SHOWS

DanceBridge Showcase Winter 2012

Presented by Madeleine Reber, Joseph Caruana, Nicole LeGette

April 17, 2012 — April 18, 2012
Dance Studio
Pay-what-you-can; $5 suggested donation

DanceBridge is an initiative of the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, in partnership with the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture, to support Chicago’s professional dance artists and choreographers. Its goal is to foster the creation of new and innovative work, particularly work that engages and challenges an audience and pushes the boundaries of the dance world. Toward this end, free rehearsal space is offered for 12 week periods in the Dance Studio of the Chicago Cultural Center as well as a performance opportunity to present the new or developing work.

The performances
Madeleine Reber - life at an angle
Dancers: Kelsey Allison, Hope Goldman, Kay LaSota, Shari Simpson, Amanda Timm, Vienna Willems, Christine Willis
“As a choreographer, I am interested in ways of moving that do not adhere to traditional notions of grace and beauty. For this project, I began by exploring awkwardness and distortion, with an interest in how these movement qualities fill expressive gaps left by strict social ideals of body presentation and appearance. In a hyper-visual culture, inundated with images on screens, walls, t-shirts, coffee cups, etc., how are each of us made to feel “different,” and in what ways are we excluded from some sense of belonging? I am curious about the range of expression subjugated by a cultural obsession with “beauty.” Alternately, I am moved by metaphorical and literal manifestations of the awkward, vulnerable, imperfect moments of being human.”

Joseph Caruana - The Sun King
The Sun King is an original collaborative production between Elements Contemporary Ballet and the Baroque Band. The full work, which is tentatively set to premiere in Spring 2013, will be a 45-minute music and dance suite inspired by the 2000 French film, Le Roi Danse, by Belgian filmmaker Gerard Corbiau, which follows French monarch and dancer King Louis XIV and his relationship with the famed composer of the era Jean-Baptiste Lully.

Nicole LeGette - disRuptureEnrapture
disRuptureEnrapture is a viscerally resonating piece utilizing rich metaphor, rigorous physicality, ridiculous mockery, and unconventional beauty. Aggression, intimidation, anxiety, and violence are ravaged through hive-mind, herd-like, primal attack, stealth, and chaos. Contrasting sections of radical stillness, silent isolation, and delicacy question the notion of sanity, vulnerability, and strength. Butoh is undeniably compelling- admittedly sometimes repelling- but reflects a deep compassion for being alive with bodies. The full-evening length performance of disRuptureEnrapture will be at Links Hall April 27-29. The full performance includes live original music by Renee Baker’s Chicago Modern Orchestra Project, vocalist Louise Cloutier, and other surprises. Advance tickets are recommended and available at: https://disrupturelh.eventbrite.com/

The artists
Madeleine Reber is an independent dance artist based in Chicago, IL. She holds an MFA in Choreography from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG). Madeleine is a former member of Amie Dowling’s intergenerational company, The Dance Generators (Northampton, MA), and of Brenda Divelbliss Dance (Boston, MA), and has performed works by many contemporary choreographers including Terry Creach, David Dorfman, Karinne Keithley, Claire Porter, Peter Schmitz, B.J. Sullivan, and Tom Truss. Madeleine’s work often explores the vulnerability and fallibility of human experience, and provokes questions about gender, identity and difference. Her work has been presented by The Dance Generators, Greensboro Fringe Festival, North Carolina Dance Alliance, The Art of Public Memory (an international, interdisciplinary conference hosted by UNCG), East Carolina University (ECU), Greensboro Cultural Center, A.P.E. Arts Northampton, and various independent artists. Madeleine has held full time academic positions at UNCG and ECU. In addition, she has been a guest artist/teacher at Wake Forest University, Marlboro College, and Durham School of the Arts, among other institutions. Madeleine teaches choreography, modern dance technique, improvisation, contemporary partnering, and dance studies courses.

Joseph Caruana is a founding member and co-director of Elements Contemporary Ballet. He received his training from the Pacific Northwest Ballet School, The Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles, and through workshops with the Boston Ballet, the Joffrey Ballet, Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet, and the Lou Conte Dance Studio. Prior to joining Elements, he was a member of River North Chicago Dance Company for three years. He has also performed with Spectrum Dance Theatre, SD Prism Dance Theatre, Civic Ballet of Chicago, and Evanston Dance Ensemble, and in numerous industrials and trade shows, as well as appeared on television in shows such as That 70’s Show, KTLA’s The Live Show, and ABC’s Morning Show. Most recently, his work as a choreographer was selected as one of only twelve finalists in Palm Desert’s McCallum Theatre “Dance Under the Stars” Choreography Festival.

Celebrating 10-years, Nicole LeGette blushing poppy productions, is the epicenter for butoh activities in Chicago as the Midwest advocate and resource, performer, teacher, curator and producer. Nicole’s performance has been presented in the U.S., Mexico, Indonesia and Japan. Although primarily a solo performer, she regularly collaborates with musicians and other dancers/artists, as well as develops ensemble works for theater, dance, and performance. Ms. LeGette has presented countless international, national, and regional butoh artist events independently and through innovative partnerships with organizations in Chicago and across the U.S. Since 2000, Nicole has trained extensively with master butoh artists in Japan, Mexico, Canada, and the U.S. including: Yoshito Ohno, Natsu Nakajima, and Diego Pinon. Since 2007, she has investigated multi-sensory, image-based, embodied movement practice for the elderly and people with mobility, cognitive, and sensory impairment using training, performance collaboration and research.

Nicole LeGette has been recognized with numerous grants and awards including a 3Arts/Ragdale Residency (2011), DanceBridge residency at the Chicago Cultural Center (2012); Chicago Dancemakers Forum Lab Artist (2007-2008) and Chicago Dancemakers Forum Mentor Artist (2011). A graduate of The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Nicole primarily studied performance art and sculpture. She is an accomplished amateur cellist, seasoned yoga instructor, and master urban bicycle commuter. Nicole routinely travels to enrich, refresh, expand, and to challenge her senses. This vibrant creative arts foundation continues to inform Ms. LeGette’s approach to embodied imagination, performance and teaching.

Read all about these choreographers’ processes for creating dance on the DanceBridge blog!