Michigan Movement Performance Projects
2025 PROGRAM

ABOUT MARCAT

ABOUT VIM VIGOR

M2P2 COMPANY MEMBERS

GAYÁ (by MARCAT)

Choreography: Catherine Coury & Mario Bermúdez

Score: Aphex Twin, Senking

Lighting Design: Jess Fialko

Assistant Lighting Designer: Elianna Kruskal

BEHOLD THESE HAPPENINGS (by VIM VIGOR)

Choreographers: Shannon Gillen, Jason Cianciulli

Choreographic Assistant: Katherine Kiessling

Created in collaboration with the dancers

Score: Scott Li

Lighting Design: Jess Fialko

Assistant Lighting Designer: Elianna Kruskal

PRELUDE (by MARCAT)

Choreography:Mario Bermúdez

Choreographic Assistant: Catherine Coury

Score: Ancestral Voices, Ludovico Einaudi, Mercan Dede

Lighting Design: Jess Fialko

Assistant Lighting Designer: Elianna Kruskal

MARCAT - guest company for M2P2

Marcat Dance is the artistic home of Mario Bermúdez – the multi-award winning Spanish choreographer, and Catherine Coury – the American dancer and co-founder of the company. Based in the rural town of Vilches, Spain, the company is dedicated to sharing their creativity and joy of movement through performance, creation, and teaching opportunities around the world. Marcat Dance believes in the power of the imagination, creative risk-taking, and continuous research towards dynamic physicality. Marcat Dance connects to the human spirit and finds inspiration from world cultures, rituals, and landscapes.

Since 2016, the company performs internationally and has transmitted its teachings touring the Middle East, Europe, Asia and America, at festivals such as Festival Itálica (Spain), Jacob’s Pillow (USA), Vanguard Body (China), Yokohama Collection (Japan), or the Cali International Dance Biennial (Colombia), among others.

Choreographer Mario Bermúdez has created dance works in other relevant international companies such as the National Dance Company of Spain, Scapino Ballet Rotterdam, Hung Dance Taiwan, il Nuovo Balletto di Toscana, and the National Company of Wales.

In 2020, Marcat Dance launched Festival Vildanza, an international contemporary dance festival held every summer in their hometown of Vilches, Jaén.

Marcat Dance has received recognition such as ¨Best Choreography¨ ¨Best Dance Show¨ and ¨Best Dancer¨ from the National Radio of Spain, the Spanish Academy Talía Awards, the MAX awards, the Andalucian Lorca Awards, the Association PAD awards, the Escenarios de Sevilla, amongst others, and are first prize winners of international dance contests such as CICBUNY and Masdanza.

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MARCAT lead choreographer / teacher for M2P2

MARIO BERMÚDEZ

Mario Bermúdez (He/Him) is a prolific and multi-award-winning artist from Spain. He has developed his own language through movement, characterized by its dynamic physicality and emotional intensity. His choreographic works are performed by his own company Marcat Dance as well as other leading dance companies around the world, including the National Dance Company of Spain, the National Dance Company of Wales, Hung Dance Taiwan and Scapino Ballet Rotterdam, among others. Mario’s choreography has received high recognition from the Spanish Academy including awards from the Talía Awards (2024), MAX Awards (2023), Lorca Awards (2025, 2023, 2022, 2021), and PAD Awards (2022, 2021, 2020, 2019). In 2023, Mario received the Critical Eye Award from the National Radio of Spain.

Prior to Marcat Dance, Mario was a company member of Tel Aviv based Batsheva Dance Company (2012-2016). With Batsheva he performed work by Ohad Naharin, Sharon Eyal, Hofesh Shechter, and Roy Assaf, and danced in prestigious theaters around the world including the Opera National de Paris (Paris, France), Brooklyn Academy of Music (Brooklyn, NY), and The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts(Washington, D.C.). From 2010-2012 Mario was based in New York City and danced with Andrea Miller’s Gallim Dance and Jennifer Muller/The Works. His training began at age 20 when he studied at Centro Andaluz de Danza in Sevilla, Spain from 2008-2010.

