Video: Nadia Oussenko and Steve Tarzia Photography: Topher Alexander
Our dance project, “Far From Equilibrium”, is an artistic exploration of turbulence. Turbulence is in most places in the universe: in cream stirred into coffee, in the raging, swirling flames of forest fires on Earth, and even in massive explosions of energy from the surface of our Sun. However, this chaotic, complex, unstable twisting and stretching of fluid is mysterious, even to the scientists who study it. This work interprets and embodies the fundamental motions of turbulence, recombining them into new, intuitive forms: the turbulence of bodies mixing, the shear and glide of dancers in space, spirals and eddies of movement that appear and disappear without warning. “Far from Equilibrium” invites audience members to immerse themselves in the beauty of turbulence and reflect on its role in everyday life.
Far From Equilibrium was performed at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago on October 17th, 2015 as part of the Museum’s annual STEM career celebration, Science Works. In addition to watching the dance, many museum attendees visited our Science Works booth, where they were able to learn more about turbulence and the dance project. The performance was also a part of the 20th annual Chicago Artists Month.
Choreography | Megan Rhyme |
Physics | Elizabeth Hicks |
Dance Ensemble | Mary Wu Sarah Gottlieb Kathryn Hetrick Chrissy Martin Gretchen Soechting Sara Nelson Jacqueline Dennis |
Special Thanks To : Krissy Rhyme, Steve Tarzia, Carol Scott, Erin DeWitt and Glenwood Dance Studio, Topher Alexander, Nadia Oussenko, Allegro Dance Boutique, Rabiah Mayas, Mandy Bobrow, Lauren Stevens, and all the wonderful Museum of Science and Industry staff
Catherine D. Hicks and Ben Y. Hicks Victoria Lyman/Allegro Dance Boutique Anne and Buck Rhyme Catherine Q. Hicks and Steve Guptill Gary and Priscilla Sopchik Derin Kenny and Dan Ellman Janice Jennings and Bill Rhyme Nancy Rhyme and Jim Carpenter Margo Rhyme and Ron Frager Ginger Jensen | Margot Toppen Janet Schmid Carol Scott John Everett Rachel Damon Kristina Fluty Eleanor Sharp Julie Brannen Chih-Hsien Lin |
Megan Rhyme is an independent choreographer in Chicago who has danced with Salty Lark Dance, Renegade Dance Architects, Synapse Arts Collective, and has produced work at the Chicago Fringe Festival, and Links Hall. You can find more about her work at www.rhymedance.com.
Elizabeth Hicks is an astrophysicist who studies fluid dynamics. She is also the founder of Epsilon Delta Labs (www.epsilondeltalabs.org), a research lab focused on interdisciplinary projects.
Mary Wu practices many forms of dance, including release-based Modern, ballet, Afro-Haitian, and hip hop, and organizes a monthly gathering for practicing dance/movement improvisation scores. She has performed works by Ginger Krebs, Michelle Burger, Megan Rhyme, and Clare Tallon Ruen, and has collaborated with the Solo Movement Collective and Chicago Contact Improv Jam. She has shown her choreography at Research Project and Delve in Chicago.
Sarah Gottlieb, CLMA, is an independent dance artist whose work layers contemporary movement with improvisation, installation, activism, and somatic practice. Driven by an insatiable curiosity about the human body, Sarah examines the interplay of biological systems and consciousness.
Sara Nelson received her Bachelors of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of Florida in 2014, along with a certification in Dance in Healthcare. Her background in theater and passion for dance, creativity, and community outreach lead her to the city of Chicago where she is very active in the arts scene. Sara is currently dancing with Khecari, Core Project Chicago, and The Coincidentals. Additionally, she is an instructor with the Chicago Dance Institute, bringing dance to underprivileged populations in the Chicago Public School system. Sara is both extremely grateful and thrilled to be a part of this project.
I am a recent graduate of Point Park University. I graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BFA in Dance. Born in Chicago, Illinois, I have been dancing since I was 12 years old. I began dancing at a Steps Dance Center and then moved on to study with Nick Pupillo's Visceral Studio Company. I received additional training through intensives such as River North Dance Chicago, Thodos Dance Chicago, Keigwin + Company, Visceral Dance Chicago, and Joffrey Ballet. I was a member of the Waubonsie Valley Orchesis my four years of high school, and was Vice President my senior year. I was blessed with the opportunity to work with choreographers like Melissa Thodos and Jeff Hancock while on the Orchesis team. I attended the University of North Carolina School of the Arts for two years as a BFA Contemporary Dance Major. I then decided to move to Pittsburgh to finish my studies at Point Park University. I plan to graduate from Point Park University with a BFA in Dance, in May 2015.
Throughout my dance career I have studied many different dance styles such as Limon, Cunningham, Gaga, Graham, Horton, Dunham, Ballet, pointe, partnering, hip-hop, jazz, and tap. I have also had the opportunity to work with many different dancers and choreographers such as Ruben Graciani, Garfield Lemonious, Matt Pardo, Lizzie MacKenzie, Laura Wade, Christian Denice, Juel Lane, Susan Jaffe, Bobbi Smith, Nick Pupillo, Susan Stowe, Sidra Bell, and Brenda Daniels.
Gretchen Soechting, a native of Chattanooga, TN, holds a BFA in Dance from Columbia College Chicago. In her 5th season with Synapse Arts Collective, she most recently appeared in Rachel Damon’s You’re So Stubborn at the Storefront Theatre under the 2015 DCASE season. Gretchen has performed throughout the Chicagoland area in such venues as the Chicago Home Theater Festival, Thaw, Produce, Dance for 9.99, Harvest Contemporary Dance Festival, and in Philip Elson’s 2014 Terms and Conditions at Links Hall. She is the joint recipient of a Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events Individual Artist Program Grant in her work with the Dancers Cooperative, a new collaboration that seeks to challenge the current and ongoing struggle for sustainability in dance and the performing arts.
A lifelong dancer, Kathryn graduated with her BA in Dance from Western Michigan University, where she had the privilege of working with established choreographers from across the U.S. Since joining the Chicago dance community, she has worked with many choreographers and dance companies, including Craig Miller, Ashley Deran, and Brenna Pierson-Tucker and Christopher Tucker of Esoteric Dance Project. Kathryn can currently been seen moving and collaborating with Salty Lark Dance and Project Bound: A Limiting Value. She is very excited to be joining Megan and Elizabeth on this journey of scientific and artistic exploration.
Chrissy Martin is a Chicago native from Rogers Park. She loves to spend her days biking around the city, helping out at her local community garden, teaching children and adults about their bodies, and singing wherever and whenever she can. She is currently interested in taking a more somatic approach to dance; focusing on the inner workings of her anatomical structure and letting that inspire creativity in movement.
Megan's Email:
m e g a n @ r h y m e d a n c e . c o m
Elizabeth's Email:
e l i z a b e t h @ e p s i l o n d e l t a l a b s. o r g