Thurs and Fri, February 18 and 19, 2016. 7:30 pm.
Two lovely, winter nights of dance work based in improvisation and anchored by celebrated masters of the form: Chris Aiken and Angie Hauser. There is sure to be jaw-dropping and subtle physicality, elements of surprise, delight, and beauty. Aiken and Hauser, celebrated nationally and internationally for their solo and duet practice and performance--will dance together, making their sole Chicago performance appearance this year. Joining them are stand-out Chicago dance artists, Sarah Gottlieb and JulieAnn Graham, who will each present new, inventive improvised works of their own (developed during a 6- month mentorship with Angie).
Project mentor and performer, Angie Hauser is a dance-artist and teacher . Her work and research is grounded by the questions of improvisation, performance and collaboration. Since 2000, Angie has been a member of the Bebe Miller Company (USA). In 2006 Angie was awarded a BESSIE (N.Y. Dance and Performance Award) for Creation and Choreography for her work with Bebe Miller Company. Her dancemaking projects include collaborations with many gifted artists including Chris Aiken, K.J. Holmes, Darrell Jones, Andrew Harwood and Kathleen Hermesdorf. She has also danced with the companies of Elizabeth Streb, Liz Lerman and Poppo Shiriashi. She has taught dance technique, dancemaking, contact improvisation, improvisation throughout North America as well as Switzerland, Germany, France and Scotland. Angie received her MFA in dance from the Ohio State University and holds a BA in Art History from University of South Carolina. She is currently an Assistant Professor at Smith College in the Department of Dance where she teaches choreography, creative process, improvisation and dance technique.
Chris Aiken is a leading international teacher and performer of dance improvisation and contact improvisation.Over the past two and a half decades his work has evolved through ongoing investigations of performance, composition, movement technique and design. His work has been significantly influenced through the somatic practice of the Alexander Technique, ideokinesis, yoga and the work of Ida Rolf. Chris has performed and collaborated with many renowned dance artists including Steve Paxton, Kirstie Simson, Nancy Stark Smith, Peter Bingham, Andrew Harwood, Patrick Scully and Angie Hauser. He has received numerous awards for his artistic work, including a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Bush Foundation Fellowship, funding from the Jerome Foundation and commissions from the Walker Art Center, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, Dance Theater Workshop, Bates Dance Festival and the National Performers Network. Chris is an Associate Professor at Ursinus College in Pennsylvania. He is currently touring a NPN-commissioned work entitled "Dwell" co-created with Angie Hauser and is working on a new project inspired by the works of the artist Joseph Cornell. He is currently an Assistant Professor at Smith College in the Department of Dance.
photos: Chris Aiken and Angie Hauser by: Jonathan Hsu. Sarah Gottlieb, JulieAnn Graham by: William Frederking
