Spotlight On: Dawn Karlovsky for Women’s History Month

For the past 24 years, Dawn Karlovsky has been working as a performer, teacher, and choreographer in St. Louis. Dawn is the Founder and Artistic Director of Karlovsky & Company Dance, a St. Louis-based contemporary modern dance company established in 2012. Her thought-provoking, athletic, and emotionally candid dances have been commissioned and presented by universities and modern dance/theater companies nationally and worldwide. International credits include choreography commissioned in France, Beijing, China, and Cape Town, South Africa. Karlovsky’s movement language is somatically inspired emphasizing the detailed use of touch and spatial and sensory awareness. Karlovsky finds inspiration for movement by observing and reflecting on situations in real life and modes of communication that reveal human interactions and behaviors and generating dance work that illuminates these experiences.

The concert works of Karlovsky's choreography focus on evening-length productions that involve collaboration and integration of contemporary dance-theater, live music, spoken word, and visual art. She fosters collaborative relationships among musicians, visual artists and filmmakers, and choreographers reaching local, national, and international audiences through concert performances, dance for the camera, site-specific dance, community and somatic/dance education for professional development, and programs for older adults and children.

A native of Chicago, Dawn came to St. Louis after dancing with companies in San Francisco, Louisville, and Chicago. She has an MFA from the University of Utah and a BA from Northern Illinois University. Dawn teaches the Alexander Technique and Dance in the Department of Dance at Webster University and Washington University’s Somatic Studies Certificate Program. Dawn is a nationally certified teaching member of the American Society for the Alexander Technique (AmSAT) since 2004 and Chair of AmSAT's Committee for the Alexander Technique in the Performing Arts (CATPA).

What does Women's History Month mean to you?
Women’s History Month reminds me to take time and to make room in my life to reflect and recognize the incredible accomplishments and contributions made by women that impact each passing generation. Sadly, it is also a reminder that women’s voices, talents, achievements, and contributions throughout history have been minimized, devalued, rejected, and/or suppressed in favor of the traditions and values set by patriarchal societies. As with Black History Month, Women’s History Month is a reminder of the inequality and injustice that has existed for centuries.

On the brighter side of this discussion, acknowledging and surfacing these accomplishments ignite the possibilities for change by deepening awareness, furthering education for ourselves and our children, and honoring the perseverance, the dedication, and the courage of those who have been marginalized throughout history. I look forward to a future where one day, their stories, our stories, and accomplishments become completely integrated into our American history and not just supplemental.

Who are some female artists (dance or non-dance) who inspire you and why?
This is probably going to be a long list! First, I would have to say my mother. She was part of the post-war generation of women who felt obliged to follow the traditional rules and roles put upon them at that time. However, as I got older, I saw her stretching her potential by going back to college in her 40’s and beginning to work. She had a strong appetite for learning new things that led to many different hobbies from learning to play guitar to rock hunting to dancing and quilting, etc. She also exhibited courage when she stood up against racial discrimination happening in our near Chicago neighborhood. I’ll never forget that.

For female artists throughout history, I will set my attention on dance artists since there are just so many inspiring women in so many different fields! Much of what these artists established happened long before my time here, however, I feel they all deserve the recognition.

I’m going to begin with Isadora Duncan. In the early 1900’s, she not only helped to revolutionize the artform of dance through the liberation of the body and expression, she also contributed to the liberation of women’s rights. She wasn’t interested in the glamor of dance, but instead, maintained a dedication and devotion to her art as it embodied her beliefs regarding freedom of choice, beauty, love, and will.

Katherine Dunham and Pearl Primus are other inspiring examples of women with amazing talent, passion, and intelligence. Both who used their art to elevate the status of African-Americans in concert dance, they stood up against racial discrimination, and in Primus’ case, used dance as a vehicle for social justice.

Anna Halprin was another amazing woman who helped to pioneer post-modern dance and redefine performance through tasks, improvisation, working in alternative spaces, and also using dance to build community and healing. Following in her footsteps is Trisha Brown whose concept-driven works are truly inspiring to me.

Locally, we have many gems in the field, but I would like to bring attention to a woman who some may not know - Annelise Mertz. In the 1950’s, she came to St. Louis and made a huge mark in the community as founder of the Dance Majors Program at Washington University and of Dance St. Louis! We owe a lot to her for paving the way for dance to evolve in our community. Beckah (Voigt) Reed and Susan Gash are two other inspiring St. Louis artists who were working together as co-directors of Gash/Voigt Dance Theatre during the mid-1980’s through 2002. As an all-women company, their rich body of work focused on social and political issues with particular regard to women. I moved to St. Louis at the tail-end of their company’s existence. I feel so fortunate to have danced and created with them in the final years of their company. Although the beautiful creations of GVDT ended in 2002, Beckah Reed continued to touch the lives of so many young dancers through her long career as Assistant Professor (now emeritus) in Dance at Webster University.

Lastly, I’d like to recognize my dancers in Karlovsky & Company Dance. They bring my choreography to life through their generosity, artistry, and commitment to helping me develop my artistic vision. They truly inspire me. As you can tell, I can go on!

Favorite female-owned business(es) in St. Louis?
We have many wonderful entrepreneurs in St. Louis. Afua Bromley is the owner of Acupuncture St. Louis. Mary Ellen Bryan runs Central Studios and Marcia Wever runs St. Louis City Fitness. Of course, there are many more.

Free write! Anything else you want to share?
Find your artistic voice and create your own distinctive path.
Stay curious - Remember that there is so much that we don’t know and even more that we never will. The joy is being able to make small, quiet discoveries everyday.

Connect with Dawn:
Email: info@karlovskydance.org
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karlovskyandcompanydance/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarlovskyandCompanyDance
Website Link: https://www.karlovskydance.org/