Innervation Dance Cooperative produces innovative works that stimulate audiences, dancers, and dance creators. In our collaborative creative process, we focus on storytelling presented through multidisciplinary, invigorating movement, creating a product that is accessible to the dance aficionado and the novice alike.
Since its founding in 1998, Innervation Dance Cooperative (previously Irreverence Dance + Theatre) has been finding ways to meld the art forms of theater and dance. The spirit of Innervation Dance Cooperative is one of artistic diversity and cohesive energy. Each dancer and choreographer has a unique background, allowing the company to incorporate multiple disciplines of dance and theater through the combined artistic visions of the members of the company. One of our greatest strengths is the eclectic creative aesthetic produced by encouraging any and all company members to contribute to the creative output of IDC, always with our unifying mission and vision in mind. IDC company members range from young dancers who have just graduated from college, to more "grizzled" veterans who have been part of the Chicago dance community for decades. Individuals at both ends of that spectrum and everywhere in between bring unique perspectives to the table.
The Artistic Cooperative consists of six members: Molly Beck, Shayna Bjerke, Elisa Carlson, Michael Sherman, Stephanie Unger, and Mandy Work. Each member of the cooperative has a unique background, shedding the light of multiple perspectives on its operations, and allowing us to make the best use of each individual's strengths.
Along with those Artistic Cooperative members who perform in IDC productions, the Company Members form our core of permanent performers. Currently these dancers are Sandy Donahue, Craig Donavin, Rachel Doucet, Tiffany Janeway, Anne Laue-Minden, Tiffany Lawson, Amanda Mitchell, Christine Talley, Liz Wieczorek, and Niki Wilk.
We also hold auditions for each production and bring in talented Seasonal Dancers.
In 1998, Michael Sherman formed Irreverence Dance + Theatre (now Innervation Dance Cooperative) to combine his two loves: theater and dance. He was searching for an innovative way to meld these two art forms, and IDC continues to actively pursue this goal.
In 2000, Amy Russell joined Irreverence and soon became Assistant Artistic Director and then Managing Director. Russell's background in theater helped to further the company's vision of telling stories through movement. In 2001, Irreverence discovered Elisa Carlson, a gifted dancer, actor, and musician who became an Assistant Artistic Director in 2004. With these three artists, plus an increasing number of talented company members, Irreverence took things to a higher level in 2002, becoming incorporated and attaining 501(c)3 status.
The company was founded with the intention of one day being a true democracy, giving each member a voice in the creation of work and the management of the organization. In 2007, the right group of artists was in place to make this important move. Soon thereafter, the company's name was changed to acknowledge the cooperative nature of the organization, and to more accurately reflect the work we produce: innovative works that stimulate audiences.
| Molly Beck | Shayna Bjerke | Elisa Carlson | Michael Sherman | Stephanie Unger | Mandy Work |
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| Sandy Donahue | Craig Donavin | Rachel Doucet | Tiffany Janeway | Anne Laue-Minden |
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| Tiffany Lawson | Amanda Mitchell | Christine Talley | Liz Wieczorek | Niki Wilk |
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Contact us today at... info@innervationdance.org
or by phone, 312.505.7749