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Small Plates Choreography Festival

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Artist Spotlight:

Carolina Quiros Otarola is a powerhouse dancer, choreographer, and teacher whose talents span ballet, contemporary, acrobatics, and aerial arts. From Costa Rica to Charlotte, her dynamic work lights up stages and studios alike. Passionate, playful, and fiercely creative — she’s here to move you, literally and emotionally.
Follow her @carolquot

Her piece "Before I Forgot" will be performed at Small Plates Duck.

Small Plates Choreography Festival will be presenting Small Plates Choreography Festival Duck, on July 27th 2026 at 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. ET at the Duck Amphitheater (1200 Duck Rd, Duck, NC 27949).

Small Plates Choreography Festival is a curated dance performance series presenting the work of choreographers from North Carolina and beyond.

Visit smallplatesdance.com/performances/OBX/ for more information.

All performances are free, family-friendly, and open to the public.

For questions, please email smallplatesdance@gmail.com.

@smallplatesdance @embodiedthreads @havenmovement @dancearttheater @baran.dance @peyton.murph @j2sl3 @audibaran@emily_kissam @rahquelah@justincerda
alezainman @sharonmdunson

Hosted by DanceArtTheater
Presented by Small Plates Choreography Festival
Directed by Meredith Barnes and Beth McKee Elliott by @smallplatesdance

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6 hours ago

Artist Spotlight:

Aleza Inman is from Birmingham, Alabama where she trained at the Alabama School of Fine Arts. She chose to continue her dance education at George Mason University in 2022 under the direction of former Mark Morris dancer Karen Reedy and former Lar Lubovitch dancer Susan Shields. During her collegiate experience she performed and understudied the works of Susan Shields, Martha Graham, Christopher d’Amboise, and Victor Quijada along with many works of her peers. During undergrad she discovered a love for choreography leading her to create four complete works. Inman’s studies have led her to pursue through both her movement and choreographic endeavors, the exploration of authentic human connection.
Follow her alezainman

She will be performing in "Fernweh" at Small Plates Duck

Small Plates Choreography Festival will be presenting Small Plates Choreography Festival Duck, on July 27th 2026 at 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. ET at the Duck Amphitheater (1200 Duck Rd, Duck, NC 27949).

Small Plates Choreography Festival is a curated dance performance series presenting the work of choreographers from North Carolina and beyond.

Visit smallplatesdance.com/performances/OBX/ for more information.

All performances are free, family-friendly, and open to the public.

For questions, please email smallplatesdance@gmail.com.

@smallplatesdance @embodiedthreads @havenmovement @dancearttheater @baran.dance @peyton.murph @j2sl3 @audibaran@emily_kissam @rahquelah@justincerda
alezainman @sharonmdunson

Hosted by DanceArtTheater
Presented by Small Plates Choreography Festival
Directed by Meredith Barnes and Beth McKee Elliott by @smallplatesdance

17

1

19 hours ago

CALL FOR DANCE MAKERS

Applications are open for Small Plates NYC, at Judson Memorial Church. Small Plates Choreography Festival is a series of two curated dance performances to be presented on November 13, 2026 and November 14, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. at Judson Memorial Church located at 55 Washington Square South, New York, NY

Other important dates
Technical Rehearsals: - November 12, 2026 - 12:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Application deadline: August 1, 2026
Notification: On or before September 1, 2026
Confirmation: within one week of acceptance

Application at smallplatesdance.com/nyc

Lune
Hannah Staton and Faith Blue Magee
Loam Dance Company
@loamdanceco @hannahnamfon @faithblue_mageeee by @smallplatesdance

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a day ago

Small Plates Choreography Festival is thrilled to return to the Outer Banks for its third year.

Small Plates Duck will take place on Monday, July 27, 2026, with performances at 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. ET at the Duck Amphitheater (1200 Duck Rd, Duck, NC 27949).

