An Immersive Dance, Art and Nature Experience

Big Morongo Canyon Preserve

April 2026

SHOW NOTE: THE WILD STAGES is an immersive experience that has no fixed seating arrangements. Our docents will guide audience members from piece to piece, and we invite the audience to move around if they wish to view dances from any vantage point.

PRODUCTION CREW

Front of House Manager: Jenn Hernandez
Box Office: Khrystina Lund, Alexis Jaffer, Robert Haydon
Emergency Medical Services: Donovan Smith

THE WILD STAGES PERFORMERS

DOCENTS

Cindi Anderson, Kimberly Bowers, Jimi Castañeda, Jacqueline Herrera, Kathy Lang, Travis Puglisi, Elena Ricci, Ray Roberts, Nathalie Rose
Script: Jacqueline Herrera, Sage Storytelling
The Fallen Tree

Gray Foxes
Choreography: Kali Poulin
Dancers: Matias Formica, Margo Lester, River Stenger
Cryptobiotic Crust
Choreography: Kali Poulin
Dancers: Ella Crowe, Yahaira Familia, Kali Poulin, Kim Velez
Music: Gabriella Evaro, Guitar
The Jess Sherrod Deck

Deer
Choreography: Kyra Collins* with assistance from Vera Chinnock*
Dancers: Vera Chinnock, Kyra Collins, Gabriela Ross, Ben Sinclair
The Elements
Choreography: Penelope Levi*
Dancers: Mia Bowers, Sophia Bowers, Penelope Levi, Mila Rose
* Denotes Youth Choreographer in Residence, mentored by Karen Gladis
Clouds
Choreography: Jenn Henry
Dancers: Brooklynn Amanna, Jenn Henry, Megan Tortora
Music: “Dance of the Little Swans" by Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, “Jota” by Manuel de Falla, “Nuages” by Django Reinhart
Performed by: Dusty Brough, Guitar and Jérémie Levi Samson, Violin and Accordion
The Robin Kobaly Deck

Mountains
Choreography: Lara Bennett
Dancers: Marijke Cadenelli, Stephanie Dashiell, Amelia Mahan, Jasper Peck, Ralphie Stenger, Laura Wondra
Original Music: Lara Bennett (percussion), Brent Simpson (accordion), Amanda McGlothlin (clarinet)
Trees
Flamenco Soloist/Choreographer: Sonia Ochoa
Choreography: Lara Bennett
Dancers: Lara Bennett, Jenn Hernandez, Wand Anacaona Scheurman
Original Music: Brent Simpson (guitar)
The Nature Center

Vermillion Flycatcher
Choreography/Dancer: Anna Dining
Western Bluebirds
Choreography: Karen Gladis
Dancers: Simone Alperin, Noa Bloemendaal, Ava Bowers, Knightley Ford, Ella Niemann Hamm, Astral Sardari-Painter, Leon Parrillo, Emerson Taggart Wurth
Raven
Choreography/Dancer: Eva Vargas
Music: Original improvisation, “The Dance” from The Crimson Wing: Mystery of the Flamingos by the Cinematic Orchestra, and “Blackbird” by the Beatles Performed by: Janie Cowan (double bass), Smitty (guitar - April 25 only)

Women preparing for roller derby practice outdoors in a desert landscape with mountains, some sitting on the ground, others standing or wearing roller skates and knee pads.

THANK YOU TO OUR PATRONS!

Cryptobiotic Crust: Desert Bingo
Cloud: Karen Lowe of Inspire Real Estate, Tamara Olson
Mesquite: Tiny Pony
Desert Fox: 29 Palms Inn, Bennett Family

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

Inspire Real Estate
Tiny Pony
29 Palms Inn

AND THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF TIME, SPACE AND SILENT AUCTION GIFTS!

Ernesto Alé & Lorelai Fitzwater
Dana Delaney
Fox & The Traveling Gypsy
Galaxy Pies
Holmes Ecological Design & Construction
Joshua Tree Adventures
Joshua Tree Distilling Company
Joshua Tree Music Festival
Joshua Tree Trading Post
Luna Bakery
Mojave Arts Academy of Dance
Ordinary World
Reanna Alder
Recyclereclaimed
Rooted
Sacred Sands
Sage Storytelling
Sarah Nicole Photo
Sean Stenger
Solstice Eco Building Supply
Sugar Mama
Twinkle Toes Dance Company
Viva Fit

DANCE MOJAVE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President: Genny Kristie
Secretary: Robert Haydon
Treasurer: Michael Wielock

SPECIAL THANKS TO

Melissa Daniels
Jacqueline Herrera
Namita Thakker
Nathan Wauthier

Zach J.F. Boyles is a multi-disciplinary visual artist based in Yucca Valley. A Coachella Valley native, he holds a degree in fine arts from U.C. Berkeley and has exhibited throughout the high and low deserts, including the Victorville Arts Museum College of the Desert, and the Backstreet Arts District.

ABOUT THE FLAGS

A MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

Dance Mojave Performance Collective is so grateful to be able to celebrate the beauty of the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve with you this evening.

The number of “thank yous” to say on a production like this is truly wild. This production would not have been possible without our music and arts teams. We would not be here without our valiant defenders of nature, the Preserve board and staff. Thank you to all our performers and crew, and the families and friends behind them.

And thank you to everyone in the audience for spending the evening with us!

Jenn Henry, Executive Director