Kacico Dance History/Accomplishments
Kacico Dance Background Statement
Kacico Dance was created in Oct. 2004 to meet a need for quality contemporary dance in the Kansas
City area and to be an organization that provides adequate and dependable compensation for artists.
Kacico Dance endeavors to be an organization that provides top quality contemporary dance for
regional audiences while ensuring organizational and financial stability. To achieve this, a 3-year plan
was created with adequate and achievable yearly budgets that allowed the company to focus on
developing the highest quality production of contemporary dance possible from day one. Significant
rehearsal time, dance training, adequate pay for dancers, a sound business plan and a complete
marketing plan were planned from the start. Kansas City audiences have benefited from all these
efforts by experiencing outstanding performers and choreography. Ticket sales, audience feedback
forms and board feedback are used to determine the overall effectiveness of the company artistically
and administratively. Improvements are made as is necessary. Kacico Dance has completed 7 seasons;
the first 5 were under the direction of Michelle Diane Brown. Beginning in 2010 three veteran dancers
took over the administrative and choreographic duties of the company. Kacico Dance is
currently under the direction of 3 Co-Artistic Directors Allison McKinzie, Holly Noel Harmison and
Maggie Osgood Nicholls. Each season Kacico Dance performs Dance Happens events at KC venues:
Unity Village, Prairie Village Art Fair, Independence Art Walk, First Fridays, City Market, Starlight,
the Writer's Place and more. These free events expose a large, diverse audience to contemporary
dance and encourage audience participation. Since 2004 Kacico Dance has presented 12 full evening
concerts. These have been presented to audiences all over the metro area; at the Folly Theater, The
Performing Arts Center in Liberty, MO, The Performing Arts Center at Longview Community College,
The Carlsen Center at JCCC and at the Gem Theater. Kacico Dance tours each season; we have
traveled to Los Angeles June, 2006, and Ft. Worth, Nov. 2007, Springfield, MO Sept. 2008, Atlanta,
GA, Nov. 2009, St. Louis, MO March 2010, Conway, AK Jan 2011 and will travel to California, MO
Feb 2012 and Marshall, MO Sep. 2012. In the short time since Kacico Dance was founded, the board
of directors, artistic director/s and company of dancers have made significant progress in establishing
Kacico Dance as a pillar of arts in Kansas City.
Company transition period starting in 2010 Kacico Dance has recently had to attend to some financial challenges, but has already begun to find
solutions that are working. Kacico has moved out of their former downtown space, Kacico Studios
West. Kacico opened this new space in Kansas City in July 2008. The company projected it was
ready for this step due to their previous success, the need for a larger rehearsal space, and the desire
to open a full time school of dance. The plan was that the revenues from the school of dance and from
studio rental would cover the overhead. Immediately following this expansion, the worldwide
financial crisis hit. Kacico projected 60 regular dance students within the first year but only had 30.
The company projected 8-10 renters but only had 3. The monthly physical space overhead was $1675,
however generated monthly revenue was only $1000, and the company had over $10,000 in
renovation costs. Corporate donations diminished (a large corporate donor suspended donations
indefinitely) and grant amounts from four of our major funders lessened. This combined to create a
deficit as of 1/1/2010. A private donation to Kacico Dance has eliminated the deficit entirely. A local
studio is generously donating rehearsal space indefinitely. The Kacico School of Contemporary Dance
has been merged with Community School of the Arts, KC Young Audiences, which no longer generates
revenue, but will incur no expenses. Equipment no longer needed such as the flooring from Kacico
Studios West and chairs have been sold. All paid positions have been eliminated. The company has
reduced its total hours of rehearsal time per week. Dancers are donating rehearsal time and the three
new co-artistic directors are donating administrative time until proper funding can be secured.
