Photography by Nicole Lockhart. Dancers pictured: Sam Krieg, Bridget Vander Hoff, GingerAnn Neslund, Mackenzie Kalinowski, Lacia Franklin, Rae Dudek, Nicole Heikkilä-Popkin, Robyn Wilson

Welcome to Body Works

Friday, May 10, 2024

7:30pm

The Jam Handy

2900 E. Grand Blvd.

Detroit, MI

Body Works features new dance pieces created during our 2023-2024 season, including 4 works choreographed by Artistic Director Amy Cadwallader, 2 choreographed by Assistant Director Nicole Heikkilä-Popkin, and new works by 6 company members.
This concert’s collection of choreographic works will bring audiences on a journey through thoughtfulness, quirkiness, self reflection, humor, sadness, and celebration.
Visitors are encouraged to peruse the gallery space any time between noon and 7:30pm. Here, they may enjoy visual art by contributing artists (some pieces are available for sale!), alongside pre-show performances on video and live in the gallery. There will be a silent auction, Dance Uprising merchandise sales, and community partners set up as well!

Detroit Land Acknowledgement

(taken from a speech given at AFP Greater Detroit's 2022 National Philanthropy Day Dinner)

This land is special. We must take care of it. This land is old, and we must remember it. This land is borrowed, and we must not forget. This land is borrowed from our country’s indigenous ancestors, and we acknowledge that Detroit occupies the contemporary and ancestral homelands of three Anishinaabe nations of the council of Three Fires: the Ojibwe, the Ottawa, and Potawatomi. Through the treaty of Detroit, the Ojibwe, Ottawa, Potawatomi, and Wyandot tribes ceded the land now occupied by the city in 1807. They are here and they are the people where the rivers blend. To them, and their land, we say thank you. And we will not forget.

For more information on accessible, introductory-level resources on a variety of topics related to sovereignty, governance, and nation rebuilding, visit https://nativegov.org/resources/

Note Regarding Mature Themes

Today’s performance includes themes that may be uncomfortable and even triggering for some audience members. Please see below for organizations that may be able to help in the event of a mental health crisis or other personal safety concern.

If you have experienced any form of sexual violence, you may find confidential crisis support when you call RAINN (National Sexual Assault Hotline) at 1-800-656-4673. To learn more visit www.rainn.org.

For help with eating disorder support, reach out to any of the organizations below:

Projecct HEAL: Project HEAL’s vision is to create a world where everyone with an eating disorder has the opportunities & resources they need to heal. Learn more at https://www.theprojectheal.org/ or text “Healing” to 74-1741 if you need help.

NEDA: National Eating Disorder Awareness https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/

ANAD: National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders https://anad.org/. Call 1-888-375-7767 M-F 9am-9pm CT

Additional resources

Suicide Crisis Line: 988

SAMHSA: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration https://www.samhsa.gov/

About Dance Uprising

Dance Uprising is a modern dance company located in Ann Arbor, MI, directed by Amy Cadwallader (MFA), with a focus on providing paid, professional opportunities for dancers in the Ann Arbor-Detroit region. We work collaboratively to create unique dance pieces that speak to our human experiences.
Artistic Director Amy Cadwallader seeks to bring light to the conversations that were never spoken in polite company. She creates dance/art to challenge the norms that her own daughters might see as they grow up. Amy is joined by a cast of thirteen creative individuals for the 2023-2024 season who bring their unique worldviews to the work.
Our vision is to create meaningful dance work built on our lived experiences: personal concepts are political, and we raise our voices to share that with our audiences. We aim to provide sustainable stipends for dancers, paying them for time spent in rehearsals and performing.

BODY WORKS

in order of appearance

Adrenaline Echoes

Nicole Heikkilä'-Popkin

raised eyebrows and twitching lips

Amy Cadwallader

Unfathomable for You

Robyn Wilson

p e r s o n h o o d

Autumn Short

I’d rather the sticks and stones

Sam Krieg

INTERMISSION I

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot[s]

GingerAnn Neslund

Stretch Marks

Amy Cadwallader

Duality

Amy Cadwallader

Her Inner Seasons

Ashley Miller

INTERMISSION II

Body vs. Mind: Who is in Control?