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MARCAT lead choreographer / teacher for M2P2

CATHERINE COURY

Catherine Coury (She/Her) is a principal dancer and the creative assistant of choreographer Mario Bermúdez, as well as a Gaga teacher (Ohad Naharin´s Movement Language) and Ilan Lev Practitioner.Her interpretation as a dancer for Marcat Dance has been recognized with several awards such as “Best Female Contemporary Dancer” at the Escenarios de Sevilla (2023), the Lorca Awards(2023) the PAD Awards in Seville (2020); she is also a three time nominee at the Spanish Academy Talía awards for Best Female Interpreter (2025,2024, 2023). In 2024 Catherine received the Paul Boylan Award from the University of Michigan. Dedicated to dance education, in 2019 Catherine began the first-ever Study Abroad Program with the University of Michigan in Spain, where students from the United States join professional European dancers to learn the Marcat Dance repertoire and technique.

Prior to Marcat Dance, Catherine lived and worked in New York City for five years freelancing with choreographers Shen Wei and Shannon Gillen. As a performer she toured internationally in venues including the Lincoln Center (NYC), Art Basel(Miami), Festival de Danse (Cannes), and Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Theatre (Moscow), among others. As a dance administrator, Catherine played an integral role in the development of Andrea Miller’s Gallim Dance and The Playground NYC. A native of Detroit, Michigan, Catherine received her BFA from the University of Michigan.

VIM VIGOR - resident company of M2P2

VIM VIGOR is a physical dance theater company under the artistic direction of Shannon Gillen and co-choreographer Jason Cianciulli, and is one of the United States’ most cutting-edge dance-theater companies. Founded following Gillen’s successful choreographic and performance run in Germany, VIM VIGOR began as a collaborative think tank—a platform for profoundly gifted artists from around the world to come together in the creation of genre-defying dance theater.

Now a decade-strong nonprofit organization, VIM VIGOR is many things: a dance theater research group, a team of seasoned educators dedicated to rich and rigorous exploration of the arts, and a company of curious, fearless performers pushing the boundaries of live performance. The company’s signature language blends bombastic contemporary movement with theatrical worlds and cinematic dreamscapes, all in service of broadening the traditional dance audience. VIM has created 40 new works since 2010 with notable commissions including L.A. Dance Project, b12 Festival in Berlin, Icelandic University of the Arts, the IAB in Spain, Zagreb Dance Company, The Gibney Dance Company, Hubbard Street’s International Commissioning Competition, the Lobero Theatre/DANCEworks, PRISMA Festival in Panama, Ruvuelo inConcepcion, Chile, Treffpunkt- Rotebuehlplatz, Springboard Danse Festival, New York Live Arts, Judson Church, PULSE Art Fair as part of Art Basel, NYC’s River to River Festival, Bryant Park Presents, HERE Arts Center, Festival Oltre Passo in Italy, and Steps Repertory Company for the The Joyce Theater and Jacob’s Pillow.

Our collective training spans The Juilliard School, SUNY Purchase, NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Brown University, Berklee College of Music, and the University of Michigan. We have taught at universities and institutions around the world and are now proud to be resident artists in the Department of Dance at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Through this residency, VIM VIGOR regularly engages with students and the local community while developing new platforms to support and uplift artists throughout the Midwest.

