INSIDE: Alluvion Dance Chicago’s “Emergence” with Johnny Huntoon-Starcher
For the past five years, “Emergence” has not only given opportunity to new choreographers, but has also served as a professional networking platform that has planted the seeds for new collaborations and projects.
For any new artist, it takes time to find your voice, refine your aesthetic and build the confidence to proudly present your work. This is true in any medium, but for choreographers, creating new work goes far beyond creating movement. Choreography alone must not only represent the dance maker’s concept and vision, but must also consider the size of the cast, the format of the stage and how the audience is seated. In addition, countless hours can be spent finding or creating the perfect musical score or soundscape, designing costumes and making decisions on lighting design… and let’s not get started with the issue of where the funds come from, especially if a choreographer is self-producing. With the effort put forth to fully produce a single work, there is then the issue of getting responses and feedback on your creation. You could rely on your peers for it, but will their opinions be biased or well-informed? There are a dwindling number of dance critics available to see performances, and chances are slim that one will appear in the audience for a small production.
Yet, despite the challenges, the creation of new dance works is invaluable to creator, cast and audience alike. And lucky for up-and-coming choreographers in Chicago, Alluvion Dance Chicago produces Emergence, which gives new dance makers the opportunity to present fully produced works and receive feedback from a qualified panel of mentors. For the past five years, Emergence has not only given opportunity to new choreographers, but has also served as a professional networking platform that has planted the seeds for new collaborations and projects.
DancerMusic Dance Editor Kristi Licera recently caught up with Alluvion Dance Chicago Founder and Artistic Director Johnny Huntoon-Starcher to learn about the massive cast of artists that are part of this year’s Emergence, which takes the stage at The Edge Theater June 14 and 15. Here’s what he told us:
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Alumni of Emergence have gone on to create their own companies or continue in their choreographic careers in the Chicagoland area and beyond, presenting at other festivals and on stages throughout the US and internationally.
Kristi Licera: Now in its fifth season, Alluvion Dance Chicago brings together 14 up-and-coming choreographers, 4 companies, 1 Emergence Alumni and a mentoring board of 4 accomplished artists in Emergence. A collective this large and a production this involved takes an immense amount of organization and dedication, especially considering the limited resources that are available to the professional dance community. Can you tell us about the process of bringing these artists together? What resources does Alluvion provide to these dance makers, and how does the result of their participation in Emergence inform their next steps as choreographers?
Johnny Huntoon-Starcher: Through an application-based process, host company, Alluvion Dance Chicago (ADC) under my direction with the assistance of our board, selects 10-15 up and coming choreographers to present work at Emergence.
Over the past five years, Emergence has grown to offer the selected choreographers a panel of mentors, a fully produced platform to set work (including both tech and dress rehearsal) and access to ADC’s resident lighting designer, Claire Doty. Choreographers have the opportunity to present work in both the Friday and Saturday evening performances of Emergence.
Following dress rehearsal, the panel of mentors provides an open forum in which feedback is provided to each choreographer in reference to content creation, musicality, costume design, spacial formatting and lighting design. This feedback is critical in the growth of the artist and provides the choreographers – many which are from outside the Chicago dance community or new to it – a network of accessible peers for their choreographic careers.
New this year is a three-prong workshop open to the choreographers and their casts, taught by ADC and the panel of mentors, which focuses on content creation and technique. Alumni of Emergence have gone on to create their own companies or continue in their choreographic careers in the Chicagoland area and beyond, presenting at other festivals and on stages throughout the US and internationally.
Rachel Spies creates an exploration of emotional vacancy within a relationship and how partners are affected when someone is unable to be emotionally present.
Kristi: The program is packed to the brim with contemporary dance pieces that are diverse in their concept and aesthetic. Can you tell us more about each of the works being presented in Emergence? With the number of works in Emergence, I think it’s best to treat this like a quick-fire round. Here we go!
Johnny: Justin Kimball created a duet that explores the ups and downs of cuddling. From freezing feet to sleep farts, the duo dances out this universal relationship dilemma.
Christina Morrison’s “LET IT BURN, BABY!” addresses our culture’s all or nothing tendencies in a “post-truth” era of immediacy, image, unrest and faulty politics. Do you choose to destroy, ignore or find wonder-driven solutions to soothe the internal fear surrounding our lack of cohesiveness?
Tessa Ritchey choreographed an investigation into how two individuals can coexist apart and together as unified entities.
Lachan Jaarda’s piece is about the individual and the inner beast inside a person, which may be insecurities, fears, weaknesses or whatever else you as the audience member may find relatable. This work asks the question, “Will you let the inner beast overcome you or will you overcome the beast?”
Samantha Dauer’s work asks, when you struggle with pain, turmoil and/or suffering, do you experience this journey alone or with someone? This trio shares their experience of doubt and fear by diving into the sound score of Vincenzo Lamagna.
Shelby Moran Amarantos’s “Sh-Boom” is a fun, easy-breezy piece exploring contemporary movement and dynamics influenced by Oldies/ Do Wop music.
Payton Horton explores habitual diversion of the mind from unpleasant reality.
Johnny: Shannon Shahinian’s work is inspired by the 1950’s female identity. The piece explores the emotional baggage that a group of vintage women carry with them throughout their day. The work is a peek inside their minds during an evening of vulnerable loneliness.
Nicole Golonka was inspired by themes of support and dependency. The piece focuses on the human condition as it relates to trust in oneself and other people. The movement explores the extremes of complete activity and passivity in the body as it parallels full agency and a complete need for help.
Marissa Kaufmann’s “Inside” examines the stresses in a person’s mind and how that consistently remains with that person until they can break free.
Francesca Baron’s work is about staking a claim despite outside noise. It is a resistance – an attempt to hold onto what is true, to what you believe to be.
John Cartwright’s “They” is a duet exploring the intricacies of gender identity.
Alluvion Dance Chicago’s “Tense/Tension” portrays the inner workings of the mind on empowerment versus hesitation.
Johnny: Johanna Seidel’s explores the idea that the journey is equally as important as the destination. Take note of the way you get where you’re going.
Mariah Eastman’s solo is about persisting no matter the circumstances. Using a series of moving gestures and falling rolls, the dancer finds hope through perseverance.
Rachel Spies creates an exploration of emotional vacancy within a relationship and how partners are affected when someone is unable to be emotionally present.
Esoteric Dance Project presents an intimately personal work created by Co-Artistic Director Brenna Pierson-Tucker. Rocking (working title) delves into her life-long yo-yo of the important decision to have a child or not. The two work-in-progress excerpts explore the idea of “rocking back and forth, yes or no.”
All About Dance brings a mix between classic jazz and funk! The work is a reminds us that if the beat is good and the music is fun, to get up and dance! The adult company comes from All About Dance; they are a group of working professionals that meet once a week to continue to pursue their passion for dance and performance outside of their careers.
Alluvion Dance Chicago’s “Tense/Tension” portrays the inner workings of the mind on empowerment versus hesitation.
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Alluvion Dance Chicago presents Emergence June 14 & 15, 2019, both evenings at 7:30pm, at the Edge Theater (5451 N. Broadway St. Chicago, 60660). Tickets are available at emergence19.eventbrite.com.
For more information, visit alluviondancechicago.com.
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