“Making Art through Collaborative Play”
Matt Kent
Creative director, teacher and former dance captain of Pilobolus Dance Theatre and artistic director of Pickleshoes
Thursday, September 3, 2009 2:00 – 3:15
New Dance Theatre, Department of Dance
Matt Kent, distinguished international dancer and teacher, joined Pilobolus Dance Theatre in 1996 and has received countless citations, positive reviews and international acclaim. At fourteen he began studying the Japanese martial art Ninjitsu in which he now holds a fourth degree black belt. He acting in high school and began studying the string bass. While pursuing a music therapy degree at the University of Georgia, Matt began integrating martial arts movement and dance with UGA CORE Concert Dance Company. In 1996, Matt joined Pilobolus Dance Theatre and he has since toured internationally and served as their Dance Captain performing throughout the world, including countries in Asia, Europe, South America and the Middle East. Dance Magazine described Matt’s contribution to Pilobolus as “priceless.” Mr Kent currently serves as project manager and creative director, choreographing new work for Pilobolus Creative Services. Most recently he has choreographed for the launch of Bystolic in San Francisco, and for Japanese Fuji TV. He has been seen on Live with Regis and Kelly, the Today Show, 60 Minutes, the 2007 Academy Awards, a full-length documentary entitled “Last Dance”, numerous international commercials, including recent ones for the National Football League.
Matt’s experience as a musician proved a boon in many of the collaborations with Pilobolus and other musicians such as the Saint Lawrence String Quartet, Maria Schneider’s Jazz Orchestra, the Klezmatics, Paul Sullivan, former Kodo Taiko drummer and composer. In 2003, he co-founded with his wife UGA Dance alum Emily Milam Kent, PickleShoes. Collaborating with composer/conductor Rob Kapilow, of NPR’s “What Makes It Great?” they have created two Family Musik Programs, which tour the U.S. and Canada, “Peter and the Wolf” and “Fairy Tales.” Both shows have played Lincoln Center’s Great Performers Series in NYC.
Sponsored by the Willson Center for the Humanities and Arts at UGA.