FOUNDER of M2P2, VIM VIGOR lead choreographer / teacher / mentor

SHANNON GILLEN

Shannon Gillen (She/Her) is the artistic director of VIM VIGOR (US). Her creative work has been commissioned across the USA, Canada, Central America, South America, Nordic countries and Europe. Projects include commissions by L.A. Dance Project, fashion label PHELAN for NY Fashion Week, DANCEworks at the Lobero Theatre, Hubbard Street 2, Gibney Dance Company, Over het lj in the Netherlands, Jacob's Pillow Festival, ICA in Boston, Ruvuelo in Chile, Boston Dance Theater, Mainfranken Theater Würzburg, Arts Umbrella in Vancouver, the International Solo-Tanz Theater Festival in Stuttgart, the TIF theater in Kassel, de Danseurs in NL, as a THINK BIG choreographer-in-residence at Staatsoper Hannover and at Lewis Center for the Arts at Princeton where she was a choreographer in residence; notable festivals and venues where her work has been seen include Springboard Danse Festival in Montreal, New York Live Arts, Prisma Festival in Panama, Judson Church, PULSE Art Fair/Art Basel, Bryant Park, NYC's River to River Festival, Perry Mansfield, and The Joyce. VIM's work PUNCHLINE premiered at dock 11 in Berlin, before touring to the Arthur Miller Theater in Michigan, and with Gibney Presents at the Agnes Varis Performing Arts Center in NYC. Prior to founding VIM VIGOR, Shannon was a full company member of the Johannes Wieland company at Staatstheater Kassel in Germany.

Last year she was commissioned to create work at the IUA in Reykjavik, Iceland that premiered in May 2024. 2024 / 2025 commissions include St. Louis based Resilience Dance Company, b12 Festival, the The University of Limerick, the IAB in Spain, for Chisenhale Dance Center in London, UK, and Zagreb Dance Company in Croatia. Dedicated to educating and learning from the next generation of artists, Gillen is an Associate Professor of Dance at The University of Michigan where her company VIM VIGOR is the department’s company in residence. She is a graduate of The Juilliard School, earned her MFA from Tisch School of the Arts at NYU where she received the Dean Fellowship. Shannon also trained in Meisner acting at the Maggie Flanigan Studio in NYC, which contributes significantly to VIM's approach to dance theater methodology.

VIM VIGOR lead choreographer / teacher / mentor for M2P2

JASON CIANCIULLI

Jason Reese C. is a Psycho-Physical Theatre Artist whose research is grounded in Floorwork, Partnering and Physical Theatre. He is a teacher, performer, bodyworker and creator who aims to make worlds, sculpt space and tell stories. As an international performer he has worked throughout the United States and many other countries, including Canada, Panama, Germany, and Romania. He holds a License in Massage Therapy in both Michigan and Pennsylvania, working in Swedish, Deep Tissue, Craniosacral, and Myofascial Release Techniques. Jason is a co-choreographer with VIM VIGOR. He holds a BFA in dance from SUNY Purchase and an MFA in dance from the University of Michigan. Jason also trained in Meisner technique at Maggie Flanigan's Studio in NYC. After receiving his BFA, Jason returned to SUNY Purchase to teach as a lecturer. He now teaches as a LEO in the dance department of the University of Michigan. With VIM he has taught at various institutions throughout the globe, creating work and teaching VIM’s Physical Dance Theater Methodology. He most previously was teaching at the University of Iceland. Jason was a Performer and Rehearsal Director with the iconic immersive show, Sleep No More NYC.

Assistant Choreographer for VIM VIGOR's creation for M2P2

KATHERINE KIESSLING

Katherine Kiessling (She/Her) is a dancer and recent graduate of the University of Michigan, where she earned a double major in Dance and Computer Science. She has trained and performed across the United States and Europe with companies such as Vim Vigor, b12, Whim W’Him, Sidra Bell, and Christina Mertzani, among others. In April 2024, she traveled to Iceland with Vim Vigor as a choreographic collaborator and assistant rehearsal director for their commission, DON’T LET ME DOWN, for the graduating class of contemporary dance at the Iceland University of the Arts. She performed in Vim Vigor’s DRACULA at the University of Michigan in November 2024, and in MOTHERLOAD during the company’s London tour in March 2025. She also assisted the company in their commissions at the b12 festival in Berlin and at the Institute of the Arts Barcelona. Katherine officially joined Vim Vigor following her graduation in May 2025 and has assisted the company throughout their physical practice and choreographic processes at Michigan Movement Performance Projects.

