The idea of Polarity Dance Theatre as a professional dance company, in the mind of its artistic director, Marc M. Arentsen, had been around for a long time. What could be better than to have a place to create new choreography, to explore new creative concepts, to provide an exciting place for emerging artists, to work with people you love and respect, and to impact the community is a variety of ways with what you do best? The company's concept was verbalized in March 2000 on a touring bus at 2:00 AM between Indianapolis and Birmingham. Eventually the charter members came together in Arentsen's living room in the summer of 2001 and felt it was time to embark on this adventure as a part-time endeavor.
The name for the company came about when a few of the dancers were having an organizational meeting during those first days. On Yvette Koonce's living room floor a brainstorming session, with the help of her trusty friend, Webster's, we jumped from 'Morning Star' to 'Polaris' to 'Polarity.' Not only did the name stick ("Got Polarity?"), but the complex meaning of the word exactly described our mission and vision.
Marc M. Arentsen, who was the Chair of the Belhaven College Dance Department at the time, secured permission for Polarity Dance Theatre to use the dance studios and to present performances in the Girault Auditorium on campus. Squeezing company class and rehearsals in between jobs, scheduled college classes and rehearsals, Polarity was able to start production on their first choreographic projects by Marc M. Arentsen, Jessica Brock, and Aaron Chen in August 2001.
In December 2001 the group invited some friends for their first in-studio showing. The fantastic response gave the dancers courage to continue on this quest while the assistance and ideas from these avid supporters continued to motivate. Polarity linked arms with International Festival of the Arts, incorporated itself in January 2002, and presented its launch on March 23, 2002. Though largely funded by the company members' personal credit cards, it was received with wide acclaim and the rest is history.
In the summer of 2003 the Executive Committee decided to take Polarity Dance Theatre to the next level and make it a full-time enterprise. Starting in January 2004 the company presents its dance concerts regionally, nationally and internationally, while also developing dance projects aimed at reaching out through educational residencies and to other specific populations in the community.