Auditorium Theatre 2018-19 Issue 1 Deeply Rooted

DEEPLY ROOTED DANCE THEATER/VISCERAL DANCE CHICAGO/ATE9 DANCE COMPANY | NOVEMBER 16, 2018 | 5 VISCERAL DANCE CHICAGO About Visceral Dance Chicago Founded in 2013 by Artistic Director Nick Pupillo, Visceral Dance Chicago is a contemporary dance company dedicated to a bold and progressive world of movement. In just five short years, the company has developed a diverse and respected repertoire. With works by distinguished choreographers Sidra Bell, Mónica Cervantes, Robyn Mineko Williams, Brian Enos, Banning Bouldin, Harrison McEldowney, Fernando Melo, Marguerite Donlon, Ohad Naharin, Danielle Agami, Mark Godden, Kevin O’Day, and Pupillo, Visceral Dance Chicago continues to challenge audiences' expectations. In January of 2015, Visceral Dance Chicago was named one of Dance Magazine's “25 to Watch,” recognizing the company's accomplishments and potential in the national community. Nick Pupillo (Founder, Artistic Director) Nick Pupillo graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor of Science in ballet. In 2001, Pupillo joined the acclaimed Giordano Dance Chicago, touring nationally and internationally with the company for three years. In 2006, Pupillo decided to train and mentor young talent by developing the prestigious Visceral Studio Company. In 2007, Pupillo founded Visceral Dance Center to provide the Chicago community with a new venue for artistic and technical growth. This facility continues to be a Chicago dance landmark. Time Out Chicago lists Visceral Dance Center as "a bustling, well- appointed facility ... with instructors from top companies and in-demand guest teachers." Utilized by a number of Chicago-based companies, Visceral Dance Center is home to its resident company, Visceral Dance Chicago. Pupillo founded Visceral Dance Chicago in the fall of 2013. This repertory company presents his daring vision to explore the infinite possibilities of contemporary movement. The dancers of Visceral demonstrate this choreographic invention and are recognized for their technique, passion, and athleticism. Pupillo has led the company in a forthright direction, establishing a repertoire described as "expertly devised and stylish as they come” by the Chicago Tribune. In addition to his signature works for the company, Pupillo has also commissioned world premieres by Sidra Bell, Banning Bouldin, Monica Cervantes, Brian Enos, and Robyn Mineko Williams, as well as company premieres by Ohad Naharin and Fernando Melo. Pupillo has received various awards for his choreography, including the Dance Chicago Outstanding Choreography Award in 2005 and 2012 and the Cliff Dwellers’ Choreographer of the Year Award in 2013. Pupillo is frequently invited to conduct master classes in the US and around the world and has taught for the Jazz Dance World Congress, Chicago Dance Connection, and Chicago National Association of Dance Masters. Pupillo is currently an artist-in-residence at Culver Academies. VISCERAL DANCE CHICAGO DANCERS Braeden Barnes is a native of Chicago who received trained at Faubourg School of Ballet, Academy of Dance Arts, San Francisco Ballet School, and Houston Ballet School. Barnes was then accepted into The Joffrey Ballet training program under the directors Alexei Kremnev and Anna Reznik. During his time there, he performed works by Francisco Avina, Ronn Stewart, Amy Hall, Gerald Arpino, and Diana Princeton. Barnes has worked professionally with BalletMet, The Joffrey Ballet, Ron de Jesus Dance, Cocodaco Dance Project, LEVELdance, and Nevada Ballet Theatre, and performed in Billy Elliot the Musical . He has worked with choreographers such as James Canfield, Paul Vasterling, Adam Pelty, Sam Watson, Andre Kastan, Gerald Charles, and Eddy Ocompo. With Visceral Dance Chicago, he has performed in works by Nick Pupillo, Kevin O’Day, Monica Cervantes, and Danielle Agami. He is excited to be joining Visceral for his second season. Riccardo Battaglia is from Pescara, Italy, and began dancing at the age of 8 at Scuola D’Arte New Step in his hometown. He is a three-time winner of the “Expressions” competition held in Florence as part of the Danzainfiera event and also won the Tip Tap Show competition in Rome. Battaglia trained at The Ailey School as a scholarship student, where he performed in the 2011 and 2012 Ailey at the Apollo galas. He has worked with choreographers including Matthew Rushing, Darrell Grand Moultrie, Robert Battle, Jennifer Archibald, Kate Skarpetowska, Manuel Vignoulle, and Ryan Heffington. Battaglia has been a member of Elisa Monte Dance and Ailey II and performed with Lydia Johnson Dance, Earl Mosley’s Diversity of Dance, CelloPointe, Rebecca Kelly Ballet, and Jennifer Muller/The Works. He has also danced in the 2015 #ENDHIV New York Gala, Moncler’s 2016 NY Fashion Week, and Kenzo x H&M Fashion Show. He is on faculty at The Ailey Extension and The Joffrey Academy of Dance. This is Battaglia’s third season with Visceral Dance Chicago. Gracie Black, originally from Muncie, IN, trained at Dancer’s Edge and attended college at Indiana University (IU), where she graduated with a BFA in contemporary dance and minor in apparel merchandising. While at IU, she had the opportunity to perform repertory and original works by Kyle Abraham, Andrea Miller, Bill T. Jones, Alex Ketley, Adriane Fang, Elizabeth Shea, and more. As a senior, she was presented with the Provost Award for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity in the Creative and Performing Arts for her studies and work. In 2018, Black guest-performed with Phoenix Rising Dance Company of Indianapolis to showcase the piece Speakeasy at the Association of Performing Arts Professionals’ dance conference in New York. She traveled with the Elizabeth Shea Dance Company to perform the original work Hot Dust at Act 1/Act 2 in Philadelphia and Footprints Dance Festival in New York. She also attended summer intensives at San Francisco Conservatory of Dance and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Caitlin Cucchiara was born and raised in Rochester, NY, and first began her dance training at the age of 2. She graduated magna cum laude in 2011 from Point Park University, where she earned a BFA in jazz. Upon graduation, Cucchiara began dancing with Thodos Dance Chicago. In 2013, Caitlin joined Visceral Dance Chicago as a founding member of the company. Cucchiara has appeared in Dance Chance, Dance Chance Redux, and Pursuit Productions’ performance of Them , and she has performed works by A.W.A.R.D. show winner Jessica Miller Tomlinson. She has also performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. Cucchiara was one of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch” in 2016. Cucchiara has had the honor of performing works by Ohad Naharin, Mónica Cervantes, Bob Fosse, Brian Enos, Doug Varone, Banning Bouldin, Robyn Mineko Williams, and Sidra Bell, among others. Cucchiara is thrilled to be in her sixth season with Visceral Dance Chicago and continues to pursue her artistic goals.