Featured artists include Baran Dance and DanceArtTheatre, with special guests James Morrow and Peyton Murphy.

All performances are free, family-friendly, and open to the public.

For questions, please email smallplatesdance@gmail.com.

@smallplatesdance @embodiedthreads @havenmovement @dancearttheater @baran.dance @peyton.murph @j2sl3 @audibaran@emily_kissam @rahquelah@justincerda
alezainman @sharonmdunson

Choreography pictured:
Sixth Breath
Beau Hancock and Caitlin Quinn Pittenger
@beauhancock1 @cquinn681
SPNOVA 2026
PC - @smallplatesdance by @smallplatesdance

13

1

2 days ago

Artist Feature: Emily Kissam

Emily Kissam is a contemporary dancer and creative based in Charlotte, NC. Emily has extensive formal dance training, as well as years of experience in competitive and concert dance. The styles she predominately works in are a fusion of contemporary and modern, drawing inspiration from catch and release techniques, floorwork, and embodying the fluidity and texture of the human form. Utilizing movement as a way of bringing individuals back to themselves, through grounding in the somatic experiences and emotional connection of mind and body, is a pillar of Emily’s choreographic process and personal practice. Outside of her work with Baran Dance, Emily is also a dance teacher working to support and inspire young creatives across the Charlotte community.

She will be performing in “A Thorn in the Flesh” at Small Plates Duck

Small Plates Choreography Festival will be presenting Small Plates Choreography Festival Duck, on July 27th 2026 at 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. ET at the Duck Amphitheater (1200 Duck Rd, Duck, NC 27949).

Small Plates Choreography Festival is a curated dance performance series presenting the work of choreographers from North Carolina and beyond.

Visit smallplatesdance.com/performances/OBX/ for more information.

All performances are free, family-friendly, and open to the public.

For questions, please email smallplatesdance@gmail.com.

@smallplatesdance @embodiedthreads @havenmovement @dancearttheater @baran.dance @peyton.murph @j2sl3 @audibaran@emily_kissam @rahquelah @justincerda alezainman @sharonmdunson

Hosted by DanceArtTheater
Presented by Small Plates Choreography Festival
Directed by Meredith Barnes and Beth McKee Elliott by @smallplatesdance

13

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2 days ago

Artist Spotlight:
Justin Cerda is a movement artist rooted in curiosity, exploration and his genuine love for dance. He graduated with a B.F.A. in Dance Performance and a B.F.A. in Dance Choreography from the University of California, Irvine, in the spring of 2025. Throughout his career, Justin had the opportunity to perform in works choreographed/staged by renowned artists such as Charlotte Griffin, Lar Lubovitch, Kate Skarpetowska, Christian Denice, Thang Dao and more. He is the co-founder of C2, a bi-coastal dance collective created with his sister Katlyn Cerda that produces original work and shares their artistic practices through teaching and community engagement. Complementing his dance background, Justin is a Pilates instructor through Studio du Corps under the guidance master instructor Diane Diefenderfer. Whether on stage, in the studio, or behind the scenes, he brings intention, warmth, and integrity to every space he enters.

Follow him @justincerda
He will be performing in "Just Business" at Small Plates Duck

Small Plates Choreography Festival will be presenting Small Plates Choreography Festival Duck, on July 27th 2026 at 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. ET at the Duck Amphitheater (1200 Duck Rd, Duck, NC 27949).

Small Plates Choreography Festival is a curated dance performance series presenting the work of choreographers from North Carolina and beyond.

Visit smallplatesdance.com/performances/OBX/ for more information.

All performances are free, family-friendly, and open to the public.

For questions, please email smallplatesdance@gmail.com.

