The Big Voices Project

by Perpetual Motion Dance

The Big Voices Project will facilitate meaningful intersection between military communities, artists, and the public to raise awareness about the unique personal experiences of those who have served or who have been impacted in some way. Perpetual Motion Dance strives to create opportunities and provide a platform for military-connected individuals who are practicing movement artists or interested in expressing their stories through movement. Specific benefits to military-connected participating individuals include: the opportunity to build movement skills that range from conventional floorwork to aerial skills using suspended apparati such as trapeze, silks/hammock, or lyra; access to work with experienced performance artists in a suitable rehearsal space in order to create new works of art that speak directly to the military communities; and recognition and validation through heightened visibility in the broader community about the experiences of military-connected segments. It is our hope that this project will inspire other organizations to dedicate resources to leading successful arts and military projects themselves. Finally, The Big Voices Project seeks to reach diverse groups within the military community by partnering with women veterans, veterans representing diverse ethnic or cultural groups, and veterans with disabilities, as well as veterans and military-connected individuals from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.

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Perpetual Motion Dance is a modern and aerial dance company based in Oklahoma City with a mission to “create, develop and inspire innovative dance.” They blend post modern and aerial dance techniques with a signature grace and technical ingenuity to create dance on all planes. Perpetual Motion Dance is in their 20th season of creating annual original concerts in addition to regional and national touring.

The recent original concerts of Perpetual Motion Dance include "Y20" (2022), “REWIND” (2020-21), “əˈstrā” (2019), “Cora’s Door” (2018), developed and inspired by time spent at Meow Wolf’s House of Eternal Return, “Quinze” (2017), excerpts performed at Meow Wolf - Santa Fe, NM, “Wanderlust” (2016), performed at the Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center in Oklahoma City and the Oklahoma State University Seretean Theater in Stillwater, OK; “Fault Line” (2015), a collaboration with Perpetual Motion Dance, welder Joey Smith and video animation artist Kyle Van Osdol, performed at the Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center in Oklahoma City, Tulsa SummerStage (June 2015) and the Houston Fringe Festival (awarded Best Dance Performance in Festival); KINETIC (2014) performed at the Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center in Oklahoma City and an excerpt performed at the National Performance Network annual conference; and “Water Won’t Wait” (2013) performed at the Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center in Oklahoma City, ReCreation Studios in Little Rock, AR, and “Live at the Crossroads” in Kansas City.

In addition to presenting original concerts and tours, Perpetual Motion Dance is committed to educating both adults and youth through classes, workshops, and residencies. In August 2006, Perpetual Motion organized the first annual Oklahoma Contemporary Dance Festival, which brings together regional choreographers with performers of all ages and backgrounds.