Jess Fialko, is a lighting, costume, and scenic designer. Regional credits include: Colorado Springs Conservatory, Theatreworks Colorado Springs, Penobscot Theatre Company, Promethean Theatre Ensemble, Riverside Theatre, Iowa Summer Repertory, Maples Repertory Theatre, Hollins University, University of Northern Iowa, Birmingham Children's Theatre, Davenport Junior Theatre, and Quad Cities Theatre Workshop. Jess is a clinical assistant professor of Theatre & Drama at the University of Michigan, where they teach lighting design and theatre production.

Lighting Designer

Assistant Lighting Designer and Stage Manager for M2P2

Jess Fialko

Elianna Kruskal

Elianna Kruskal just graduated from University of Michigan with their BFA in Theatre Design and Production, concentrating in lighting design, and a BA in Social Theory and Practice. Select previous lighting design credits include: The Hunchback of Notre Dame, John Proctor is the Villain, Where We Meet, Pippin: Her Life and Times, Intimate Apparel, Falsettos, and Eurydice. He will be moving to NYC in August to pursue lighting for theatre and dance!

M2P2 COMPANY MEMBERS 2025

GAYÁ / BEHOLD THESE HAPPENINGS

ANNA BODESCU

Anna Bodescu is a student at the University of Michigan pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Media. Throughout her undergraduate career, she has trained extensively in modern techniques such as Graham, Cunningham, Limon, and Horton. Anna has performed works by Marcel Gbeffa, FLOCKWORKS, and Cain Coleman. Anna’s current research interests draw inspiration from primitive instincts and human social theories. Anna is looking forward to producing her own undergraduate thesis performance which will premiere in the spring of 2026.

GAYÁ / BEHOLD THESE HAPPENINGS

KAILONI CHRISTIAN

Kailoni Christian (She/Her) is a Chicago-based dancer trained in Jazz, Contemporary, Modern, Hip Hop, and Ballet. She has a BA in Dance Ministry from Hope College where she also studied Business. Passionate about bringing dance to communities that don’t have immediate access she has collaborated with many reputable performers, including but not limited to; Matthew Farmer, Victor Lugo, and William Crowley to put together community focused conferences and performances. Kailoni is currently looking to dance for a traveling company that prioritizes community outreach, where she will continue working toward her lifelong goals of exploring the intersections between dance and healing around the world.

BEHOLD THESE HAPPENINGS / PRELUDE

RUBY CLAY

Ruby Clay is from Ann Arbor, MI. Clay graduated from the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance in April of 2024 with a BFA in Dance and minors in History of Art, English, and Performing Arts Management & Entrepreneurship. Following graduation, they moved to England to train with the Jasmin Vardimon Company as part of JV2 from April to October of 2024. Clay is thrilled to be back home in the Dance Department and to share what M2P2 has been working on these past six weeks!

GAYÁ / BEHOLD THESE HAPPENINGS

AUDREY DE GUIA

Audrey De Guia is a rising senior at the University of Michigan, pursuing a dual degree in Dance and Neuroscience on the Pre-Med track. She previously trained for 12 years with Eisenhower Dance Detroit, working with members of the professional company to develop a strong technical and artistic foundation. Audrey has performed works by acclaimed choreographers including Shannon Gillen, Mario Bermúdez, Norbert De La Cruz III, Stephanie Pizzo, and Rosanna Tavarez. In 2024, she performed at Dock 11 in Berlin during the b12 festival in a piece by Gabrielle Nankivell and Harrison Elliot. She also trained with Mario Bermúdez and Catherine Coury at MARCAT Dance in Seville, Spain. Audrey merges her passions for art and medicine by organizing performances and creative events for medical students at Michigan Medicine, exploring how movement and healing can intersect.

GAYÁ / BEHOLD THESE HAPPENINGS

RACHEL DUNKLEE

Rachel Dunklee is a graduate of the University of Michigan with a BFA in Dance. Originally from Dexter, MI, Rachel has had the opportunity to perform in a variety of dance productions, including the annual Power Center show, multiple student works, Marcat Dance in Seville, Spain, and LA Establishment in Los Angeles. Driven by a deep passion for music, she aspires to integrate her love of both music and dance into a dynamic career in commercial dance within the music industry.