Dancers will be paid on a per-performance basis. Less expensive marketing strategies are being used
such as free email blasts, Facebook, free online arts calendars, and limited printing and marketing
materials. An emphasis has also been placed on and the company is successfully finding a greater
number of paid bookings to increase earned income. Though Kacico has greatly reduced its annual
operating budget, the amount of planned programming has only reduced by about 25%. The
decreased budget will not reflect a decrease in the quality of the company’s work.
Co-Artistic Directors’ Biographies
Allison McKinzie is from Olathe Kansas and began dancing at the age of three. She majored in
dance at Kansas State University for one year and then transferred to the University of Kansas and
graduated with a BFA in Dance in 2005. While in College she took classes and danced in pieces by
Holly Williams, Bill Evans, William Whitner, Patrick Corban, and members from David Parsons,
Merce Cunningham and Alvin Ailey Dance companies. She performed in numerous Kansas and
American College Dance festivals and was selected to present choreography at the American College
Dance Festival in 2006. Her Piece “Fallen” was also selected to be performed at the Lied Center in
Lawrence, Ks the same year. Summer 2006 she traveled to New York for a dance intensive with the
Amy Marshall Dance Company. This is Allison’s third season acting as a Kacico Dance Co -artistic
Director. She has set numerous pieces on the company that have been performed at the Kansas City
Fringe Festival, The Gem Theater, Longview Community College, Carlsen Center, and she had 3
pieces taken on a tour the company took to Hendrix College in Conway , AK in 2010. In Addition to
her performance, choreographic and administrative duties with Kacico Dance, Allison is a Ballet
instructor at Leigh’s School of Dance in Olathe, Kansas and acts as the Competition Director at the
Academy of the Arts in Shawnee, Kansas. Allison is also a mother of a two year old daughter. This is
her sixth season with Kacico Dance.
Holly Noel Harmison is from the small town of Overbrook, KS. At the age of 3 she began her life as
a dancer in Topeka, KS at Barbara's Conservatory of Dance. Her early dance education included
ballet, tap, jazz, point, and modern dance. While in attendance she was a Ballet Midwest company
dancer and performed in several full length ballets under the artistic direction of Barbara Ebert.
Continuing her devotion to dance, Holly attended the University of Kansas and received her Bachelor
of Arts in the Fine Arts in Dance in December 2006. While at KU, Holly had the opportunity to study
with and dance in pieces by Patrick Suzeau, Muriel Cohan, Joan Stone, Willie Lenoir, Sarah
Stackhouse, Bill Evans, Kate Skarpetowska, Patrick Corban, and Wally Cardona. She has also taken
master classes with Parsons Dance Company, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Beijing Modern Dance
Company, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Diavolo, Doug Varone, Tulsa Ballet, Ballet Boys, and
Armitage Gone. This is Holly’s fifth season with Kacico Dance and third year serving as co-artistic
director and secretary to Kacico’s board of directors. Holly is building her choreography portfolio and
has presented work among the company’s shows to include: Little Red Riding Hood: A Newfangled
Prairie Tale, The Inspired Project: KC Fringe Festival 2010, “Transition” at the Gem Theatre: Kacico’s
2010 Fall Repertory Concert, The 2011 Song and Dance Project, and “6 Impressions” at the Carlsen
Center : Kacico’s 2011 Fall Repertory Concert
Maggie Osgood Nicholls is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City's BFA program in
Dance, and also one of 18 to receive UMKC's Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Honor Award.
Originally from Minden, Nebraska, Maggie began studying dance at age 3. She started teaching dance
in high school at Dance Minden, a studio founded by Maggie & Claire Osgood. Maggie attended
UMKC after receiving the Chancellor's Non-Resident Scholarship in Dance. Maggie’s choreographic
works have been featured in Reach's repertory for 6 seasons, and in Kacico's "Little Red Riding Hood:
A New Fangled Prairie Tale", "Transition" at the Gem Theater, “6 Impressions” at the Carlsen Center,
and in the Kansas City Fringe Festival. Maggie has been honored to have her professional pieces
selected for City in Motion's Modern Night at the Folly (three years), 940's Informal Showcase,
940/Lawrence Arts Center's Professional Choreographic Showcase, and the Bell House EXCHANGE
Dance Festival in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Maggie is currently serving her third year as co-artistic director
for Kacico Dance. This is her fourth season with Kacico. In addition to her own dancing, Maggie is the
Dance Director of Encore! School of the Arts at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City.
