wellspring cori terry & dancers ]

Presenters of the Midwest Regional Alternative Dance Festival

Wellspring/Cori Terry & Dancers, West Michigan’s critically acclaimed professional modern dance company, was founded in 1981 by Cori Terry, Wellspring's Artistic Director. Wellspring presents performances featuring works choreographed by Ms. Terry, members of the company, and guest choreographers.

Rooted in the legacy of modern dance pioneers Isadora Duncan, Martha Graham, and Erick Hawkins, this company of poetic and athletic dancers is committed to revealing the language of modern dance to all ages. Located in the Wellspring Theater in downtown Kalamazoo’s Epic Center, Wellspring offers performances, classes and outreach programs sharing the creative art of modern dance.

The company performs in two annual series, the Fall Concert of Dance and the Spring Concert of Dance. Wellspring is committed to the larger dance community and presents the Midwest Regional Alternative Dance Festival, which showcases emerging and established choreographers from around the midwest. Wellspring also presents the works of national and international guest artists possessing diverse modern dance styles.

Highlights of Wellspring's history include critically acclaimed performances and collaborations with Artichoke Dance Company and Naumburg-winning 8th Blackbird chamber ensemble of New York, Zephyr Dance and XSIGHT! of Chicago, Susan Van Pelt from the University of Ohio, Detroit Dance Collective, Eisenhower Dance Ensemble, Ariel Dance Company, Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, Fontana Chamber Arts and Cavani String Quartet, and Opus 21. In 1997, Wellspring was the subject of an hour-long documentary, The Birth of a Dance, which aired on PBS. Recently, Wellspring toured to NYC to perform at MMAC in the American Dance Guild Festival (2009) and at the 92nd St. Y in the Hawkins Centennial Celebration (2010).

Ms. Terry twice has received the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs Creative Artist Grant for choreography and was the recipient of Kalamazoo's coveted Community Medal of Arts Award for her contributions to the creative community. In 2001, Wellspring was the recipient of the Great Lakes Community Arts Award given by the Michigan Association of Community Arts Agencies for “artistic excellence as well as community impact and outreach”. In 2008, Ms. Terry was awarded the Community Dance Advocacy Award by Western Michigan University's Partners in Dance and was honored at the Governor's Awards for her lifetime achievement as a Michigan artist.