Seasons of Strength
Atlanta-area stories of resilience, brought to life through performance
A live multidisciplinary performance blending chamber orchestra, contemporary dance, videography, and real community voices.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Seasons of Strength is a performance work rooted in Newnan, Georgia’s recovery after the 2021 EF-4 tornado. Using live music, movement, projected imagery, and recorded oral histories, it transforms local stories into an emotionally powerful experience of resilience, remembrance, and connection.
Created and directed by Gwendolyn Kuhlmann, the work reflects a culture of collaboration, care, and collective action that defines the Atlanta region. It also functions as art as civic memory—preserving lived experience while inviting audiences into a shared human story.
THE EXPERIENCE
Seasons of Strength integrates multiple artistic elements into a single narrative experience:
Live chamber orchestra
Contemporary dance
Videography of disaster & community response
Real recorded voices from community members
The result is immersive, emotionally immediate, and accessible across cultures and languages.
Programming Details
Full Production
90 minutes + 15-minute intermission
Scalable Format
Adaptable to 20–45 minute curated segments for festivals and cultural programming
Presentation Options
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Performance excerpt
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Performance with artist talk
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Performance with facilitated cultural conversation
Designed for flexibility within structured run-of-show environments.
Collaborators
Created & Directed by Gwendolyn Kuhlmann
In collaboration with:
Choreographer Paulo Manso de Souza
Videographer Jake Barton
Musicians of the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra
Southern Arc Dance (professional, community, and high school dancers)
Voices of over 100 community members
Why This Work Matters
Seasons of Strength preserves real stories from a disaster-impacted community and translates them into a shared artistic language.
This is art as civic memory—a way of honoring lived experience while creating space for reflection, empathy, and connection.
For presenters, the work offers:
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Strong visual and emotional impact
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Clear cultural grounding in the Atlanta region
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Universal themes that resonate across audiences
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Flexible, scalable programming options
Production Gallery
All photos by Jermon Clark of Focal Point Creative Services
At a Glance
Rooted in Newnan, Georgia (greater Atlanta region)
Premiered March 21–22, 2026
Adaptable for festivals and global cultural programming
Built from 100+ community stories
Features professional, community, and youth artists
"I've had several tornado survivors call me about the show. One shared that they were so caught up in their own experience, and it was really the first time they even saw all the other devastation and truly were able to feel that they weren't alone. I think the show really had more of an impact than what you may even realize."
— Jennifer Leebern, tornado case worker for Bridging the Gap in Newnan