Chicago Dance Crash Collaborates with Knox for Dance Residency

The Knox College dance program recently concluded a vibrant, week-long residency with the acclaimed professional company, Chicago Dance Crash. Centered on the theme of Community Healing through the Arts, the residency fostered collaboration, creativity, and connection among participants.

The residency culminated in an inspiring performance by Knox College students at the Orpheum Theatre on Saturday night, followed by Chicago Dance Crash’s dynamic full show, LXIV (six.four).

“I brought this company to Knox because so much of their philosophy and beliefs match my own,” Chair and Professor of Dance Jennifer Smith said. “They see dance as a vehicle for creating community and fostering belonging. I’m so excited they were able to work with my students.”

Prior to the Saturday evening performance, Knox College President C. Andrew McGadney, Galesburg Mayor and Knox Professor of Environmental Studies Peter Schwartzman, and Smith highlighted ongoing community engagement initiatives at both Knox College and throughout Galesburg.

“As many of you know, the founding of our city and Knox College are connected to one person—George Washington Gale—and that commitment from day one is something we continue to lean into,” said President McGadney. “Knox College launched our comprehensive campaign called Venture Boldly, and part of that campaign effort focuses on the arts with events like this, as well as in Galesburg.”

Mayor Schwartzman hinted at more announcements and more collaboration between the city and the College. 

“There’s a very significant gift that we received,” Schwartzman said. “It’s in the area of a three million dollar project, and it’s going to bring Knox College and the City of Galesburg residents together in a way that we haven’t seen in maybe a century. ”

For the Knox student performers, participating in a residency with a nationally touring company was truly a dream come true. In addition to performing, students benefited from immersive classes and workshops led throughout the week by members of Chicago Dance Crash, deepening their skills and artistic perspectives.

“This week has been very exhausting to say the least, but in the best way possible,” Christopher Albert ’28 said. “We’ve put in a lot of effort, three-hour rehearsals every single day, and then a performance at the end of the week. It really is thrilling and a fun experience all the way around.”

Albert, a self-designed major in dance studies who also participated in last year’s residency and hopes to continue pursuing dance after graduating from Knox, relished the opportunity to learn from and be surrounded by professionals during this year’s program.

“I really love performing and dancing, it’s something that’s always been in me and is a passion of mine. I have been conditioned to learn to have your passion as your work, so you are never tired of the work that you do,” he said. “Dance, at its basic form, is movement, so the things we do day-to-day are the dances of life. I’m a firm believer that dance and music are for everyone, and I’m someone who wants to further my education in dancing, but help give that to as many people as possible.”

Albert’s passion for dance was matched by his classmate Kendall Lade ’27. A sports business and event management major and dance minor, Lade once believed her dancing days were behind her. However, when the opportunity to participate in the residency and performance arose, she was eager to audition.

“I did dance when I was younger, until eighth grade,” she said. “I thought I’d never touch dance again, then I came here and realized I could minor in dance and keep performing. Knox has these opportunities that I never thought I’d get when I was younger.”

Knox’s ideals also helped draw Chicago Dance Crash to the College for the crew's second residency. 

“We heard the mantra of the College is belonging, and oddly, that is what our piece is about,”  Chicago Dance Crash Artistic Director KC Bevis said. “We’re about people getting access to dance who normally do not have it. For people who do not have access to hip hop or the fusion work we do, we’re about opening it up for dancers who, when they get in the room, can amplify their individual voices. What we’ve seen with the dancers this week is them getting more confident in themselves and going for it. We want them to tell their stories on stage.”

This program received support from Healing Illinois, a statewide racial healing initiative of the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), in partnership with the Field Foundation and regional partners. Additional support was provided by the Karil Kirk-Ortner Memorial Dance Fund, the Knox College Cultural Events Committee, and the Knox College Dance Program.

For more photos from Chicago Dance Crash’s residency, visit the Knox College Flickr gallery HERE.