Sanspointe Dance Company Announces Birmingham Public Library Tour

Sanspointe Dance Company will present “Life on A Shelf,” dances created to connect us all, regardless of age, to the shelves and books in a library. Circulate through the poetry, research, children's, and non-fiction sections and celebrate with us the life and imagination we experience in books. The company will perform a 30-minute show on August 5, 6, and 8 at 6:00 p.m. in local Birmingham Public Libraries and the Fultondale Library. Sanspointe artists Michelle Knutson and Shellie Chambers will be presenting two new works and two repertory works in collaboration with three company dancers.

Knutson, Project Director of the Library Tour, wanted to present a show that directly linked the importance of libraries in our communities. “I first thought of all the kinds of people, regardless of age, that gather to read, explore book shelves, technology, research…the different sections of the library and then narrowed it down to four sections (poetry, research, children’s and non-fiction) to inspire choreography.” From book shelf, into the hands of the reader, and into our lives and imagination—this show is a thank you to the public service libraries provide for us all.

Chambers’ new work digs into the Dewey Decimal system. Knutsons’ new work will take the sounds, books, and energy from the children’s section. “Part of my process will be going to the library and observing and listening and sitting quietly with a book; maybe even reading a book to a few children who will listen!”

Sanspointe presented the first Birmingham Public Library Tour in 2012 with “The Golden Record,” performed at Avondale, Five Points West, and Central Public Libraries. This year’s presentation of “Life on A Shelf” includes performances by Michelle Knutson, Sara Turney, Susie Poythress Long, and Stella Nystrom.

Central Library in the Atrium, Monday, August 5, 6:00 p.m.
Five Points West Library in the Main Reading Room, Tuesday, August 6, 6:00 p.m.
Fultondale Library in the Main Reading Room, Thursday, August 8, 6:00 p.m.

All performances are free and open to the public.

Sanspointe is a Birmingham-based professional modern dance company founded in 2003. To learn more about Sansponite or to make a tax-deductible donation to Sanspointe, visit www.sanspointe.org.