@smallplatesdance @embodiedthreads @havenmovement @dancearttheater @baran.dance @peyton.murph @j2sl3 @audibaran@emily_kissam @rahquelah@justincerda
alezainman @sharonmdunson

Hosted by DanceArtTheater
Presented by Small Plates Choreography Festival
Directed by Meredith Barnes and Beth McKee Elliott by @smallplatesdance

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3 days ago

Artist Spotlight: James Morrow

Morrow serves as an Associate Professor of Dance at Old Dominion University, where he mentors emerging artists while advancing research in choreography and performance. Equally influential to his creative practice are his roles as a husband and father, which continually deepen his understanding of empathy, play, vulnerability, and human connection. These relationships remind him that meaningful art begins with meaningful relationships, inspiring work that invites audiences to see themselves, one another, and the world with greater curiosity, compassion, and possibility.
Follow him

He will be performing his piece "SEETHER" at Small Plates Duck

Small Plates Choreography Festival will be presenting Small Plates Choreography Festival Duck, on July 27th 2026 at 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. ET at the Duck Amphitheater (1200 Duck Rd, Duck, NC 27949).

Small Plates Choreography Festival is a curated dance performance series presenting the work of choreographers from North Carolina and beyond.

Visit smallplatesdance.com/performances/OBX/ for more information.

All performances are free, family-friendly, and open to the public.

For questions, please email smallplatesdance@gmail.com.

@smallplatesdance @embodiedthreads @havenmovement @dancearttheater @baran.dance @peyton.murph @j2sl3 @audibaran@emily_kissam @rahquelah@justincerda
alezainman @sharonmdunson

Hosted by DanceArtTheater
Presented by Small Plates Choreography Festival
Directed by Meredith Barnes and Beth McKee Elliott by @smallplatesdance

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0

3 days ago

Artist Spotlight, Small Plates Duck:

Peyton Murphy - @peyton.murph

Peyton Murphy, based in Washington, D.C., is a freelance dance artist and choreographer. She focuses on creating work that is meaningful, emotional, and thought-provoking, aiming to leave audiences with questions that resonate beyond the performance. Her works have been performed at the 2025 and 2026 Fairfax International Holocaust Remembrance Day events, the 2025 and 2026 DC NACHMO’s shows, the 2026 Atlas Performing Arts Center’s INTERSECTIONS Festival, and in shows held by Mason Dance Company. She received her BFA in Dance and BA in Anthropology from George Mason University, where she further developed her craft with mentorship from Christopher D’Amboise, Christina Robson, Karen Reedy, Lawrence M. Jackson, and Shaun Boyle D’Arcy. She has found additional inspiration and training from a multitude of workshops held by Flock, the Pina Bausch Foundation (at Springboard & Share), David Dorfman, Ballet Jazz Montreal, and Visceral Dance.

Her pieces “Just Business” and “Fernweh” will be shown at Small Plates Duck

Small Plates Duck will take place on Monday, July 27, 2026, with performances at 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. ET at the Duck Amphitheater, 1200 Duck Rd, Duck, NC 27949

Featured artists include Baran Dance and DanceArtTheatre, with special guests James Morrow, and Peyton Murphy.

All performances are free, family-friendly, and open to the public.

For questions, please email smallplatesdance@gmail.com.

@smallplatesdance @embodiedthreads @havenmovement @dancearttheater @baran.dance @carlyeeckert @peyton.murph @j2sl3

Hosted by DanceArtTheater
Presented by Small Plates Choreography Festival
Directed by Meredith Barnes and Beth McKee Elliott by @smallplatesdance

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3 days ago

Featured Artist:
Audrey Baran – Baran Dance

Founded by dance artist and educator Audrey Baran in 2012, Baran Dance seamlessly blends bold physicality with thoughtful artistry, creating work that is accessible and exciting for wide audiences.

Audrey Baran (she / her) is a Filipina-American dance maker, performer, and educator based in the land of Catawba people / Charlotte, North Carolina. She holds a MFA in Dance from Hollins University as well as a BA in Dance and a Graduate Certificate in Anti-Racism in Urban Education from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. As the founder, artistic and executive director of Baran Dance, a nonprofit contemporary dance company, Baran is dedicated to broadening definitions and accessibility of contemporary dance throughout the Southeast by presenting collaborative, multimedia performances and mentorship programs for emerging and evolving dance artists.

