Unbound Dance Company is returning on Aug. 22 and 23, presenting “Love Is Louder”

 Unbound Dance Company is returning on Aug. 22 and 23, presenting “Love Is Louder”—a show that explores the quiet battles we face in a noisy world. Through raw, emotional movement and compelling storytelling, this show reminds us that connection is strength, vulnerability is courage, and love—in all its forms—rises above the chaos. When the world is loud with fear and division, love is louder.

The performance will be at 7 p.m. both evenings at the Lexington 2 Performing Arts Theater, 3205 Platt Springs Road, West Columbia. Tickets are $35, plus a $1.70 handling fee, and are available at Unbounddance.com or at www.ticketleap.events/tickets/unbounddance/LoveisLouder.

“On the heels of three successful shows since Covid, we’d like to thank our dancers, sponsors, and patrons. We could not do this-- what we love -- without the support from our community,” said Caroline Lewis-Jones, who co-director of Unbound Dance Company. “As Columbia’s art scene continues to grow, we remain steadfast in our mission to educate and inspire dancers of all ages. We are excited to collaborate with artists, creatives, and individuals of all kinds to continue producing thought-provoking work, and striving to connect within our community.”

The “Love is Louder” cast includes 75 dancers ranging in age from 13 to 48. Featuring the voices of Joanna Lewis Derrick, Jocelyn Saunders, Johnny Guillen, Christopher Aldeguer and Vicki Harris, "Love is Louder" is “dedicated to our beautiful friend Zelig Williams who has been missing since Oct. 3, 2024. He is deeply missed and every step we take is for him,” said Lewis-Jones.

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Williams, a 28-year-old Broadway performer from Columbia, was last spotted driving in the area of Congaree National Park on Oct. 3 last year. The following day, a Richland County sheriff’s deputy found his vehicle in the parking lot of the Palmetto Trail off Bluff Road, with the key inside. A graduate of Columbia's Dreher High School, Williams has appeared in Broadway shows "MJ the Musical" and "Hamilton," and also worked with actor Hugh Jackman on his concert tour “The Man. The Music. The Show.” After returning to Columbia last summer, Williams did some freelance teaching and choreography at local dance studios."Most dancers don’t have the opportunity to perform at a high level after graduating high school and I am so thankful that Unbound exists to give those dancers a place to train rigorously, perform content that matters, and impact the Arts community in Columbia so greatly,“ said former Unbound dancer Katie Hilliger Page.

Along with the weekend show, Unbound is also hosting its annual Unbound Summer Dance Intensive. “Our Intensive will take place at the theater and we have four levels,” Lewis-Jones said. Visit Unbounddance.com to learn more about this amazing experience for your child or yourself.

“Not just a dance company, Unbound is also a movement of fearless expression. By eliminating labels and limitations, they dance with raw honesty, igniting something deeply human for those of us in the audience. Through every movement and gesture, the Unbound dancers remind us all to live boldly, love harder, and embrace their true selves. It is a privilege to support this amazing endeavor., ” said Chris Burkett, Unbound board member and assistant dean of student services with the USC College of Education.