Lacia Franklin

“dis-”

Nicole Heikkilä-Popkin

Finding Our Way Through Shadows

Amy Cadwallader

Act I

raised eyebrows and twitching lips

**Choreographer:** Amy Cadwallader
**Dancers:** Arleth Gonzalez, Mackenzie Kalinowski, Emma Grace McAbee-Reher, Autumn Short
**Source Sound:** “New Stuff,” “Strung Out,” and “Modern Dance,” by Travis Lake
**Sound Design:** Amy Cadwallader
**Lighting Design:** Jade Guerriero
**Costume Design:** Amy Cadwallader

unfathomable for you

**Choreographer:** Robyn Wilson
**Dancers:** Rae Dudek, Donna Roberts, Mackenzie Kalinowski, Sam Krieg, Ashley Miller, Autumn Short
**Source Sound:** “Hot Volcano” by Pearl and the Beard, “Son of Nyx” by Hozier, and “Home” by Imelda May
**Sound Design:** Collaged by Robyn Wilson
**Lighting Design:** Jade Guerriero
**Costume Design:** Pulled from the Dancers’ closets
**Program Note:**
“You’re so mature for your age,”
“You’re gonna break hearts someday,”
“That’s my future ex wife,”
“So how big are they?”
“Can I touch your boobs? Like I walked you all the way home,”
These are all real quotes from my life growing up as a femme person that developed physically early. This work is a way for me to process through and discover how bodies have been commodified through both the power of sex and sexuality, and the use of it as violence. And hopefully can help you contextualize experiences you’ve been a part of.

personhood

**Choreographer:** Autumn Short
**Dancers:** Amy Cadwallader, Arleth Gonzalez, Sam Krieg, Emma Grace McAbee-Reher, Robyn Wilson
**Sound:** Original composition by David Smit
**Lighting Design:** Jade Guerriero
**Costume Design:** Autumn Short
**Program Note:** This piece considers all of the ins and outs of finding oneself after tragedy. This piece is heavily based on the choreographer’s personal experience with recovery from an eating disorder. She pulls from feelings of strangeness in their own body and relearning how to thrive. “I hope that people can find their own personhood in what they see on stage, and hopefully take away a message on how to flourish in the face of self-discovery.” -Autumn Short

I’d rather the sticks and stones

**Choreographer:** Sam Krieg
**Dancers:** Amy Cadwallader, Rae Dudek, Lacia Franklin, Nicole Heikkilä-Popkin, Mackenzie Kalinowski, GingerAnn Neslund, Bridget Vander Hoff, Rob Wilson
**Music:** “Hey Mami,” by Sylvan Esso
**Lighting Design:** Jade Guerriero

INTERMISSION (5 MINUTES)

Swing low, sweet chariot[s]

**Choreographer:** GingerAnn Neslund in collaboration with dancers
**Dancers:** Nicole Heikkilä-Popkin, Sam Krieg, GingerAnn Neslund, Autumn Short
**Source Sound:** “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” (Traditional), “Boobs Your Uncle” by Max Popkin, “Boobs” by Ruth Wallis, “Itchy Boobs” excerpt by Comedian Bob Marley, “Tasteful Sideboob” by Class-A Deviants, “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” by The Fisk Jubilee Singers, “Boobs a Lot” by The Holy Modal Rounders
**Sound Design:** GingerAnn Neslund
**Lighting Design:** Jade Guerriero
**Costume Design:** GingerAnn Neslund
**Program Note:** Melons, jugs, bee stings, mosquito bites, fun bags, sweater stretchers, knockers, twin peaks, tatas, raisins, shoulder boulders, hooters, milk bags

Stretch Marks

**Choreographer:** Amy Cadwallader, in collaboration with the cast
**Dancers:** Emma Grace McAbee-Reher, GingerAnn Neslund, Bridget Vander Hoff
**Source Sound:** “Strings Dramatic Track,” by Sandeep Khurana; “Dark World,” by Royalty Free Music Maker; “Threatening Strings,” by Royalty Free Music Maker
**Sound Design:** Amy Cadwallader
**Lighting Design:** Jade Guerriero
**Costume Design:** Amy Cadwallader
**Program Note:** Tiger stripes, stretch marks, red, white, or purple; Pregnancy, weight gain, puberty, or muscle; What we call them, how they got there, they show signs of change; Our skin marks our journey on this living plane.

Duality

**Choreographer:** Amy Cadwallader
**Dancers:** Amy Cadwallader and Autumn Short
**Source Sound:** “Waende,” by Ceeys; “Shrine Tooth,” by Forest Swords; “Surrender,” by Drehz
**Sound Design:** Amy Cadwallader
**Lighting Design:** Jade Guerriero
**Costume Design:** Amy Cadwallader
**Program Note:** What part of yourself do you share? Which parts of yourself do you keep under the radar?

