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Störling Dance Theater History
Störling Dance Theater History Mona Störling-Enna moved to Kansas City in 1996 to establish a professional dance company based on her innovative and dramatic concepts of movement and storytelling. Together with her husband, Jeremiah Enna, they set out to choose relevant concepts and stories that would speak powerfully to our contemporary culture and stir the hearts of many.
Prior to her move to Kansas City, Mona had established her first dance company in 1989 in her homeland of Finland. Kadosh Dance Company was based in Helsinki, and toured throughout Europe and the Middle East in their short 3 year span. From Kadosh, Mrs. Störling-Enna was recruited to become soloist and costume designer for Eternia Dans Teater in Sweden under the direction of Vibeke Muasya and Jeremy Van der Pant. Her soon to be husband was the male soloist for the group and they began performing together at that point. While in Eternia, Mona created the role of Esther in the long running production of “We Want To Live!” and other memorable roles.
1998 marked the premiere concert for Störling Dance Theater in Kansas City. With an audience of 900, Sterling’s launch was a huge success. “Parables & Prayers” was a collection of pieces that she had crafted in Europe as well as new work set on local dancers. Included in the evening was her signature solo work, “In Simon’s House”, a physical theater and modern dance interpretation of the Biblical story of the woman who washes the feet of Jesus with her tears. “In Simon’s House” has been performed all over the world from main stage events, to theaters in Central Asia, to outdoor performances in Times Square. This piece encapsulates much of Storling-Enna’s artistic approach in crafting earthy but beautiful pieces that are gritty and realistic. That inaugural event also included several world class artists that would become major influences in the work of Störling, including Tobin James, Marc Wayne, and Anne Wayne.
From that point, a series of bold and substantial ballets were created that has stimulated a growing audience and thriving reputation.
2000 saw the birth of “Sower”, a modern dance interpretation of the Parable of the Sower. Taking on an abstract parable and making it both beautiful and moving was culminated in the Solo of Thorns where Mona merged live dance with video animation to forge a powerful and tragic piece of dance theater. Solo of Thorns was originally performed by the dramatically talented Amber (EuDaly) Eames and has since been presented by Courtney Kierl-Bourman.
2002 saw the premiere of the passionate “The Prodigal Daughter” at the Lyric Theater of Kansas City, which the K.C. Star received with rave reviews. Paul Horsley wrote, “Storling-Enna’s choreographic invention seems to have no limits. I’d go see it again.” “The Prodigal Daughter” brought to life another Biblical parable “The Prodigal Son” which had been set on many dance companies throughout the ages. Focusing it on a female lead character is typical of Mona Störling-Enna’s ability to sharpen the arrow of wisdom that a story brings out and aim in a contemporary direction. Themes of freedom, misogyny, and the consequences of ones actions fill the production as the Prodigal Daughter stumbles forward to discovering what true love and wisdom are. “The Prodigal Daughter” introduced Kansas City to some of its finest young up and coming dancers in Jeanene Winston and Nicole Avery.
2003 saw “Her Last Prayer” premier featuring soloist Amber Voss. Mrs. Voss, known for the wide variety of roles she has performed for Storling, stole the hearts of many with her portrayal of a teenage martyr in China not willing to abandon her faith in God under the oppression of Communist rule. First presented at the Just Off Broadway Theater in Kansas City, the setting was fitting as the theater is placed in the ruins of an old building. “Her Last Prayer” focused on the injustice that still exists today in China for those people daring enough to stand up for their faith.
“butterfly” premiered in 2004 at the historic Folly Theater to another outstanding review by the Kansas City Star: butterfly is “…rare occasions when an artistic gamble really paid off. Thanks to the guiding vision of choreographer and artistic director Mona Störling-Enna, “Butterfly” tells a very human story with pathos, intelligence, humor and guts. “Butterfly” is a totally successful piece of dance theater.” An original story about a woman who contracts Alzheimer’s, Mona Störling-Enna took an extremely complex situation and did the seemingly impossible by creating a ballet that not only stirred the audience with inventive movement, but also lost none of the complexity of the situation. With incredible performances by Peggy Ply and Anne Wayne, ‘butterfly’ shook the audience to the core and gave everyone a visceral experience of valuing life to the very end. In 2006, Harvey Bodker requested that ‘butterfly’ be restaged in honor of his late wife, Beverly, the ‘Butterfly Lady” whose heart for Kansas City is well known through her loving personality and their philanthropic endeavors.
2006 also brought the premiere of “Suspended Grace” with a return to Biblical themes. “Suspended Grace” portrayed the adulteress who was marked for stoning and whom Jesus saved from the angry crowds. Marked once again by her innovative dramatic and surprise moments, “Suspended Grace” caught audiences off guard by its raw and alarming honesty and depth. Arresting performances by Courtney Kierl-Bourman, Marc Wayne, and Tawny Gentry kept audiences spell bound as they wove the harried tale that sin weaves.
2008 saw the premiere of “Underground”, an original ballet based on true stories from the Underground Railroad. The initial idea began back in 2000 when Jeremiah & Mona Enna began to see the American culture divide more than unite on issues of race and how to heal from the past offenses of slavery and racism. After doing much praying and studying, they found the historic movement called “The Underground Railroad” a key example of good people uniting to overcome evil and a signpost for our own generation pointing forward. And so for the first time, Mona collaborated with long time friend and company member, Tobin James to produce a full scale ballet to this theme. Composer Jay Pfeifer was brought in to create the score. Jeremiah Enna and Kip Blue rounded out the team and production began in 2006. Robert Bowen created the lighting design.
“Underground” premiered on February 8th, 2008 at the Lyric Theater in Kansas City to a packed house and rave reviews. The Kansas City Star wrote, “It is without doubt one of the most vivid, heartfelt and theatrically astute pieces of dance theater ever to grace a Kansas City stage…”. With stunning performances by Tobin James, Marc Wayne, Courtney Kierl-Bourman, Mimmi Makela, Yolanda Gibbs, Störling created a new story that will hopefully become a part of the fabric of Kansas City culture for years to come.
