a bridging of two worlds
BBD Director Joy French talks about what it means to be Company in Residence at the Historical Mesuem at Fort Missoula and the excitement it brings for future Bare Bait Dance projects.
A new partnership equals new and untapped potential!
When I was approached last spring with the idea of a creative residency at the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula (HMFM), I was full of questions but also immediately inspired by the artistic potential in this sort of collaboration. I love stepping outside the theater to find inspiration for our shows, so this feels like I’ve hit the jackpot!
The Museum and its impressive grounds are a vital resource for Western Montana history. According to its website, the Museum boasts a “32-acre historic park with over 20 historic structures,” maintaining a collection of over 50,000 artifacts. It holds much more than just the history of Fort Missoula as a military post; it’s truly a deep source of information about the valley’s past presented by a thoughtful and devoted staff.
So what does it mean to be a dance company “in residence” at a museum?
That is exactly the question I’m excited to explore!
Over the next few years, Bare Bait Dance will begin mining the museum exhibits and archives to discover the vibrant stories and characters from our Missoula County history. I can imagine bringing those narratives choreographically back-to-life at the Westside Theater within our season productions. Also having access to the historical buildings gives us the opportunity to produce screendance film shorts or to present live site-specific performances, all directly on the museum grounds.
Every choreographer has a unique set of inspirations that drive their work. History is remarkably one of mine! This is not the first time I’ve been inspired to create choreography based on history, whether personal or societal. BBD’s first show, Views from Grandma’s Porch, drew on my familial roots in SE Kansas. A few years later, long-time BBD fans may remember Wall City News, our evening-length work about prison newspapers at the turn of the 20th Century. These works, and other history-based projects, were not created with the intent to extol history without a critical eye. Rather, the process of diving into our collective past helps to understand current events and contemporary trends. And for me, one of the ways I process the world around me is through movement, collaboration, and choreography.
Our first endeavor as Company in Residence is to relocate our beloved annual Roadshow out to the museum grounds. I’m thrilled to bring the joy and energy of the Roadshow to the natural amphitheater behind the HMFM Drummond Depot! I wouldn’t call this year’s show exactly “historically-based.” We haven’t had enough time on site yet for that. However, in this first baby-step into our collaboration with the site, we are leaning the music towards a bit more of a “Montanan” feel! I can’t wait to share it all with you. Whether this is your first Roadshow or your seventh, you're in for a treat!
Catch Roadshow 2026 on the grounds of the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula, Sept 12 & 13, 2026. To learn more and reserve your tickets: CLICK HERE