She also teaches at Academy of the Arts in Shawnee.
Accomplishments for 2011
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Created and presented 7 performances of "The 2011 Song and Dance Project". This
highlighted 4 Kansas City area singer/songwriters along with Kacico Dancers. 4
performances in June 2011 were free to the public Borders Bookstore in Lee’s Summit,
Crossroads Coffee House in KCMO, Leopold Gallery in Brookside, and at the Writers Place of
Kansas City in KCMO.
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3 performances of "The Song and Dance Project" were presented at the KC Fringe Festival in
July 2011 at the Gem Theater.
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Kacico Dance fundraiser "Beatles, Burgers and Beer" at the Westport Flea Market August 20th
2011. $20 got guests dinner, drinks and live music. The fundraiser was a success; Kacico plans
to make this an annual event.
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Performed at Open House for both the Todd Bolender Center and Kauffman Center
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Held a Performance Workshop for young Kansas City area dancers. 2 day workshop,
participants learned a modern piece that was performed before the Kacico Dance fall repertory
concert "6 Impressions".
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Performed 4 “Dance Happens” events: 1810 Gallery KCMO, City Market KCMO, Writers Place
of Kansas City, and Leedy Voulkos Arts Center KCMO.
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Fall repertory concert "6 Impressions" choreographed by Kacico Dance Co-Artistic Directors at
the Carlsen Center at JCCC
Goals for 2012:

Complete scheduled tour to Finke Theatre in California, MO Feb 25 2012.
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Complete scheduled tour to Marshall, MO Sept. 13th-14th. Kacico Dance is being brought in to
teach a master class and perform selected works at Missouri Valley College.
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6 Performances of "Freedom of Speech" are scheduled for Feb and March 2012 to be
performed in the Kansas City Missouri public Schools through Kansas City Young Audiences.
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Reset "Little Red Riding Hood: A Newfangld Prairie Tale" which is scheduled to be performed
at Longview Community College June 2012. This is a family friendly show based off of a book
by local children's author Lisa Campbell Ernst and is set to live music, created specifically for
this show, by local singer/songwriter Dave Patmore. This will be the second production; the
first was performed at Longview Community College June 2010.

Create a Fall Repertory concert choreographed by Kacico Dance Co-Artistic Directors to be
performed Nov 2012. Hire a guest Artist to set work on the company.

Continue to pursue touring with the goal of acquiring an additional out of town booking in
2013.
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Hold annual fundraiser
Organization History
Kacico Dance was founded in 2004 by Michelle Diane Brown, Founding Artistic Director.
