Störling celebrates 30 years of the beauty of dance and the power of story with premiere of Dorothea’s Lens. (photo credit: Jereme Wilson)
For 30 years, Störling Dance Theater has been characterized by uniting the beauty of dance and the power of story to impact Kansas City audiences and beyond.
Störling’s own story is one marked by passion, innovation, endurance and a deep conviction of the positive impact a healthy community of artists can have on the culture.
Next Generation
In 2006, as Störling achieved 10 years of masterful storytelling through dance, Artistic Director, Mona Störling-Enna, recognized a need for training: Younger dancers auditioning for the company weren’t ready. She and her husband, Jeremiah Enna, Störling’s Executive Director, designed a program where dancers could train holistically in preparation for a professional career.
They named it the Artist Development Program and brought in a dear friend from France to direct it. One student from the first class, Kathleen Schuler, eventually became the program director in 2012.
Kathleen later transitioned the training program into a collegiate program, Störling Conservatory of Dance, which currently boasts five Bachelor of Arts in Dance graduates.
Unity
As the company celebrated 25 years in 2021, it also, for the first time, paused performance of its longest-running production, Underground, due to Covid-19.
Though the production went dark that year, its impact on the people of Kansas City still shined brightly. Unite KC, a nonprofit working toward racial healing, was born from relationships developed and ideas highlighted through the production.
In 2026, Underground was adapted as a one-hour school assembly with narration. The original production continues even as this newest iteration opens the door for greater impact.
February 5, 2027, Störling honors 20 years celebrating the Spirit of the Underground Railroad with a public performance at the Kauffman Center.
Collaboration
During the company’s 30th season, Störling is enjoying new partnerships and collaborations.
Störling’s choreographer for New Dance Partners 2026, presented by Midwest Trust Center, is Executive and Artistic Director of Owen/Cox Dance Group, Jennifer Owen. This first-time collaboration between the two Kansas City companies is a winning combination. The result: a beautiful piece, athletic and graceful, premiering September 18 and 19.
The piece will also be performed in October when the company tours to University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma for the first time.
As a new decade dawns for Störling, the legacy of the first three pave the way for continued growth—including a new facility—and positive impact in Kansas City.
To support Störling’s efforts, visit www.storlingdance.org/support.