GAYÁ / BEHOLD THESE HAPPENINGS

JADA GIVENS

Jada Givens is a dedicated dancer, choreographer, and arts educator with a BFA in Dance from Oakland University (2025). She has performed with Oakland’s Repertory Dance Company and presented original choreography at the American College Dance Association. Jada’s work often draws from her faith, blending spiritual themes with powerful storytelling. Her experience spans professional internships with Take Root and Eisenhower Dance Detroit, along with teaching roles that emphasize community and creative empowerment. With a growing portfolio in performance, choreography, and education, Jada aspires to one day become an artistic director, leading with purpose and passion rooted in movement and meaning.

BEHOLD THESE HAPPENINGS / PRELUDE

SARAH GORMAN

Sarah Gorman is a recent graduate of the University of Michigan, where she earned degrees in Dance and Communication and Media. During her time at Michigan, Sarah performed in numerous productions, including MFA and BFA thesis works, and as member of Cadence Dance Company. She also spent a transformative summer training with Marcat Dance in Seville, Spain. She looks forward to building a professional career in contemporary dance, with aspirations to work in Europe or Chicago.

BEHOLD THESE HAPPENINGS / PRELUDE

ANDIE HETTA

Andie Hetta (They/Them) is a dancer and artist from Michigan. They have been studying various forms of visual and performance art for more than fifteen years. This carried them to Western Michigan University to pursue a Bachelors of Arts in Dance and Fine Art. There they worked with artists such as Kelsey Paschich, Mike Esperanza, and Andrea Salazar. Since graduation in 2024, Andie has been living and dancing in New York City. As a multimedia artist, they’ve loved exploring the dynamics of dance theater, and hope to continue researching the space between performance and fine art. They are thrilled and very grateful to be able to perform works by Vim Vigor and Marcat.

BEHOLD THESE HAPPENINGS / PRELUDE

MARY KASCUR

Mary Kacsur is a student at the University of Michigan pursuing a dual-degree in B.F.A.Dance and B.A. Cognitive Science. She has been dancing for 19 years, training in various styles such as ballet, contemporary, modern, jazz, floorwork, musical theater, pointe, and hip hop. Mary grew up dancing at The Pennsylvania School of the Performing Arts with Terri Garcia-Lee and was a company member for 11 years. In addition to dance, Mary trained her skills in classical voice and acting. She is constantly striving to perfect her skills with industry professionals. At the U of M, she has been in a plethora of performances including works by Andrea Salazar, Kyung Hwa Hong, Fangfei Miao, and Robin Wilson. Through summer intensives, Mary has trained with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Marcat Dance Company, Vim Vigor Dance, Philadelphia Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Steps NYC, and Broadway Dance Center. She has performed works by Rena Butler, Azure Barton, Rennie Harris, and Mario Bermúdez Gil. In the upcoming year, she will be graduating from the University of Michigan in December 2025 and residing in Ann Arbor to continue pursuing her two passions of dance and speech-language pathology.

GAYÁ / BEHOLD THESE HAPPENINGS

LEAH KROPP

Leah Kropp (She/Her) is a second-year undergraduate student at the University of Michigan. She is pursuing a dual degree with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance and a Bachelor of Science in movement science. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Leah gained extensive training at her local studio, The Moving Company Dance Center, and the performing arts high school, George Washington Carver Center for the Arts and Technology. During her time there, Leah performed in student choreography works at the Regional High School Dance Festival in Norfolk, Virginia and attended the Ballet & Contemporary Dance Series at the Kennedy Center where she trained with artists from a variety of professional companies including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Ballet West, American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Grupo Corpo, and Sydney Dance Company. Currently, in the School of Music, Theater, and Dance at the University of Michigan, Leah is studying dance techniques in Limón, Humphrey, Cunningham, floorwork, ballet, pointe, improvisation, composition, and somatics techniques in pilates and gyrotonics. At U of M, Leah recently performed in student thesis work and worked closely with faculty member and artist, Andrea Salazar. She is excited to continue her training at U of M and explore her artistic individuality as a contemporary dance artist. Leah is grateful for this inspiring opportunity to train with and perform in projects by VIM VIGOR and Marcat Dance during the Michigan Movement Performance Project!

