Spectrum in Motion's Home Page

“a dance theater ensemble dedicated to People of Color and the American experience.”

Spectrum in Motion was founded in 1982 in the Pioneer Valley/5 College Community of Western Massachusetts. Its premise is that dance should once again be part of every day life. Dance should help us to tell and share the stories of our lives. Dance should embrace all peoples. I originally gathered people from all walks of life: those who danced professionally and have moved on to other things; students of dance; instructors of dance; those who supported dance; those who never danced. It was a community of folks who were excited to move together as an ensemble and once or twice a year, we presented original work.

The second generation of dancers was launched in the fall of 2003 at Charter Oak Cultural Center and comes from an ensemble of my student dancers I called The Youth Dance Performance Project. I have been blessed to have an opportunity to raise dancers (1998 to the present) and to continue to build original work. It is with excitement that The Company and I look forward to what lies ahead as we continue to take baby steps and inspire others (young and not so young) to dance, embracing the simple notion that Dance is for everyone. We all should be dancing!

Spectrum in Motion is the resident dance education and performance ensemble at Charter Oak Cultural Center which is located at 21 Charter Oak Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106. Phone: 860.249.1207. Website: www.charteroakcenter.org.

	Spectrum in Motion is a company that has grown from being a group of high-energy teen-agers with many talents and much potential to a group of serious dancers who have matured into a company. Most of the company originally comes from Hartford and they have also applied their own experiences to teaching and mentoring youngsters from the city.
	Some members of the company desire to continue to dance professionally, others are preparing for other careers, but all understand that within this experience the art form is a learning tool. They have taught others and have learned lessons about each other and themselves, “Opening their hearts . .Opening their minds…”
	Original commissioned choreography includes: "Ubi Caritas" and "Gloria" - Asylum Hill Congregational Church "The 23rd Psalm" - Immanuel Congregational Church "Dancing Day" - Concora "Will You Harbor Me?" - Charter Oak Cultural Center "Bountiful" - Greater Hartford Arts Council - Symphony on Ice
	About the Artistic Director: Olivia Sabulao Ilano-Davis was born in the Philippines and grew up in western Massachusetts. She holds a BFA in Theater and Dance from Smith College and has pursued an advanced degree in education at the University of Massachusetts. She studied and danced at The Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, The Clarke Center for the Performing Arts and Henry Street Settlement. She began teaching as an adjunct instructor at the University of Massachusetts presenting a course entitled Third World Dance Theater Workshop, a response to affirmative action. Her signature warm-ups attracted athletes - football players in the spring, baseball players in the fall. She is the former Director of Dance Programs City Youth at Dance Connecticut and Hartford Ballet. She is a member of Greater Hartford's Dance Umbrella and the Charter Oak Dance Coalition. Ms. Davis was honored as a "Leader for the Arts" during the Greater Hartford Arts Council's thirtieth United Arts Campaign. Ms. Davis provides in-service workshops for Hartford teachers and directs an in school residency at the Kinsella Arts Magnet School in Hartford and a teaching residency at Charter Oak Cultural Center.