Man with suspicious eyebrows raised gaze, looking out, tucked behind a tree

For over 15 years, and probably snorting laughs through, like, 13-16 separate projects, Ian Bivins has collaborated with K&C as an actor, dancer, and technical go-to-guy.

He is always interested in a new opportunity to explore metaphorical imagery, and finding the depth of very small moments. He is pleased to once again be performing in the Firehouse with this unique group of artists.

When not collaborating with this fine collection of humans, Ian can be seen working with Children of the Setting Sun Productions, stage crew at the Mt. Baker Theatre, co-director of Opus Performing Arts’ Nutcracker, and running his business Happy Valley Carnivores. Need a bug eating plant anyone?

Joyful open mouth smiling woman in profile, face partially obstructed by tree

CARA CONGELLI grew up in Kent, WA and dedicated 13 years to her dance training before enrolling at Western where she continued on to study, perform, and choreograph dance. In that time she worked closely with Kuntz and Company on several projects. Upon receiving her BFA in Dance and BS in Environmental Science in 2018, she accepted an internship in California to teach outdoor education. After returning to Seattle in 2021, Cara co-produced her first show of new works titled 2of2 with Caitlin Schafte and Naquoia Bautista. She has now recently moved back to Bellingham with a zest for new creative dance endeavors especially with friends who make her laugh.

Man in glasses gazing upwards in wonder, leaning against cedar tree

ATLAS HOVDESVEN is a dance student at Western Washington University and member of Canvas Dance Company. He has been a thread of the Bellingham dance community since the age of 2, including many years of training at Ballet Bellingham and Opus Performing Arts. Atlas is passionate about making voices heard through the arts and is the director of “A Very Queer Ballet,” a queer-centered dance project in Bellingham. Atlas is always busy making and experiencing art, whether through dance, poetry, music, or walking through the woods.

Freckled strawberry blond/red haired woman with face and hands on tree, smiling at something in the distance, lovely and content

INGRID HURLEN has been a performer and dance educator for over five decades with a vast background in movement and theater.  She was a member of Christopher Beck & Company Dance Theater in San Francisco 1976-1982, presented her own work in the Allegro! Dance Festival, 12 Minutes Max at On The Boards and Bumbershoot in Seattle 1983-1989 and has worked with Pat Graney, Gina Gibney, Ping Chong and David Gordon.  She was the Hug Bug, Tooth Fairy, Mother Earth (and other assorted large costumed characters) in The Tickle Tune Typhoon for 30 years - touring the PNW and on the Disney Channel! She is an early childhood dance educator and InterPlay adult facilitator - bringing forth self expression through improv and play.  She currently teaches “BrainDance for Movement & Mobility” for folks with neuro disabilities, accompanied by her life partner musician Eric Chappelle.

Woman with silver hair pulled back, silver rimmed glasses, smile of anticipation looking up the trunk of a cedar tree

PAM KUNTZ is an educator, dancer and choreographer living and working in Bellingham, WA. She founded Kuntz and Company in 2005 after discovering a passion for working with the community to tell their stories through the arts. With Rick Hermann, in 2012 Pam created a dance class for people with neurological disorders, was a founding member of Bellingham Repertory Dance, and has been on the faculty at WWU since 1999 where she teaches Contemporary Dance Technique, Dance History, Choreography, and Anatomy for Dancers. She particularly enjoys creating new work with WWU dance students. Pam has received some lovely awards from community organizations and grant makers (listed below) and is both thankful and proud of this recognition and support. Beyond dancing in and with the community she is most happy hanging out with her family and dreamboat husband Mark.

Man with silver wispy hair and glasses in profile, gently smiling as if he appreciates the view. He is leaning on a tree. We only see his head, neck and a bit of his blue/green plaid shirt.

RICHARD SCHOLTZ loves exploration and creativity and first collaborated with Kuntz and Company in 2010 helping create In the Context of Life exploring “what is health and where does it come from.”

A professional musician & educator for over 50 years, he believes that music is a fundamental human language that is both too big to master in a lifetime & accessible to anyone no matter their technical ability. He’s shared music in many parts of the world & made CDs of his own music as well as recordings of more than 60 CDs of other people whose music he loved.

Many of the recordings used to make the score for Before Us come from the rehearsal space but most were made with an experimental single-point stereo microphone built for Richard by David Jennings. Many of those recordings were first released on CD & were featured in a show at the gallery at The Evergreen State College.

One of the favorite introductions he ever got described him as “having a PhD in curiosity.”

Kuntz and Company has received funding from The National Endowment for the Arts, Bossak Heilbron Charitable Foundation, The City of Bellingham, PeaceHealth, The Washington State Arts Commission, Chuckanut Health Foundation, Western Washington University, Whatcom Family and Community Network, WECU, the Community Food Co-Op, and the Whatcom Community Foundation.

KC’s artistic director is proud to be the recipient of a 2016 and a 2007 Bellingham Mayor's Arts Award, a 2015 Artist Trust Fellowship, a 2012 Artist Trust GAP award, a 2012 Peace Builder award, and a 2011 Ken Gass Community Building Award…all for the work she has created with Kuntz and Company. She is also proud to have been recognized by the American College Dance Association for her choreography with students from WWU. WOOP WOOP!

PAST ARTISTIC COLLABORATORS

Brendan Aanes
Francie Allen
Jessica Ardis
Evyn Bartlett
Naquoia Bautista
Ian Bivins
Amanda Brings
William Coogan
Alona Christman
Cara Congelli
Vanessa Daines
Robin Dude
Paul Dutton
Ben Estes
Brooke Evans
Suzanne Fogarty
Paige Fredlund
Jaynie Hancock
Cecelia Hanford
Pat Harlin
Nate Harpel
Stephen Harvey
Annie Hewlett
Troy Hightower
Jessica Hoage
Nolan Hoppe-Leonard
Angela Kiser
How Loud Media
Jessica Kruger
Ella Mahler
Gabby Malagreca
Samantha Martin
Yuki Matsukura
Nolan McNally/Cambrian Visions
Jaime Monsef
Susan Newkumet
Dionne Noble
Kathy Pottratz
Hannah Reclam
Caitlin Schafte
Sarah Schermer
Richard Scholtz
Gregory G. Schott
Angela Sebastian
Kate Stevenson
Bo Stewart
Nicole Styles
Kerrie Thornton
Spencer Thun
Lena Traenkenschuh
Ruthie V.
Diane Williams
Jessica Young
Zach Wymore