Her Inner Seasons

**Choreographer:** Ashley Miller in collaboration with dancers
**Dancers:** Rae Dudek, Lacia Franklin, Nicole Heikkilä-Popkin, Mackenzie Kalinowski, Ashley Miller, GingerAnn Neslund, Donna Roberts, Bridget Vander Hoff
**Music:** The Four Seasons-- Antonio Vivaldi
**Sound Design:** Ashley Miller
**Lighting Design:** Jade Guerriero
**Costume Design:** Ashley Miller
**Program Note:***Her Inner Seasons* is an exploration of the cyclical body and the nuanced feelings and societal expectations that influence interpretations of it. This piece intentionally breaks the rigid structure of classical ballet, an art form that is historically built on cyclical bodies, yet has always operated on an idealist, masculine paradigm.

INTERMISSION (15 MINUTES)

Body Vs. Mind: Who is in control?

**Choreographer:** Lacia Franklin
**Dancers:** Donna Roberts, Sam Krieg, Emma Grace McAbee-Reher, GingerAnn Neslund, Autumn Short, Bridget Vander Hoff
**Music:** “Control,” by Halsey
**Lighting Design:** Jade Guerriero
**Costume Design:** Lacia Franklin
**Program Note:** This piece is about mental health challenges. Oftentimes someone who encounters mental health challenges (i.e. anxiety, depression, trauma or PTSD, abuse, etc.) they can face haunting thoughts and feelings. Some days those haunting thoughts and feelings can be so overwhelming and all consuming making it hard to perform daily tasks or hard for their body to physically move. Some days they may be able to perform their daily tasks, but the haunting thoughts and feelings persist while their body goes through the motions. Some days they may be able to find the balance and harmony between the two; body and mind. My hope for this piece is to bring awareness to mental health and that the body and mind can function together as one whole unit, or they can function separately together. If you or someone you love is battling any mental health challenges, you are not alone, you are beautiful, you matter, you are strong, and you are more than whatever battle you're fighting. Be kind to yourself, and be kind to others.

“dis-”

**Choreographer:** Nicole Heikkilä-Popkin
**Dancers:** Nicole Heikkilä-Popkin
**Music:** “Perpetual Mild Illness” by Crooks & Nannies
**Lighting Design:** Jade Guerriero
**Program Note:** 1 in 4 Adults in the U.S. has some sort of disability. It is the only minority group any of us can join at any time. The Americans with Disabilities Act, an act to establish a clear and comprehensive prohibition of discrimination on the basis of disability, was only passed in 1990. Here is a glimpse into my story.

Finding our way through shadows

**Choreographer:** Amy Cadwallader
**Dancers:** Amy Cadwallader, Nicole Heikkilä-Popkin, Mackenzie Kalinowski, Sam Krieg, Emma Grace McAbee-Reher, GingerAnn Neslund, Donna Roberts, Autumn Short, Bridget Vander Hoff
**Sound:** Original composition by David Smit
**Lighting Design:** Jade Guerriero
**Costume Design:** Amy Cadwallader
**Program Note:** Ages 12-34 are the highest risk years for girls and women to be victims of sexual violence, with ages 16-19 being four times more likely than the general population to be victims of these crimes. We can heal together; we can change societal norms together.

Meet the Directors

Amy Cadwallader, Artistic Director

BS Mathematics Education, Purdue University (2010)

MFA Dance, University of Michigan (2016)

Amy Cadwallader is a dancer, choreographer, pole dancer, performer, improviser, and educator currently living in Ann Arbor, MI. As Artistic Director of Dance Uprising, Amy has invested in dance education with community classes for young children at the Ypsilanti District Library, Ann Arbor Public Schools, and creative movement classes for babies and toddlers. Amy has presented work this year with Shape // Matter Showcase, Suttle Dance, The Main Event, at Purdue University, and with The Precipitants. She has also performed with Terpsichore Collective, The Ann Arbor Aviary, and The Precipitants.

Nicole Heikkilä-Popkin, Assistant Director

BS, Dance; BA Theatre from Wayne State University (2018)

Nicole has been dancing since age 3 and recently has been in professional dance companies Dance Uprising and Diversiform Dance Project. She has taught many forms of dance around the Southeast Michigan area. When not dancing or teaching dance, Nicole works in theatre tech.

Autumn Short, Secretary

BS Dance, Wayne State (2023)

Autumn Short is a Michigan local who has 20 years of complex dance training. With a degree from Wayne State University under their belt, Autumn has big plans for her career, in both education and performance. They specialize in modern and post-modern styles of choreography and loves floorwork.

