An Interview with CAR Artist Researcher, Rachel Thorne Germond

Rachel: I understand that you have an ongoing relationship with Chicago? more...

Denise: Yes, the Ailey company comes every year to Chicago. It’s great to come back to the same city. There’s a real sense of our audience and what works – and the warm welcome that Chicago gives us.

The Space/Movement Project is a non-profit modern dance collective in its fourth season. While roles have shifted and new members have joined, the overall mission of the group has been maintained throughout its existence. The company has committed itself to operating under the condition that each member’s voice is valued and all resources are shared equally to create work. This isn’t to say that we don’t have guidance. more...

A discussion between Arnold Aprill, Executive Director of Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education and Rachel Thorne Germond, CAR Dance Researcher and independent dance artist.

RTG: How does a dance artist in Chicago go about applying for a job as an arts integration educator?

Arnold: Rachel, you asked that question in an interesting way- because not only are dancers interested in sharing their dance expertise with young dancers, but dancers are also interested in sharing dance as a mode of thought, experience, and expression for all learners.

Chicago has a long history of being a center of innovation for partnerships between practicing artists and schools, more...

I grew up as a serious bun-head. I studied ballet 6 days a week, I only listened to classical music, and, yes, I was even a Young Republican. I remember watching my first modern dance concert and literally thinking, ‘Why do they always think dance always has to be about something? Why can’t it just be pretty?’

The irony that I have since grown up, come out, fallen in love with gravity, danced ferocious Body-slam works with guns and gasmasks as well as classical modern dance pieces filled with line and grace, never ceases to amaze me. But I think that I always come back to these questions of who is watching modern dance. What do they know about it? How do we increase audiences for this fabulous art form? How do we create a strong community that enables audiences to engage with, be inspired by, and change their lives for the better because of modern dance? more...