Fellow Travelers Performance Group
FTPG was formed in 1992 in the San Francisco Bay Area, now solely under the Artistic Direction of Cynthia Adams. FTPG became known to expect the unexpected with concept driven, witty choreography exploring the surreal nature of human experience. FTPG has performed nationally and internationally in festivals including the 2023 Dumbo Dance Festival in May 2023 in Brooklyn, NY and the West Wave Festival, Dancing on the Edge Festival, Vancouver, Canada; Yerba Buena Gardens Choreographers Festival, House Special (2002); Oakland Arts Festival, and others. FTPG has received numerous grants and residencies, most recently a J.W. Fisher Endowed Arts Outreach Fund (2024) and a Creative Catalyst Project Grant from the Iowa Arts Council (2023). In 2028 Ms. Adams received the CHIME grant (Choreographers in Mentorship Exchange) from the Margaret Jenkins Dance Company.
Cynthia performed with many other choreographers including Kei Takei’s Moving Earth and Li Chiao-Ping Dance. Cynthia’s inquiry in human movement has led to somatic practices and the mind/body connection. Cynthia completed a Masters in Choreography/ Performance from the U.C.L.A. Cynthia is nationally certified to teach in both Pilates and yoga and is a Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider (YACEP) and certified as a BioMechanics Method Corrective Exercise Specialist. Ms. Adams is currently a Teaching Professor in Dance at Iowa State University in the Department of Kinesiology. As full time Associate Teaching Professor of dance in the Kinesiology Department at Iowa State University. A lifelong learner of mindful movement practices Cynthia loves helping people find their own joy in moving and creating freely.
“Their work is smart, idiosyncratic, and carefully crafted. When they use a prop, it’s exactly tailored to the work in question. They know not only how to use text but also how to project it. Irony and wit, staples in their toolbox, are used to explore and illuminate matters of the heart.”
— Rita Felciano
Cynthia Adams
Artistic Director
Cynthia is a dance-theater choreographer, poet, and movement educator whose choreography is informed by the German Tanztheatre style, modern and postmodern dance, and avant-garde theater.
At the juncture of dance and theater Cynthia Adams, Artistic Director of Fellow Travelers Performance Group creates whimsical yet pushy choreography, blending movement and spoken word into thought provoking playful collages. Her dance theater pieces invite audience members to join the performers on a journey into worlds inspired by women’s issues, climate change, and other current political themes.
Paula McArthur
Dancer/Collaborator
Paula McArthur is owner/director of Des Moines DanzArts Studio which she opened in 2011. She is a founding member of "Hurley and Dancers" and continues to perform for them along with FTPG. DanzArts is proud to be the rehearsal home for these Iowa based companies. Additional companies she has worked for include Pennsylvania Dance Theater, Sandance, Neuman Project and choreographer Shawn Womack.
Ms McArthur began her professional carrer in ballet, performing with the Des Moines Ballet. she also trained at the Joffrey Ballet School in NYC and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School in Canada. She earned her BFA from ISU where she turned her attention to modern dance. She was honored with both the Anna R. Toman and Charlotte Wilkason awards from ISU. She continued her study at the Bates Dance festivals, Doug Varone intensives and summer programs at NYU. Since becoming a modern dancer she has worked, trained and/or performed for such choreographers and companies as Bill T. Jones, Bill Young, Doug Elkins, Doug Varone, David Dorfmann, Claire Porter, Kathleen Hermsdorf, Michael Foley, Tony Coray, Kevin Wynn, Ben Munisteri, Joanna Mendl Shaw, Ron K. Brown, Rennie Harris, Larry Keigwin and jazz with Cathy Young.
Writing
Cynthia often uses text that she has written for her performance pieces, at times as a jumping off point for movement and others to be spoken. Poetry and writing are a big part of her process.
Cynthia has written a children’s picture book which she is working on in collaboration with the amazing artist Kat David. You can find more of Kat’s artwork at https://www.patreon.com/feralrockdove. The two are looking to publish the book in 2025.