COLEctive Notions Showcase Held At Links Hall 6/3-5

Following last year's well-received debut, The Dance COLEctive (TDC), under the direction of award-winning choreographer and teacher Margi Cole, again presents "COLEctive Notions 2011," a concert program promoting the development of new work created by TDC company members. Performances are June 3-5, 2011 at Links Hall, 3435 N. Sheffield in Chicago.

Maggie Koller says that her work is "an exploration of fear. And love. How we learn it. How we experience it. And how it affects our reactions and the baggage we carry."

Molly Grimm-Leasure's goal is to dive into our dreams and find out what our subconscious is trying to tell us so that we have a few questions answered when we wake up the next morning. "Our brains are on overdrive every day, all day long, even sneaking into our slumber," she observes. "But, if you let your dreams take over when you are resting, you might find that your subconscious is trying to solve situations, answer questions and face ordeals that you may not be able to handle in your waking life."

Jessica Post's quartet is inspired by the concepts of falling, recovering and sweeping spirals.

Alaina Murray's first work for TDC, on second thought, is an exploration of the emotional and physical reactions to life changes and how we react to big decisions.

Kaitlin Bishop's work is inspired by the ever-perplexing and haunting harpist/vocalist Joanna Newsome and her enigmatic song "Baby Birch," which explores the loss of what could have been, rather than the loss of what was-the ache of an elusive dream in which potential and hope are limitless and reality is left bereft.

In Olivia May's duet, movement vocabulary will be created by exploring symbiotic relationships in nature.

Cole is committed to the concept of choreographic mentorship. "I have the opportunity to rehearse with these dancers and reap the benefits of their contributions to my own work on a regular basis. Now they have the opportunity to have the same exchange with each other and a little guidance from me. All they have to do is make the work and the company takes care of the rest of the concert production, allowing them to focus just on developing their work. It is my great pleasure to support them in this way. Last year was a great success and I am looking forward to what they have to offer this time!"

Margi Cole formed The Dance COLEctive in 1996 to challenge assumptions about how dance is presented, through the use of cutting-edge choreography, innovative collaborations and inspired, creative, site-specific works. In the past 15 years, TDC has contributed to the support of 18 choreographers, 54 dancers and 54 collaborating artists, many of them Illinois artists. TDC produces its own concerts and participates in multi-artist festivals such as The Other Dance Festival, Dance Chicago, Estrogen Fest, Stockyards Women's Theatre Festival and the Next Dance Festival. Self-produced concerts have taken place at The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago, Harold Washington Library Theater, Northwestern University, Ruth Page Center and Links Hall. TDC features site-specific work as a part of its annual repertoire, having participated in the Illinois State Fair, Chicago's Millennium Project and Looptopia, Chicago Symphony Center Day of Music and more. The company conducts several residencies annually, with past hosts including Beloit College, Knox College, Illinois Wesleyan University, Huntsville Community Ballet and studios and schools in Alabama and Tennessee.

Artistic Director Margi Cole has received recognition for her contribution to the field of modern dance through awards including the Illinois Arts Council's Individual Artist Fellowship, a Chicago Dancemakers Forum grant and the American Marshall Memorial Fellowship, which selects leaders in their respective fields to represent the United States on a month-long tour of European countries.
The Dance COLEctive's 2010-11 season is supported by The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, Illinois Arts Council, The Alphawood Foundation, The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, a CityArts grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and many generous individuals.

The Dance COLEctive presents "COLEctive Notions" June 3-5, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 7 p.m. at Links Hall, 3435 N. Sheffield, Chicago (convenient to the Brown and Red Line stop at Belmont and the Red Line Addison stop in Lakeview). General admission is $18, $14 for students and seniors. To purchase tickets, visit colectivenotionslh.eventbrite.com/ or call 773-281-0824. For more information about The Dance COLEctive, visit dancecolective.com.