Kirven Douthit-Boyd on his World Premiere for the 2025-2026 Love Languages Season Fall Series
Recorded in August 2025 during Artistic Director Kirven Douthit-Boyd’s choreographic residency. Transcribed and edited lightly for clarity; we’ve preserved Kirven’s exact word choices wherever possible.
STLDT: Where did the spark for this new work originate?
Kirven Douthit-Boyd: “I’ve been thinking a lot about the state of the world. In this time of upheaval in so many communities, I felt proud and blessed that every day we get to come into the studio, create art, and build community. I knew I wanted the work to speak to that. But I also didn’t want it to feel too heavy—I wanted it to give the dancers something rich to bite into while also offering the audience a clear message.”
How did you collaborate with your sound designer?
”I worked with Uwazi Zmani, who is just brilliant. I shared ideas about civilians coming together to fight back in different ways, and he ran with it—sampling folk artists, anti-war music, Angela Davis, and poet Saul Williams. The first time I heard it, my mind was blown. It became a score of strong declarations of freedom. The movement is deeply embedded in that sound.”
What do you hope audiences will take away from this premiere?
“I want them to leave with a sense of hope and love—for each other, for the dancers, for the transformative power of the arts. I want them to leave different from when they came in: curious, energized, engaged, and uplifted.”
How do the dancers’ unique qualities shape the piece?
“Individuality is a big part of our company identity. Each dancer brings something different into the space, and that uniqueness feeds the work. There are many solo moments and features where you see just how distinct they all are. For me, that’s the beauty of it.”
Is this a narrative work?
“This one is more abstract; it’s not a narrative. There’s a clear through line and strong connective moments, but it’s not a story with a beginning, middle, and end.”
What role do design elements play?
“Production always adds another layer. I’m dreaming with Shevaré and Zak about how we’ll light it and what costumes will support the piece. Those elements bring depth and texture.”
How does your personal identity inform this creation?
“Who I am as a human is embedded in everything I create. I stand in these body politics, and sometimes those specific aspects emerge. But I also just love movement. I’m inspired by cultural forms, or sometimes just one thought that blossoms into something completely different. It’s always rooted in something grounded and contextual.”
What excites you about contemporary dance today?
“Not trends—new creative voices. I get excited by people who are bold, generous, and authentic, who bring what they know into communities and also learn from the people around them. What excites me most is individuality and high-functioning creativity that keeps pushing the art form forward.”
If audiences leave with one thought, what do you hope it is?
“I want them to leave transformed.”
Experience a World Premiere in St. Louis
This fall, audiences will witness the unveiling of Kirven Douthit-Boyd’s latest creation with Saint Louis Dance Theatre—a powerful, abstract work shaped by community, individuality, and bold soundscapes.
Fall Series — World Premiere by Kirven Douthit-Boyd
Nov. 14–16, 2025
COCA’s Catherine B. Berges Theatre