 2013, the catalyst that brought the group together was a by-product of two things: a call for performers in the Santa Barbara community by ArtBark International and violinist McKenzie’s response to the call. Letting her desire to improvise with dancers in an unstructured improvisational format lead she put the call out for willing dancers with Ruth Alpert, E. Bonnie Lewis, Misa Kelly and Susan Shaberman stepping forwards as eager dancers. Rehearsals began in Alice Keck Memorial Gardens with the group's 1st performance occurring May of 2013 for the Santa Barbara Downtown Organization’s 1st Thursdays event. This was followed by an offering at the ADaPT Festival’s Cut the Edge Emerging Genre Installation with Ruth Alpert and Jan Vucinich serving as dancers and musicians Gregg Johnson and Nasir Sayed serving as musicians. In the fall the group performed for ArtBark International’s tri-city Minty showing. The NMIG recently debuted in Los Angeles as a part of Rubans Rouge Dance Company’s Awakening and Beginnings Dance Festival at Diavolo Theatre.