BEHOLD THESE HAPPENINGS / PRELUDE

ANNIE LAFORET

Annie Laforet a dancer, teacher, and activist with a BFA in dance with a minor in Education at the University of Michigan. During her time at U of M she was in five dance department works as well as a featured dancer and dance captain in the theatre department’s “Our Oz.” Outside of school Laforet was the dance and intimacy captain and performer for the Michigan Theatre’s “Rocky Horror Picture Show.” She enjoys dancing in all styles, especially contemporary and musical theatre. Her goal as an artist is to create an environment that challenges the inherent biases of the audience and is authentic to her beliefs. Currently, she is also pursuing Pilates certification and enjoys creating screen dance.

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BEHOLD THESE HAPPENINGS / PRELUDE

LEAH LOGSDON

Leah Logsdon (She/They) is a queer dance artist based in New Orleans whose work centers community, storytelling, and healing through movement. A BFA graduate of the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins, she has trained with Ronald K. Brown, ICK Dans and Doug Varone, and performed works by Kevin Iega Jeff, Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, and Vim Vigor. Leah blends Afro-fusion, contemporary, and improvisation, drawing inspiration from New Orleans’ vibrant culture. Passionate about creating authentic, expressive spaces, she currently performs with Dow-Dance Company and continues to explore the intersection of individual expression and collective experience in her choreography.

GAYÁ / BEHOLD THESE HAPPENINGS

RACHEL MCNAUGHTON

Rachel McNaughton is a 19 year old junior at the University of Michigan, pursuing her BFA in dance. Born in Southern California, McNaughton trained with The Brea Space, Mallory Academy of Dance, Royal Flux and the School of American Ballet. Aside from her studies at U of M, she teaches and choreographs for Gravity Dance Company and Mallory Academy of Dance. Rachel has a love for inspiring the next generation of dancers and hopes to fuel their artistry while continuing to pursue a career in dance herself.

BEHOLD THESE HAPPENINGS / PRELUDE

KATE MITCHELL

Kate Mitchell is a recent graduate of the University of Michigan, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Media. During her time at U-M, she performed in numerous productions, including featured works by Rosanna Tavarez and Bryn Cohn at the annual Power Center Concert. Kate has trained internationally, spending summers dancing at Micadanses studios in Paris and most recently at the b12 Dance Festival in Berlin. While in Berlin, she worked with artists such as Laja Field, Akira Yoshida, and Marion Castaillet. At U-M, Kate also served as the Vice President of Marketing for the Michigan Fashion Media Summit where she explored how movement informs our understanding of space, light, materials, and form. Kate is excited to relocate to Chicago to pursue a professional career in contemporary dance, drawing on her interdisciplinary studies to explore how performance can shape perception and foster dialogue.

BEHOLD THESE HAPPENINGS / PRELUDE

PEYTON PRICE

Peyton Price is from Southfield, Michigan, and she is a dance major at the University of Michigan. She is also a part of a Hip Hop Dance club called Dance2XSMichigan on campus, as well. Initially, Peyton started training at age 3 in Ballet and Tap. Once she turned 9, she started dancing Competitively and became well-versed in many more dance styles. Throughout her childhood, she has performed at Institutions like the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Charles Wright Museum. Moreover, Peyton trained at Intensives with companies like the “Joffrey Ballet School”, “Complexions Contemporary Ballet”, and “Eisenhower Dance Detroit” on Scholarships. She has also worked with Master Choreographers like Jay Jay Dixonbey, Amy Yakima, and Ashly Green. Not to mention, Peyton traveled with “Hollywood Connection Dance Convention” as an assistant around the Region. Peyton graduated from Mercy High School in Farmington Hills, Michigan. During High school, alongside her rigorous academic classes, she was a member of the National Honors Society.

