Kim Robards Dance, a contemporary company based in Denver, is in Beijing this week and next, performing and teaching as one of only two American companies participating in a dance festival during the Olympics. Here is the first report from Robards and associate director LaRana Skalicky:

Friday, Aug. 22 – So how does a company top a performance for several thousand cheering Chinese citizens at the Coca-Cola USA outdoor Olympic stage in front of a four-story digitally lighted Coca-Cola bottle and glass stage? How about five amazing performances in three days at The Nines Theatres, where Kim Robards Dance shared the stage with one other U.S. dance company and three Chinese companies: Beijing Modern Dance Company, National Ballet of China, and TOA Studio.

Although the American companies had already submitted numerous DVDs of the choreographic works prior to arriving in China in order to have the works approved by the Chinese government for performance, the dress rehearsal was yet another "audition" by the American companies. The Chinese companies had a separate dress rehearsal and the American companies were visited by cultural ambassadors from the Chinese government who attended the private dress rehearsal in order to give final approval for the performances that were to open that evening.

All pieces were approved and the show opened without any glitches. Opening night (Thursday) was preceded by a gala reception which required that artistic director Kim Robards and associate executive director LaRana Skalicky attend prior to appearing on stage. While a challenge to socialize before performing, it was a wonderful opportunity to interact with attending ambassadors from other countries and meet two ambassadors from the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. The opening-night performance was the first time that Chinese dancers and U.S. dancers met or saw each other’s work.

Friday's performance was open to the general public and we had a very appreciative audience. Each evening had a post-performance question and answer session between the audience and the five choreographers represented. Friday evening one audience member, who had also attended Kim's master class earlier in the week, mentioned how much she enjoyed the class and commented on how she appreciated the sophistication and complexity of Kim's choreography.

Saturday provided the opportunity for a matinee and an evening performance. The matinee was for a special audience that included several dozen children of migrant workers who had never seen dance or been in a theatre. The children had a question-and-answer with the New York producer Jodi Kaplan and the Beijing producer Alison Freidman, who also acted as the interpreter. Additionally, all the performers and choreographers appeared on stage with the children for photos.

Saturday evening was a lovely culminating performance that included attendance by earthquake victims and additional American Embassy ambassadors. Following the performance, Kim was approached by one earthquake survivor and a program director for special programs for victims. They extended an invitation to Kim to visit the Chengdu area of China to host workshops for earthquake victims. This will be integrated into KRD's next visit to China in 2009.

Kim sustained a minor sprain to her ankle during the matinee performance but as a true Olympic athlete would do, Kim performed for the evening show. With a few minor adjustments to choreography on stage before the final show, and a wrapped right ankle, Kim and company gave a fantastic concluding performance.

Robards stood out in several unique aspects. First, she was the only choreographer present who showcased all her own choreography. Additionally, Emily Macel of Dance Magazine shared comments from the Chinese dancers about what an inspiration Kim was to them, being the most mature dancer on stage, and dancing so fully and beautifully in all of her own work. They truly respected her experience and polish as a performer.

As a result of the success of the performances, Robards was invited for two additional special occasions. On Sunday, producer Jodi Kaplan, Robards and LaRana Skalicky were interviewed on the only English language program broadcast live from China Radio International. This was the first-ever interview about dance on this radio program, which is broadcast in China, Australia, Liberia, and several other countries, although not the U.S.

Finally, Kim was invited to be interviewed by a Chinese film-maker to be part of her documentary on modern dance in China. The woman making the film commented on how the physicality and emotion of Kim's work penetrated her heart.

Tuesday, Aug. 19 – We made it all the way to the Great Wall – 4 hours worth of it anyway. We are so awe struck that the art form of dance is the vehicle by which we made it. Yesterday several of the dancers managed to get tickets to field hockey and volleyball at the Olympics. Most everyone at least got close enough to the Birds Nest to take some photos. We are headed back to the hotel where Kim will be doing a video interview for documentary film maker Michelle Wong. Then off to the silk market for some last minute shopping. We leave at 5am tomorrow Beijing Time, so we will be getting up very early to make it to the airport.

Tuesday, Aug. 12 - We have been on-the-go, exhausted and exhilarated, and performing hard.

Our first major outing was a master class with dancers from throughout China - including one girl who showed up on rollerblades, in an orange dress and who was taking her first dance class ever!

Kim taught all the KRD company members and community dancers and even counted in Chinese to their delight, although we did have an interpreter who took the class. Kim knows right, left, up, and down in Chinese too! Everyone loved the master class. What a juxtaposition of dancers laughing and leaping in the middle of the room with stoic Chinese guards standing at the periphery of the room and at the door. The studio is named "The Post Sars Studio."

Wednesday night we performed (Robards') Kym Gym Megalomania at the Coca-Cola Olympic outdoor stage, which is a glass stage in the shape of a figure eight with two stage levels and stairs in the middle-O and a 3-4 story neon Coca-Cola bottle jetting out from the center of the stage.

We went on stage right after a German rock band. During the performance there was a huge screen in the background simultaneously broadcasting us as we performed. Above the stage you could see the word "Coca-Cola" in every language scrolling overhead on the world's largest overhead screen. We felt like rock stars dancing for several thousand cheering Chinese people.

After a successful performance dancing on the Olympic Coca-Cola stage, Kim and company went with our New York producer, Jodi Kaplan, her Beijing co-producer Alison Friedman, and Emily Macel from Dance Magazine to enjoy an amazing 90-minute foot massage. We were treated to wonderful Chinese treats, amazing neck and foot massages, and green tea, all in a soothing environment and all for just $13.00.

The rest of the company had an opposite Chinese experience. After finally finding a restaurant with good old American fare, they waited over an hour to get served. Upon leaving the restaurant they spent another hour being refused by cab drivers. We weren't too sure if the Americans won too many medals that day and the Chinese were mad or something.

Thursday started with a dress rehearsal for the two American companies (KRD and Odyssey Dance Theatre). The Chinese Cultural Ministry attended, to give "final approval" for the works to be performed or not. It appears all the work for both companies will be approved and the show will go on!

KRD has rehearsal today (Thursday) at 3:30 and a pre-show gala reception with dignitaries including the delegates from the U.S. Cultural Embassy, as well as cultural attaches from France and several other countries.

We will also meet the Chinese dancers for the first time tonight for an on-stage warm up and company photo. The performance this evening is at 7:30 and a question-and-answer session will follow the performance with all the choreographers.