DanceBridge Showcase: New Works in Progress by Madeleine Reber and Joseph Caruana

Chicago Cultural Center  >  Theater & Dance  > DanceBridge Showcase

The Spring 2012 DanceBridge showcase features two new works in progress. Chicago-based choreographer Madeleine Reber presents a new work that investigates metaphorical and literal manifestations of the awkward, vulnerable, imperfect moments of being human, and co-director of Elements Contemporary Ballet Joseph Caruana presents The Sun King, the early stages of a contemporary ballet based on the famous dancer King Louis XIV of France and the influential French composer Jean-Baptiste Lully.

As a choreographer, Madeleine Reber is interested in ways of moving that do not fit into traditional notions of grace and beauty. Her new work will explore awkwardness and distortion, and provoke thought about “difference” and “otherness.” Through observation and movement exploration, Reber will generate a language for the piece that embraces qualities such as asymmetry and disjointedness. The piece investigates a range of body postures and connections between dancers that do not exhibit predictable, or typically “beautiful,” aesthetic qualities.

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. 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 presents The Sun King, the early stages of a 30-minute contemporary ballet based on the famous dancer King Louis XIV of France and the influential French composer Jean-Baptiste Lully. The full work will be a part of the collaborative production with the Baroque Band, which is tentatively set to premiere in Spring 2013.

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 Center. 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.

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 "crosses boundaries" of style or tradition and reflects contemporary international influences and interdisciplinary exploration. Selected dancers receive rehearsal space for 12 weeks to develop new work and are provided an opportunity to perform their work-in-progress.

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