GingerAnn Neslund, Fundraising Chair

BS Movement Science, University of Michigan (2012)

BFA Dance, University of Michigan (2012)

MA Teaching Artistry in Dance, Wayne State University (2024)

Doctorate of Physical Therapy, University of Michigan-Flint (2015)

GingerAnn Nelsund is a professional dancer and physical therapist and is currently in her third year with Dance Uprising. She is owner of Divergent Physical Therapy and Wellness and teaches Kinesiology for Dancers within the Department of Dance at the University of Michigan. Ginger is very active in the Ann Arbor and Metro Detroit dance scene, dancing for Diversiform Dance Project (Rochester, MI) and Terpsichore Collective (Ann Arbor, MI) in addition to Dance Uprising. She also teaches adult ballet classes in the Ann Arbor area. Ginger recently graduated with her MA in Teaching Artistry with a focus in Dance from Wayne State University and is looking forward to using what she learned in her career in the dance industry.

Meet the Cast of Dance Uprising

Rae Dudek

BFA, Commercial Dance

Rachel (Rae) Dudek’s varied dance studies have taken her from Polish Folk Dance in Metro Detroit to Commercial Dance in Los Angeles, from teaching and performing aerial dance. She brings kindness and community to her unique movement qualities through aerial dance teaching and performing, as well as her modern dance choreography.

Lacia Franklin

BS, Dance

Lacia began dancing at age 6, and never stopped. She graduated Cum Laude from Wayne State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in dance in 2014. She teaches various dance styles for both recreational and competitive dance. Lacia joined Dance Uprising in 2022.

Ginny Jiang

BFA, Dance

Lingjing(Ginny) Jiang is an interdisciplinary artist, filmmaker, educator, choreographer and dancer originally from Beijing, China. She is currently pursuing an MFA in Dance at University of Michigan.

Mackenzie Kalinowski

BA, Hope College

Mackenzie (Mac) is a professional dancer and choreographer form Bangor, MI, and received her B.a. in dance and business from Hope College in 2022. Mac uses her dance knowledge and skills to speak on the darker side of the human experience – tackling topics such as depression, loneliness, sexual trauma, and loss. She is currently based in the Detroit and Ann Arbor areas, working with Dance Uprising, CloudMoon, and Terpsichore Collective. Mackenzie is also a performance technician at the Village Theater where she has the pleasure of designing lighting for both dance and theater.

Sam Krieg

BA, Eastern Michigan University

Dance training Ohio University

Sam Krieg (she/her) is a dancer based out of the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti area where she is a member of both Cloudmoon and Dance Uprising. She studied Dance Performance and Choreography at Ohio University before finishing her degree at Eastern Michigan University in 2020. Sam is also a graduate of Teachers Training School through Dance Masters of America, where she was awarded the Bachna Scholarship. Sam has taught various genres of dance at many different schools/studios throughout the US, at both the recreational and competitive levels.

Emma Grace McAbee-Reher

BS Psychology, University of Michigan (2025)

Emma Grace grew up in Indiana training in dance and gymnastics. She teaches multiple genres of dance in the Ann Arbor area, both competitive and recreational.

Ashley Miller

BS, Health & Wellness (2025)

Associate in Arts (2020)

Ashley began dancing in 2011 and has been training Aerial/Circus Arts since 2017. She is a founding member of the modern dance company Dance Uprising. She is certified by Cirqfit and Born to Fly Aerial and currently teaches aerial throughout Southern Michigan. Outside of teaching and performing, she is a Registered Holistic Nutrition Practitioner (RHNP), which informs her teaching style to support her students’ physical & emotional wellness in and out of the classroom.

Donna Roberts

BA, Communication, Eastern Michigan University (2024)

Donna Roberts has been dancing for fifteen years. Donna teaches solo and group dances to a wide range of ages at Shearrer’s Arts’n’Motion in New Boston, MI. With an entrepreneurial spirit, she has successfully built up her own tumbling business, as well as creating custom jean jackets, mirrors, and photography. This is Donna’s second season with Dance Uprising. She is so thankful for this opportunity, and appreciates everyone’s support.

Bridget Vander Hoff

BA Dance, Oakland University

Bridget currently resides in Mid-Michigan where she works as the assistant director of Delta Dance Connection's Junior Company and the executive secretary of Michigan Dance Council. Bridget performs in work with Dance Uprising, Elements, and Happendance, and her choreography has been selected for festivals such as Ypsi Dance Swap, Dancing in Summer: The Festival, and DANCE Lansing.

Robyn Wilson

BFA, Dance and Cultural Studies, Columbia College Chicago (2020)

Robyn Wilson (they/them) is a multidisciplinary artist whos many trades include dance performance, stage management, lighting design, vocal performance, teaching, and sound design. Robyn is a founding member of the We/Are Collective in Chicago, IL, a teacher at Performers Edge Dance Company, and one of the Artistic Directors of Cloudmoon Dance. When Robyn isn’t indulging in some kind of art- or working- they can be found cuddling their dog Cookie and making meals with their fiancé Teddy.