Three choreographers have a single rehearsal to make a new dance in response to a box of mystery prompts. Prompts can range from a piece of writing, an image, an object, or song as limitations and unexpected connections become the springboard for making dance. The evening also includes live music and improvisation.
Choreographers: Katelyn Altmann, Gina Laurenzi, Jessica Lueck
Dancers: Cuauhtli Ramirez Castro, Zoe Glise, Ida Lucchesi
Musician: Allen Russell
Program Order…
Welcome
Improvisation Set 1 - Group
Dance 1
Jessica Lueck (choreographer) Performed by Cuauhtli Ramirez Castro & Ida Lucchesi
Music Improvisation
Improvisation Set 2 - Scores
Dance 2
Katelyn Altmann (choreography and performance)
Dance 3
Gina Laurenzi (choreographer) and Zoe Glise
Improvisation Set 3 - Closing
Meet the Choreographers & Musician
Katelyn Altmann (she/her) is a movement-based artist, choreographer, and improvisor currently residing in Milwaukee, WI. She received her BFA in Contemporary Dance Performance and Choreography from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and currently serves on faculty for the UW-Milwaukee Department of Dance. Katelyn has presented both her solo and collaborative work throughout Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Seattle, and New York. She has performed at the Seattle Festival for Dance Improvisation, Dance Masters of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Dance Council, BDF/Gibney Connect NYC, GALLIM, CNADM, MKE Fringe Festival, Danceworks DanceLAB Series, Moving Queries, and her work, “soft ground, stiff shoulder” was selected to be presented at the American College Dance Association’s North Central Conference(2019). Altmann has performed in works of Joe Goode, Simone Ferro, Maria Gillespie, Daniel Burkholder, Dan Schuchart, Debra Loewen, Dawn Springer, Melanie George, Esther Baker-Tarpaga, Christal Wagner among others. She is a current performance and collaborative artist with Wild Space Dance Company, Danceworks, Li Chiao Ping Dance, and the Gina Laurenzi Dance Project. Katelyn’s work lives in embodied study, tested and realized through creation processes, improvisational strategies and performance. This takes shape through porous embodiment, visceral play, connection, and attunement. Katelyn is elated to have been with Wild Space Dance Company since 2018.
Gina Laurenzi graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee (UWM) with a BFA in Dance: Choreography & Performance and is currently pursuing her MFA. Before beginning her chapter in Milwaukee, Gina was awarded a full merit scholarship to train at Giordano Dance Chicago and later performed with Giordano II and Inaside Chicago Dance. For seven years, Laurenzi owned and operated Laurenzi Dance, presenting community dance concerts and arts events (Kenosha, WI). Since living in Milwaukee, Laurenzi has been able to perform the works of Daniel Burkholder, Simone Ferro, Marie Gillespie, Dani Kuepper, Deb Loewen, Dawn Springer, Christal Wagner, and Morgan Williams, among many others. Laurenzi continues to set work on the Gina Laurenzi Dance Project and has created works for Danceworks Performance MKE (DPMKE), Danceworks Youth Performance Company, Makaroff Youth Ballet (Appleton, WI), the Milwaukee Ballet’s Pre-Professional Program students, Milwaukee's High School of the Arts, UWM Dance Dept., and Water Street Dance Milwaukee. Laurenzi has had the opportunity to perform with Wild Space Dance Company since 2022.
Jessica Lueck is a dancer currently based in Milwaukee, WI. Through the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee she has attained two degrees, one in Dance Performance and Choreography and the other in Information System and Technology. Through the duration of her time at UWM, she has studied modern, ballet, jazz, improvisation, composition, Alexander technique, laban movement analysis, applied anatomy, and numerous other master classes. She has also performed in works created for several UW-Milwaukee Faculty Shows, working with Artists such as Emma Draves, Daniel Burkholder, Maria Gillespie, Deb Loewen, Parijat Desai and Dawn Springer. Jessica has also studied abroad in 2022 through the Centre national de la Danse in Paris, France. In 2023, she attended SALT Link dance festival in Utah, working with Christian Denice and Nicole Von Arx. Before attending UWM, she has had training from the Milwaukee HighSchool of the Arts, where she studied modern, ballet, pointe and composition under Sandra Jordan and Dean Drews, with additional instructors such as Amie Ferrante and Petr Zahradníček assisting in her training. She has also had numerous Master classes during this period including Milwaukee Ballet and Alvin Ailey II Company and more. Jessica currently performs with Wild Space Dance Company as a Freelance artist and is in her second season with Danceworks Performance MKE.
Allen Russell is a violinist, composer and instructor based in Milwaukee, WI. He began his musical studies on the violin at age 5, and studied at the String Academy of Wisconsin with Mimi Zweig and David Becker before later going on to study with Jerome Franke and Dr. Bernard Zinck. Allen has performed with his Hot Swing quartet Swing Chevron at festivals such as the Midwest Gypsy Swingfest, as well as historic venues such as the Green Mill. With the string quartet Tontine Ensemble, Allen has participated in premiering the new works of modern composers and has had his own compositions performed in collaboration with Milwaukee Ballet, UWM Dance, Danceworks Inc., and Water St. Dance. Allen is a registered Suzuki Violin instructor and holds a Master of Fine Arts in String Performance and Pedagogy from UW Milwaukee.
Thank you to MARN and all their staff for hosting and supporting this event.