GAYÁ / BEHOLD THESE HAPPENINGS

LADINA SCHALLER

Ladina Schaller from Fribourg, Switzerland, is a rising fourth year undergraduate student at the University of Michigan pursuing a dual degree in Dance and Molecular Biology. Prior, she received her pre-professional certificate at the Conservatory of Fribourg with a focus in Contemporary Dance. Some of her performance experience includes work by Öff-Öff dance company, Nouvel Opéra Fribourg and the University of Michigan Dance Company.

GAYÁ / BEHOLD THESE HAPPENINGS

JESSICA SERRES

Jessica Serres is a student at the University of Michigan pursuing a BFA in Dance and a BS in Movement Science. During her time there, she has trained in floorwork, partnering, ballet, modern, improvisation, and compositional techniques. She has received additional training through the Orsolina 28 Summer Intensive, where she was immersed in Crystal Pite and Marco Goecke repertoire. Jessica most recently performed in works by Tzveta Kassabova and Robin Wilson as a part of the University of Michigan Dance Company and during her time as a student has been involved as a performer in numerous BFA thesis works. This year she was named as a choreographer for the University of Michigan First-Year Dance Company. She aims to bring the culmination of her training to further deepen her work as a contemporary dance artist.

BEHOLD THESE HAPPENINGS / PRELUDE

KATIE TUCCHI

Katie Tuchi (They/Them) is a rising senior Dance Major with a minor in African American Studies at Loyola Marymount University. They graduated from Arizona School for the Arts in 2022 as a dance major with an emphasis on Horton. Katie has spent summers studying at the Ailey School in both the junior and professional division intensives, Gaga Lab, Peridance Center, Joffrey Ballet School, Bates Dance Festival, and B12 Festival in Berlin. They have performed the works of Brett Easterling, LaMar Baylor, Mamie Green, Taryn Vander Hoop, Bernard Brown, Laura Ann Smyth, Janessa Clark, Adrienne Hurd, and Rachel Hettinger. They were recognized in 2023 as a choreographic finalist at the New Century Dance Project for their choreography, Troxler Fading, which premiered in the LMU Spring Concert followed by the 2023 Premier of Nervous Man in a Four Dollar Room, and in 2020 by the Phoenix Chapter of National Society of Arts and Letters for their choreography, Us as We. Katie earned the Arizona Seal of Arts Proficiency on their diploma through choreographing and producing an evening length work, Jam Sesh, including facilitated improvisation and seven pieces set on ten dancers. Thanks to Shannon, Jason, Mario, Cat, and Katherine for this period of challenges and cheers! And as always, thank you Mom and Dad <3

BEHOLD THESE HAPPENINGS / PRELUDE

CAITYLN WADE

Caitlyn Wade is an artist from Detroit, Michigan. Wade is a 2025 graduate from the University of Michigan where they earned a BFA in Dance, a BA in Linguistics, and a minor in Interdisciplinary Astronomy. Their training places specific emphasis on floorwork, partnering, Gaga, and Humphrey. They have performed works by FLOCKWORKS, Rosanna Tavarez, Wideman-Davis, KyungHwa Hong, and FangFei Miao. Additionally, they have worked closely alongside VIM VIGOR, Marcat, NW Dance Project, RUBBERBAND, and Giordano Dance Chicago. Their current research interest lies in the intersection between linguistics and dance, focusing primarily on language-based discrimination. Wade has also invested their time in creating works that delve into astronomical phenomena – including the physics of black holes, pulsars, and mythology relating to constellations. Wade finds parallels in these distinct areas of study through analysis and metaphors and aims to explore this content through their choreographic research.

RETURN TO TOP

Michigan Movement Performance Projects 2025 PROGRAM

MARCAT - guest company for M2P2

MARIO BERMÚDEZ

CATHERINE COURY

VIM VIGOR - resident company of M2P2

SHANNON GILLEN

JASON CIANCIULLI

KATHERINE KIESSLING

Jess Fialko

Elianna Kruskal

M2P2 COMPANY MEMBERS 2025

Michigan Movement Performance Projects
2025 PROGRAM