Good evening, everyone, and welcome! We are delighted to have you here with us tonight. As our Season 12 comes to a close, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you for attending. Your support, enthusiasm, and applause make all our hard work worthwhile! Your presence means so much to us, and we hope you enjoy every moment of the performance. Sit back, relax, and get ready for a wonderful show!

Thank you for being here, and we look forward to seeing you for Season 13!

Warmly,

Tessa Ritchey

Meet The Choreographers

Ryan Dick

Company Artist

Ryan Dick (they/he) is a Chicago based dancer and choreographer. Since the start of their professional career in 2021, Ryan has had the chance to premiere their own work with Alluvion Dance Chicago and Concert Dance Inc. Ryan was a four-year company member of Noumenon Dance Ensemble, a part of New Dances 2023 and they currently dance with Alluvion Dance Chicago, Scription Dance Theatre, and Boykin Dance Project.

Kaetlyn Jeffries

Company Artist

Kaetlyn Jeffries is a Chicago-based dancer, choreographer, and teacher. Kaetlyn holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and Journalism from Western Kentucky University. Since moving to Chicago in 2022, Kaetlyn has worked with many artists through Alluvion and has also had the opportunity to perform in freelance projects throughout the city. Along with dance, Kaetlyn teaches in-school dance programs through @musichousechicago, and is a certified Pure Barre instructor at @purebarrechicagoedgewater.

Claire Marzolf

Claire Marzolf (she/her) is a movement artist and choreographer based in Chicago who prioritizes improvisation in her work. She studied under Laura Gates at Arlington Dance, and Endalyn Taylor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Claire had the privilege of performing work by Robert Moses through Modas Dance at Santa Fe University of Art and Design. In the arts program at Prospect High School, she was able to perform works by Monique Haley, Eddie Ocampo, Nick Pupillo, and Ricky Ruiz. She remains an advocate for funding the arts in public spaces and is in her second season with Alluvion.

Associate Artist

Nell Ritchey

Nell Ritchey was born and raised in Walworth, Wisconsin. She earned her BFA in contemporary dance from Indiana University in 2024. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of working with notable artists such as Cameron McKinney, Alysia Johnson, and Lindsey Matheis. This is Nell's second season with Alluvion Dance Chicago.

Company Artist

Kristen Whalen

Rehearsal Director

Kristen Whalen (she/her) is a Chicago-based artist and a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she received her BA in Dance and BS in Industrial Engineering. During her time in college, she was fortunate to perform in works by Cynthia Oliver, Tere O’Connor, Roxane D’Orleans Juste, and Sara Hook among many others. In her last year of college, Whalen was selected as the recipient of the Lisa Carducci Memorial Scholarship. Whalen is currently Rehearsal Director for Alluvion Dance Chicago and continues to work on freelance projects with regional artists including KT Williams, Sarah Marks Mininsohn, and Kayt MacMaster.

Meet The Lighting Designer

Scye Piatek

Lighting Designer

Scye Piatek (Lighting Designer, she/her) is a lighting designer and head electrician from West Virginia. Before moving to Chicago, she worked at the Metropolitan Theatre (Morgantown, WV), Jacob’s Pillow (Beckett, MA), and throughout the Pittsburgh area. Since moving to Chicago, she has worked with IATSE Local 2 at a variety of venues throughout Chicago, including Ruth Page Center, Paramount, Ramova, Soldier Field, Harris, Theatre Wit, and The Raven. Her most recent design credits include: Ramble On! (Evanston Dance Ensemble), Fall 2025 Showcase (A.B.L.E.), Dance Now!, Celebration of Dance (West Virginia University), Under the Covers (ACDA), and Shrek Jr. (Artistic Endeavors). She graduated from West Virginia University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Design and Technology with an emphasis in lighting design and a minor in dance.

Meet The Musicians

Craig Bruenger

Bass Guitar

Craig has been playing bass in various projects for over 20 years, ranging from funk to math rock to metal. He studied music at the City Colleges of Chicago and DePaul University.

Sam Lubliner

Guitarist

Sam enjoys music and improvisation. He collaborated with Claire and Craig to create the score for “currents in vivo”. The music was inspired by Continuum by Jaco Pastorius, Fall by Wayne Shorter, and Claire’s choreography. When he is not playing music, Sam enjoys spending time with loved ones and rock climbing.

Meet The Dancers

  • Blake Campbell

    Associate Artist

  • Caitlyn Cargnoni

    Apprentice

  • Gabriela Chauta

    Associate Artist

  • Ashton Craven

    Apprentice

  • Ryan Dick

    Company Artist

  • Megan Hansen

    Apprentice

  • Kaetlyn Jeffries

    Company Artist

  • Claire Marzolf

    Associate Artist

  • Abigail Meronek

    Company Artist

  • Nell Ritchey

    Company Artist

  • Sabrina Santoro

    Company Artist

  • Kristen Whalen

    Rehearsal Director

  • Ji Hae Yepa-Pappan

    Associate Artist

currents in vivo

Directed By: Claire Marzolf

Choreography: Claire Marzolf in collaboration with the dancers

Musicians: Craig Bruenger & Sam Lubliner

Music: John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Jaco Pastorius, Jimi Hendrix, The California Honeydrops, Amethyst Starr

Dancers: Blake Campbell, Caitlyn Cargnoni, Gabriela Chauta, Ashton Craven, Ryan Dick, Megan Hansen, Kaetlyn Jeffries, Kristen Whalen, Ji Hae Yepa-Pappan

-A brief pause-

mono no aware

Directed By: Nell Ritchey

Choreography: Nell Ritchey in collaboration with the dancers

Music: “Who Knows Where the Time Goes - Live at Philharmonic Hall” by Nina Simone & “Withershins” by Black Lodge

Dancers: Abigail Meronek & Sabrina Santoro

Note: A wistful awareness of impermanence

-A brief pause-

absolutely nothing is going to happen

Directed By: Ryan Dick

Choreography: Ryan Dick in collaboration with the dancers

Music: “Slow Descent Into Madness” - Narben, “Spit roast” - Anthony Willis, “Two Of A Kind” - Romance, “Erode” - Erosion, “We’ll Meet Again” - Vera Lynn, “Housofpsychoticwomn” - Ethel Cain, ““The Time Curve Preludes, Book I - q = 192” - William Duckworth and Bruce Brubaker

Dancers: Caitlyn Cargnoni, Gabriela Chauta, Megan Hansen, Nell Ritchey, Sabrina Santoro, & Kristen Whalen

Note: Strobe lighting is utilized within this piece.

-10 minute intermission-

all systems go

Directed By: Kaetlyn Jeffries

Choreography: Kaetlyn Jeffries in collaboration with the dancers

Music: Come Prima” by Alessandro Cortini, “In Dreams” by Roy Orbison

Dancers: Claire Marzolf, Caitlyn Cargnoni, Ashton Craven, Abigail Meronek, Ji Hae Yepa-Pappan

-A brief pause-

woman at rest

Directed By: Kristen Whalen

Choreography: Kristen Whalen in collaboration with the dancers

Music: “High Ridin’ Woman” from 40 Guns, “I Feel Love” by Donna Summer, & “Kittens” by Underworld

Dancers: Gabriela Chauta, Kaetlyn Jeffries, Claire Marzolf, Nell Ritchey, & Sabrina Santoro

Understudy: Abigail Meronek