Thomas Scott and Leah Nelson - City Dance
Thomas Scott is a composer based in Minneapolis. Recent work includes the documentary film ‘Time For Ilhan’ which premiered at Tribeca Film Festival, and the Netflix episodic comedy series ’Mystery Science Theatre 3000’.
Leah Nelson - born in Zimbabwe - graduated University of North Carolina School of the Arts with a BFA in Dance. She came to the US as part of the ADF International Choreographer’s Workshop. She has performed and teaches nationally and internationally in venues like Walker Art Center, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Zellerbach Theater, PS122, Carleton Dance Festival/Rio de Janeiro; and the Zanzibar International Film Festival, Zimbabwe’s 60th Jubilee - Young Dance wheelchair ballerinas- SEIU Local 26 Union in Denver CO -zAmya Troupe making work about homeless experiences. Guthrie highlights as Movement Director include The Bluest Eye (dir: Lileana Blaine-Cruz), YOU ARE HERE (dir: KJ Sanchez) and FLOYD’s (Premiere) written by Pulitzer Prize Winner Lynn Nottage.
She continues to pursue work that encourages youth empowerment having recently mentored singer Jonah Marais – award-winning member of WHY DON”T WE – and worked with Kenna-Camara Cottman on Twin City Harambee – taking 60 youth dancers to the Ordway She team-created the successful Dance To Learn program. She is a grateful Sage nominee and recipient of the McKnight, Bush and Rockefeller Foundation Fellowships. She has been blessed to share creative time with Laurie Carlos, Sharon Bridgeforth, Prince, Lisa Loeb, Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg introducing Shaquille O Neal at the NBA FinalFour and all the artful learners and collaborators who have informed the Why? of my art making. Thank you for the opportunity to celebrate life during some of our darkest days and thank you Tom for a never-ending awesome collaborative process. Positive vibrations.