Photo: Kat CameronChoreographer: Kate CorbyCompany: Kate Corby & DancersWebsite: www.katecorby.comArtist Statement/Philosophy/Mission Statement:Kate Corby & Dancers is a contemporary arts organization committed to producing innovative works that push the aesthetic boundaries of concert dance. Short Artist/Company Bio:Kate Corby & Dancers (KC&D) was a San Francisco-based organization from 2001 – 04. The ensemble performed in many Bay Area venues including the Cowell Theater, ODC Theater, Dance Mission, Venue 9, 848 Community Space and Zeum Theater. The company also received grant support from the Zellerbach Family Foundation, CA$H of Theatre Bay Area, and Meet the Composer. KC&D was reestablished in Chicago and Madison, WI, where Kate Corby is currently an assistant professor in the University of Wisconsin-Madison Dance Department. Ms. Corby has shown her work nationally in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Atlanta, Minneapolis and internationally in Canada, Mexico, Taiwan and Hungary , where she carried out choreographic research as a Fulbright Fellow in 2006. From 2007-09 Ms. Corby presented work in Chicago with the LIVE ANIMALS Performance Collective. She received an MFA in Dance from the University of Illinois at Urbana in 2007 and has served on the faculties of Beloit College, the Dance Center of Columbia College, and the Pedagogy Department of the Hungarian Dance Academy. Her work has been called 'ingenious' by the Chicago Reader and 'haunting' by the San Francisco Bay Guardian.
Describe some of your achievements over the course of the last five years:
Our recent projects include peformances in The A.W.A.R.D. Show! 2010: Chicago at the Dance Center of Columbia College, in both the Wave Rising Festival 2010 and the Cool New York Festival 2010 at White Wave Theater in Brooklyn, NY and in Dance Theater Workshop as part of the World Dance Alliance's Global Dance Event. We have produced two annual seasons in Madison, WI and are currently workign on our second annual season in Chicago, IL. We recently received funding from the Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission (Wisconsin) and our funded by the Wisconsin Alumni Resarch Foundation at the University of Wisconsin – Madison.
What do you hope to gain from the experience of participating in this festival?
We hope to connect with future collaborators and gain exposure. We also hope to receive some press.
Have you participated in other festivals or showcases?
Yes
If so – what were elements you enjoyed and what areas do you think could have been
improved on?
We have enjoyed getting to meet new artists and audiences, as well as getting to see work from around the country and globe. In general, dance festivals could always be a little more organized, but we accept that there is just so much organizations can do with small and shrinking budgets.
Work Kate will be bringing to the Festival
Number of performers: 1
Title: Brute
Brief Description of the Work: Brute is part of Corby’s larger project exploring violence and genocidal history. The solo investigates the idea of ‘the survivor,’ particularly in the context of gender. Vacillating between grotesque and beautiful, the work is supported by an original score by Tim Russell.