The Biggest Wail from the Bottom of My Heart

Preparing for our tenth anniversary, Lucy and I wanted to celebrate by presenting an evening of new work that dove into the many emotions, feelings, and sensations we have felt over the past two years. It’s not in my nature to be overtly political, but recently I’ve felt an insistent call to participate in the world around me more truthfully. With Lucy’s encouragement and the dancers’ willing nature, we began the months long process of unraveling a point of view that shouts with anger and softens with tenderness. At the heart of RE|dance group’s work is an unyielding yearning for love and acceptance. This idea stirs deeply throughout The Biggest Wail From The Bottom Of My Heart.
 
This dance theatre work reflects the urgency, need, and desire to reject ignorance. The work subtlety calls attention to revolution. Feelings of despair and uncertainty are powerful mechanisms for change. A personal voice is a powerful voice. This work, for me, is a call to action, a plea, and a proclamation.
 
Lucy and I are so grateful to have established a home with RE|dance group that has nurtured our creative voices for the past 10 years. We find this to be one of our greatest accomplishments both personally and professionally. This work would not be possible without a group of artists who bring their full selves to the studio every time. Daiva, Zach, Stacy, Erika, Corinne, Anthony, Danielle and Melanie are remarkable human beings. Their commitment, drive, and energy exemplify and deepen our mission to create emotionally complex work that examines the human condition. I am awed by their curiosity, intellect, vulnerability, and courage.
 
CDE’s Art + Activism series is giving us another opportunity to share excerpts from The Biggest Wail From the Bottom of My Heart in response to the current political landscape; which promotes marginalization rather than unity. The excerpt explores how the body, through percussive action, represents a protest against established societal norms. Subject matter considers how we, as a company of primarily white dancers, contribute to the expanding dialogue about race, injustice and ignorance in America. 

- Michael Estanich, RE|Dance Group

Michael Estanich (Artistic Director, RE|Dance Group)'s creative research currently examines ideas about the intersection of the physical body with space, architecture, and landscape often resulting in dances supported by sculptural environments. He is a Professor of Dance at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point where he teaches modern dance technique, composition, dance pedagogy, movement analysis and dance history. He earned his MFA from The Ohio State University and his BFA from Denison University. Michael’s performance credits include Molly Shanahan/Mad Shak, Cerulean Dance Theatre, Rebecca Rosen, Melanie Bales, Bebe Miller, a reconstruction of Mark Morris’ choreography All Fours, and Susan Marshall's ARMS. He is the Mainstage Choreographer at the Trollwood Performing Arts School in Moorhead, MN and Vice President of Nominations and Elections for the American College Dance Association (ACDA).

See RE|Dance Group in Stories of Chicago, running January 24th and 25th at Ebenezer Lutheran Church Auditorium!
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