Chicago Dance Crash

Artistic Directors

• Christopher M. McCray (2003-2006) – Crash's first contracted artistic director, McCray's award-winning production Ghost Play cemented the company's local significance while establishing its consistent season of premieres.^[9] McCray has gone on to direct Corpo Dance Company and now choreographs and performs internationally.^[10]
• Kyle Vincent Terry (2006-2010) – Terry had performed with Crash since 2003 and was promoted from a senior company position. Notably founding Crash's signature production, The Keeper of The Floor, Terry established the organization's current eight-member formation with works including an interpretation of Faust and the kung fu-inspired production Tiger Prawn: The Mountain Mover.^[11] Terry has gone on to direct the arts organization TheMASSIVE and since 2013 has enjoyed a stage and film career in New York City.^[12][13]
• Jessica Deahr (2012–2023) – Deahr had performed with Crash since 2007. Originally hired by Terry, Deahr's most poignant accomplishments include choreographing and directing the organization's 10th anniversary production of Gotham City^[14] as well as its 15-year anniversary production of The Bricklayers of Oz,^[15] both of which have led to national notoriety and have aided in Deahr's restructuring Crash's business model to include a steady touring program.^[16]
• KC Bevis (2023-present) – Katelyn Christine (KC) Bevis began her career with the organization as a performing apprentice then promoted to ensemble member, rehearsal director and ultimately appointed by Jessica Deahr herself as artistic director.^[17] Ms. Bevis' tenure with the organization most notably affirms a more tangible connection between Chicago's concert dance industry with the city's street dance community. "Come see us, take class with us, create opportunities together and come collaborate because there's so much more connection to be had."^[18]

Fusion-style

The prevailing aesthetic of Chicago Dance Crash has been cited as "fusion-style,"^[19] generally referred to as the blending of unalike dance forms but more culturally recognized as the specific combination of hip hop dance aspects (including breakdancing, popping, krump, among others) with the influence of "concert dance" vocabulary and direction (modern dance, jazz dance, ballet). The term "fusion-style" was originally coined by Chicago-raised dancer and choreographer James Morrow whose company "Instruments of Movement" championed the style regionally from 2001 to 2009.^[20][21] As two of Crash's founders (Moritz and Hackman) as well as all three of Crash's artistic directors had previously danced under Morrow, it's been publicly stated that Crash's aesthetic is attributed to his work.^[22]

Movement plays

Although not historically an unknown concept to live dance performance, Crash gained early support among critics and fans due largely to their creation of evening-length, linear plot-based works which they dubbed "movement plays"^[23]... a format less utilized in Chicago during the turn of the millennium.^[24] A device still used by the organization today, the shows often complement larger-spanning concepts with popular culture façades; commenting on morality, religion and politics with comic book settings, video game references and onstage spectacles.^[25]

KTF

Second to the Neo-Futurists show Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind, Chicago Dance Crash locally operates the longest-running live show in the history of Chicago.^[26] Opening on March 9, 2007, at the Lakeshore Theater,^[27] the company premiered an interactive dance battle titled The Keeper of The Floor (KTF for short) with dancers of differing styles competing in comical rounds towards a single champion of the night. The show's original late-night host was Reggie Watts and has been headlined by host Matthew Hollis, nicknamed "Mattrick Swayze," since 2008.^[28]