Rhonda Morton

"Rhonda Morton, more than any other artist I have ever met, is an artist of her WHOLE being. I am convinced that even if her mind were willing, her body wouldn't allow her to be anything else. Cover her mouth, bind her hands, her legs, her arms—and her autonomous nervous system would find means of expression! Her heart would start beating in new rhythms... her skin would flush in Matissean hues... words would tumble through her pores... and her blonde hair would rise like arms to dance!"

-Maria McMahon
Lockwood, NY

Rhonda Morton is a poet, performance artist, dancer and singer with a particular interest in improvisation in all those roles. Equally at home working as a soloist, as an ensemble member, or as a producer/performer, Rhonda uses the transformational power of creativity-in-the-moment, often integrating the audience and/or the site into performances.

Rhonda in Corning, NY

Committed to poetry's oral tradition, Rhonda Morton is a poet of the stage as well as the page. She has been the featured reader at venues throughout the Northeast since her first performance on the Centerway Bridge in Corning, NY, in 1992. Rhonda prefers intimate settings, where she can integrate her audience and the site into performances. She often layers words with sounds, song, movement, theatrical characterizations and improvisation to add depth and richness to her one-woman shows.

In 2003, Rhonda founded Argonauta, an improvisational vocal ensemble which debuted in grocery stores, post offices, hardware stores and other everyday venues where they set up and sang unannounced to the public as part of a 2003 Artists Crossroads grant funded by the New York State Council on the Arts.

In 2005, Rhonda formed Alligator Mouth Improv, a multi-disciplinary improvisational collective comprised of performing artists from the Northeastern United States and Canada. Starting from some thread of an idea, the performers weave whole universes from song, spoken word, and movement, all created in the moment, often from audience input.

Rhonda is the author of Woman Seeking Water (Foothills Publishing, 1997) and Breathing In, Breathing Out (Foothills Publishing, 2001). Her work also has been published in numerous books and journals, and was selected by The ARTS of the Southern Finger Lakes for their "Poets…just down the road" project in 2001.

Emphasizing the creation of new work, Rhonda is a skilled facilitator of writing and creativity workshops for adults and teens. In 1997, she founded GirlSmarts®, a series of workshops and retreats that use the arts to help teenage girls understand who they are and what they want out of their lives. She also runs OnPurpose Retreats and Getting Juicy Workshops, and conducts individual coaching sessions.

In 2005, Rhonda was awarded the Arts Partnership Award from The ARTS of the Southern Finger Lakes for "tirelessly supporting others in their artistic endeavors, for encouraging young poets and musicians, and mentoring young women with her passion for and commitment to the arts."

Rhonda is progressing through the leadership certification process for InterPlay, a worldwide practice for creative and spiritual development that integrates the body into all aspects of life, and which fosters health and transformation through community and creativity.

Teachers, mentors and major creative influencers include Michael Czarnecki, Martin Keogh, Bonnie McCubbin, Phil Porter, Rhiannon, Kasey Stewert, Sarah Williams, and Cynthia Winton-Henry.