Performances
Learn more about Cohesion's various dance and movement educational programs and classes in and beyond our community.
Accelerated Contemporary Experience (ACE) Training Program
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Cohesion's Accelerated Contemporary Experience (ACE) is a comprehensive dance training program designed to further the growth and development of contemporary dancers, ages 10-adult, through enhanced training and performance opportunities, fostering creativity, imagination, collaboration and mentorship.
A performance on Saturday, March 14 features new works created by the dancers in the 2026 program along with ACE teaching staff.
Cohesion Dance Project's presents
End of Session Performance
Saturday, April 25, 2026
Cohesion Center
Join us for the End of Session Performance where students who attended classes during our Winter/Spring Session share what they have learned. These choreographed pieces are a demonstration of the movements, coordination and skills taught throughout the session.
2026 Guest Artist Residency
Supporting artists in the development of new work - featuring 2026 Artist-in-Residence, Nina Murphy!
Cohesion’s Artist Residency Program supports contemporary dance artists in the creative development of new work, from concept to final performance, while fostering meaningful connections with audiences through studio classes, outreach, and community engagement.
Meet Nina Murphy – Cohesion’s 2026 Artist-in-Residence!
Guest Artist Master Class
To start things off Cohesion is hosting a FREE dance master class led by Nina on Saturday, March 7 from 10a-12p at Cohesion Center, 1020 Argyle.
During the workshop, Nina will lead participants through movement phrases and an introductory discussion about the concepts she plans to explore during her residency and performance. Her initial concepts are rooted in an evolving exploration of repetition - as it appears in nature, in life cycles, and through embodied experience of movement and time. Through this lens, the work examines how repeated actions can build meaning, transform over time, and create both structure and surprise.
The workshop is open to dancers, ages 10 to adult, of all levels and abilities.
Following the master class, participants will have the opportunity to join the residency cast. All who are interested will be cast in the show, pending rehearsal availability.
Rehearsals will take place from March 16 - May 14 with the final performances scheduled for May 15 - 17, 2026.
Performances
Friday, May 15 thru Sunday, May 17 at Cohesion Center’s Backstage Theater (1020 Argyle). Tickets will be available soon.
Community Outreach
Beyond the stage, Cohesion’s Guest Artist Residency extends into the community through movement-based outreach with local schools, expanding opportunities for students to engage with and learn from professional dance artists. The residency and accompanying outreach classes are supported in part by the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation and the Montana Arts Council.
About Nina
A Helena native, Murphy spent the past four years living in the United Kingdom, where she earned her MFA from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London. During her time abroad, she performed in A Single Man (2025), directed by Jonathan Watkins at the Royal Opera House; danced with Boy Blue for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee (2022); and performed with the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s Young Composer Programme (2024). Her performance credits also include works by José Limón, Colin Connor, Jesse Obremski, and Julynn Wildman’s dance film Body in Motion (2021). Murphy received her BFA from the University of Wyoming and began her dance training at Helena’s Creative Arts Center. She has been a guest instructor for Cohesion summer intensives and was most
recently featured as the Rat Queen in Cohesion’s 2025 rendition of Shira Greenberg’s Nutcracker on the Rocks.
Shira Greenbergs' Nutcracker On the Rocks 2025
Annually on Thanksgiving weekend, Shira Greenberg's Nutcracker on the Rocks lights up the Helena Civic Center stage. This electrifying twist on the holiday classic features legendary hits by Janis Joplin, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, The Rolling Stones, and more. Showcasing an energetic fusion of dancers and dance styles—plus a roaring Harley Davidson on stage—this rock-n-roll production has become one of Helena’s most beloved holiday traditions. Guest artists join a dynamic cast of community and professional dancers of all ages and abilities in this thrilling journey through the decades.
Created and choreographed by Shira Greenberg, Nutcracker on the Rocks originated in Albuquerque, NM, and was performed there for 20 years. Helena now holds the prestigious honor of being the only location where this innovative production is staged.
The 2025 cast included nearly 60 community dancers of all ages and abilities performing alongside professional visiting artists from across the globe. Local lead dancers included Harley Hollibaugh as Marie and Jessica Partridge as Madame Drosselmeier. Visiting artists returned to the Helena stage including Patrick Higgins (who performed as Bert in Grandstreet Theater’s 2025 summer production of Mary Poppins) and Helena’s own Nina Murphy (who returned from four years performing in London).
Next year - plan ahead to take part in our:
* Exclusive Table Seating: Elevate your evening at a private table for six with premium floor seating right up front! Share the night with your favorite people while enjoying festive light bites and a complimentary drink token. Plus, table guests get early access one hour before the show for an exclusive behind-the-scenes peek before the curtain opens. It’s the ultimate way to experience the magic up close! (Tables are limited and available at both performances.)
* Online Auction: Bid on an array of one-of-a-kind packages and experiences in our brand-new online auction—the perfect way to kick off your holiday shopping while supporting the arts! Snag something special for everyone on your list!
Experience Helena’s 14th Annual Community Choreography Showcase on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at Cohesion Center.
For one-night only, this lively, family-friendly performance celebrates the creative voices of choreographers of all ages and experience levels, featuring original and restaged works in a wide range of styles - from Irish and Hip-Hop to Jazz, Tap, Latin, and Modern/Contemporary. The evening brings together an energetic mix of dancers and dance groups from across the Helena community, offering audiences a dynamic and inspiring snapshot of local movement-makers.
Featured contributors include Tiernan Irish Dancers, Diadra Goldes, Jeff Swingley and Julie Wotring, Nina Murphy, Jessica Partridge, Harley Hollibaugh, Cohesion Dance Project, Juliet Mahar, Tawnya Trevino-Mix, Isabella Ramos, Charley Troyer, Image Dancing, the 42nd Street tap number from Grandstreet’s 50th Anniversary Concert, and more.
