Of Matter, Mind & Spirit

Leverage Dance Theater’s third evening-length dance concert for sacred architecture, “Of Matter, Mind & Spirit” will run June 7, 8, 9, 14 & 15 at Holy Cross Lutheran Church.

In the context of this performance series, Leverage defines “sacred space” as any space that is designated for the purpose of encouraging, inviting or generating ‘spiritual’ connection or experience. We define “spiritual” broadly, “relating to or affecting the human spirit or soul as opposed to the material or physical”. This definition underscores the challenge of locating the mind or the emotions exclusively in either the spiritual or physical realms.

The 2024 production of this concert series is set in a 150-year-old Lutheran Church that has a long and continuing tradition of supporting St. Louisans in a broad variety of ways, including donating space and resources to support the Intersect Arts Center.

One of the goals of this work has become to invite people of distinct and perhaps even historically conflictive tradition into a shared experience of a spiritual nature. By encouraging reflection on spiritual themes through the abstractions of movement and dance, we seek to create meaningful experiences that allow people to focus on shared values and bypass the “specifics” we disagree on..

Consistent with Leverage’s approach to dance making, this concert series does not take the perspectives of any specific traditions, doctrines or dogma but instead explores the feelings, experiences, needs and desires that surround sacred spaces and traditions as a way to help people lead fulfilling, meaningful lives.

Of Matter, MInd and Spirit begins outside, and has audiences follow the dancers into the church basement and then throughout the church, ending in one of the choir balconies, changing vantage points to view dances all but the most typical perspective.

Choreographers for this evening-length concert include: Artistic Director, Diana Barrios; former Assistant Director, Keli Brook Hermes; guest artist Marissa Beccard and company members Paige Van Nest, Claire Hilleren & Ramona Johnson.

Due to the unique nature of the concert, seating and space is limited. Audiences are highly encouraged to pre-purchase their tickets. Accommodations for persons with limited mobility will be made for guests purchasing an “accessible” ticket for either June 14 or 15. Leverage will be in touch with these ticket buyers to make the necessary accommodations to support these attendees specific needs.

Holy Cross was the second Lutheran church erected on the south side of Saint Louis. It began as a school in 1850 and organized as a church in 1858, worshiping in the chapel of Concordia Seminary, which was then located across the street. The setting of the present building, on a hill in a grove of old oaks, retains some of the suburban character it had when the church was first constructed in 1867 on, what was then, the edge of town.

Leverage Dance Theater is a Saint Louis based nonprofit dance company whose mission is to support contemporary dance making, the development of 21st century dance educators and innovative community programming through a commitment to collaborative processes and continuing education for artists. Leverage uses dance and creative movement in non-traditional environments to engage new audiences and generate social discourse to fuel artistic work. By developing artist educators, outreach programs, and performances, Leverage seeks to bring the social, physical, and cognitive benefits of creative movement and dance to a diverse and growing audience.