Follow them @barandance
Learn more at www.baran.dance

Her piece "Gray Matter" will be shown at Small Plates Duck

Small Plates Choreography Festival will be presenting Small Plates Choreography Festival Duck, on July 27th 2026 at 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. ET at the Duck Amphitheater (1200 Duck Rd, Duck, NC 27949).

Small Plates Choreography Festival is a curated dance performance series presenting the work of choreographers from North Carolina and beyond.

Visit smallplatesdance.com/performances/OBX/ for more information.

All performances are free, family-friendly, and open to the public.

For questions, please email smallplatesdance@gmail.com.

@smallplatesdance @embodiedthreads @havenmovement @dancearttheater @baran.dance @peyton.murph @j2sl3 @audibaran@emily_kissam @rahquelah@justincerda
alezainman @sharonmdunson

Hosted by DanceArtTheater
Presented by Small Plates Choreography Festival
Directed by Meredith Barnes and Beth McKee Elliott by @smallplatesdance

27

0

4 days ago

CALL FOR DANCE MAKERS

Applications are open for Small Plates NYC, at Judson Memorial Church. Small Plates Choreography Festival is a series of two curated dance performances to be presented on November 13, 2026 and November 14, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. at Judson Memorial Church located at 55 Washington Square South, New York, NY

Other important dates
Technical Rehearsals: - November 12, 2026 - 12:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Application deadline: August 1, 2026
Notification: On or before September 1, 2026
Confirmation: within one week of acceptance

Application at smallplatesdance.com/nyc

Choreography pictured:
Mike Esperanza – Well Seasoned Works
@wellseasonedworks
SPNOVA 2026
PC - @smallplatesdance by @smallplatesdance

198

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16 days ago

CALL FOR DANCE MAKERS

Applications are open for Small Plates NYC, at Judson Memorial Church. Small Plates Choreography Festival is a series of two curated dance performances to be presented on November 13, 2026 and November 14, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. at Judson Memorial Church located at 55 Washington Square South, New York, NY

Other important dates
Technical Rehearsals: - November 12, 2026 - 12:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Application deadline: August 1, 2026
Notification: On or before September 1, 2026
Confirmation: within one week of acceptance

Application at smallplatesdance.com/nyc

Choreography pictured:
Shockwave
Margaux Lieser
@margaux.lieser by @smallplatesdance

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17 days ago

Artist Spotlight, Small Plates Duck:

Rahquelah Conyers of Baran Dance
@barandance @rahquelah

Rahquelah Conyers is an Asheville native with a love for performance and art that explores the commonalities and intricacies of human nature. Her movement and creations are a culmination of her studies in Psychology, Sociology, and Human Sexuality at UNC Charlotte. She is a former member of Moving Spirits Inc. and an active member of Baran Dance, incorporating her training in Modern, West African, African Brazilian, and Commercial Dance into her practice. She is motivated by collaboration with artists outside of dance to create expansive art that continues to seek out venues that can make a difference.

Follow her @rahquelah
PC: Ali Roth
Her piece "A Thorn in the Flesh" will be performed at Small Plates Duck

Small Plates Duck will take place on Monday, July 27, 2026, with performances at 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. ET at the Duck Amphitheater, 1200 Duck Rd, Duck, NC 27949

Featured artists include Baran Dance and DanceArtTheatre, with special guests James Morrow and Peyton Murphy.

All performances are free, family-friendly, and open to the public.

For questions, please email smallplatesdance@gmail.com.

@smallplatesdance @embodiedthreads @havenmovement @dancearttheater @baran.dance @carlyeeckert @peyton.murph @j2sl3 by @smallplatesdance

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18 days ago