Stewart/Owen Dance

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Stewart/Owen Dance seeks to enrich the community of Western North Carolina with the education, promotion, and creation of contemporary dance by building a sustainable ecosystem where professional dance artists can thrive. We work toward this purpose by providing high-quality educational programming for newcomers and professionals alike; hosting a nurturing, inclusive work culture; and reflecting the area’s vibrant culture through inventive, elegant, and rigorous performances. ​

Stewart/Owen Dance is the resident dance company of Asheville's beloved Wortham Center for the Performing Arts and is the first company commissioned by the Wortham to create a new work. The company leads ongoing community dance classes for adults and provides educational outreach programming and performances for public schools, YMCAs, and community organizations in Western North Carolina. They believe dance has a distinct ability to inspire, connect, and heal individuals from all backgrounds and experiences.​​

About the Directors

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Gavin Stewart and Vanessa Owen, a husband and wife duo, are the co-founders of Western North Carolina-based Stewart/Owen Dance. Their bespoke repertoire includes an exciting collection of contemporary choreography that’s as “sensual” (Washington Post) as it is “humorous, elegant, and wild” (Seattle Dances). Their work often inhabits non-traditional spaces, including sold-out "drive-up" performances the Asheville Outlet Mall, guided walk-along dance exhibits, and site-specific works performed in businesses and public spaces across the region .

 

Stewart/Owen's award-winning choreography has been presented by festivals and companies across the U.S., and their careers have taken them across the globe on fifteen U.S. State Department tours to teach, perform and choreograph contemporary dance with Washington D.C.-based Company E. 

 

In 2017, Gavin and Vanessa made North Carolina their home base, where they co-create and perform contemporary dance works presented by venues and companies across the United States. Choreographic highlights include projects with music artists Moses Sumney and Sylvan Esso, a 2024 commission from the American Dance Festival, a 2023 commission from Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, and an Audience Choice Award at the NYC Dance Gallery Festival.