6/05 1st season
10/05 Inaugural Rep Concert, Folly Theater
1/06 2nd season
5/06 Choosing Chelsea, Folly Theater
10/06 Annual Rep Concert, Folly Theater
1/07 3rd season
4/07 Song and Dance Project created/performed
5/07 Choosing Chelsea, Folly Theater
10/07 Artistic exchange with Contemporary Dance/Fort Worth - Annual Rep Concert Folly Theater,
then tour to
Fort Worth
2/08 4th season
5/08 Choosing Chelsea, Folly Theater
7/08 Move into Kacico Studios West in Crossroads District KCMO, Formed Kacico School of
Contemporary Dance
7-9/08 Created Light, Movement, Shadow, Sound for Fringe Fest, toured it to Springfield, MO
10/08 Annual Rep Concert, Kacico Studios West
2/09 5th season
2-3/09 KCYA performances, Freedom of Speech
5/09 Concert of Solos, Kacico Studios West
4-7/09 Song and Dance Project 2009
10/09 Innerlying Landscapes, Folly Theater
11/09 Tour to GA for performances and master classes in Atlanta and Athens
1/10 Moved out of Kacico Studios West/ merged Kacico School of Contemporary Dance in with
CSA/KCYA
1/10 Michelle Diane Brown retires, Co-Artistic Directors Allison McKinzie, Holly Noel Harmison, and
Maggie Osgood Nicholls take over administrative and artistic responsibilities of Kacico Dance
2/10 6th season
2/10 KCYA performances, Freedom of Speech
3/10 Tour to St. Louis College of Pharmacy
3/10 Dance Happens at Leedy Voulkos Arts Center KCMO
6/10 Little Red Riding Hood; A Newfangled Prairie Tale, MCC-Longview's Cultural Arts Center
7/10 The Inspired Project, KC Fringe Fest
9/10 Dance Happens, Writers Place of Kansas City
10/10 Dance Happens, Archival Designs KCMO
11/10 TRANSITION-Fall Rep Concert @ The Gem Theater
1/11 Tour to Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas
2/11 7th season
2/11 KCYA Freedom of Speech
5/11 Dance Happens, 1810 Gallery KCMO
6/11 Song and Dance Project 2011
7/11 Song and Dance at KC Fringe Fest
8/11 Invited to Perform at KC Ballet's Todd Bolender Center
8/11 Dance Happens, City Market KCMO
8/11 Annual Fundraiser – Beatles, Burgers and Beer, Westport Flea Market KCMO
9/11 Invited to Perform at the Open House for the Kauffman Center
9/11 Celebrating Voices, Writers Place of Kansas City
10/11 Dance Happens, Leedy Voulkos Arts Center KCMO
11/11 6 Impressions, Carlsen Center at JCCC
1/12 8th Season
2/12 Kacico performs works choreographed by Allison McKinzie and Maggie Osgood Nicholls at
“Modern Night at the Folly”
2/12 Tour to Finke Theatre in California, MO
2/12 KCYA Freedom of Speech
5/12 Dance Happens, Leedy Voulkos Arts Center KCMO
6/12 Little Red Riding Hood: A Newfangled Prairie Tale, MCC – Longview Cultural Arts Center
Remaining Schedule for 2012
7/12 Little Red Riding Hood: A Newfangled Prairie Tale, Jewish Community Center of Greater
Kansas City
7/12 Music + Poetry + Art (+Dance), Neon Gallery KCMO
8/12 Annual Fundraiser “Kacico Unplugged” @ Lucky Brew Grille- Mission, KS
9/12 Celebrating Voices, Writers Place of Kansas City
9/12 Tour to Missouri Valley College in Marshall, MO
9/12 Dance Happens, Parents Weekend at Benedictine College, Atchison, KS
10/12 Dance Happens at First Fridays in Crossroads Arts District, Location TBA
11/12 Fall Rep. Concert at City Stage Theater, Union Station KCMO
Plans for 2013 Season
KCYA Freedom of Speech –increase number of school bookings
Present work at Lawrence Arts Center Choreography Festival
Kansas City Crossroads District First Friday – Dance Happens Regulars
2013 Song and Dance Project – 4 free concerts
2013 Kansas City Fringe Festival -3 performances
Celebrating Voices at Kansas City Writers Place
Touring and outside booking
Fall Repertory Concert
Financial Needs/Goals Statement
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$25,000 per season to re-establish salaries for seven dancers (an average of $400/mo
per dancer for 9 months). This will allow Kacico to continue hiring dancers of the
highest quality and to increase the amount of rehearsal time possible per week.
Establish a grant writing/development committee to help the Co-Artistic
Directors secure funds for the company.
Board Development
Secure funds or an in-kind donation for a space in the heart of KCMO. Downtown KC or
Crossroads District.
$12,000 to hire a part-time execute director to relieve the artistic director and dancers
of many administrative duties and to focus strongly on fund raising and private
donors to assure the financial success of the company.
Increased ticket sales/audience attendance and outside bookings