Jie-Hung Connie Shiau was born in Gainesville, Florida, U.S.A., and raised in Tainan, Taiwan. She moved to the States to further her dance education and pursue a professional dance career at the age of 18. She received her BFA in dance from SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance. Shiau has worked as a collaborator with an array of companies including Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Kyle Abraham/Abraham.In.Motion, Gallim Dance, Helen Simoneau Danse, MeenMoves, Adam Barruch Dance, and The Kevin Wynn Collection. She has performed works by Crystal Pite, Ohad Naharin, Lou Conte, Brian Brooks, Peter Chu, Robyn Mineko Williams, Alejandro Cerrudo, Helen Simoneau, Sameena Mitta, Rena Butler, Alice Klock, Osnel Delgado, and Adam Barruch. During her time with Kyle Abraham/Abraham.In.Motion, she assisted Abraham on the Untitled America creation process on Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, she also restaged Abraham’s works on numerous schools such as SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance, Point Park University, Cornish College, Rutgers University, Princeton University, Queensborough Community College, and Booker T Washington Visual and Performing Arts High School.

In addition, Shiau was a recipient of Chicago Dancemaker Forum Greenhouse Artist in 2019, New Choreographer Project in Taipei, Taiwan in 2019, Dance Magazine’s “25 To Watch” in 2018, Honorable Mention for Jadin Wong Award for Emerging Asian American Dancer in 2014, and Reverb Dance Festival Dancer Award in 2014.

For more information about Jie-Hung Connie, please visit www.jiehungconnieshiau.com.

Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Kevin Michael Briggs, b. 1990 in San Francisco, CA, is a photographer and visual artist based in Chicago, IL. Beckoned by curiosity and good light, he made his way from the Ohio cornfields where he grew up, to studios in hyper-industrial warehouses, where he learned light as trade. Pursuing degrees in visual communication and anthropology along the way, he remains enamored with seeing and being, often found on two legs or two wheels scouting locations, scouting life in a landscape of symbols. While his eye for technical detail was put to use for Nike, Gap, and other fashion brands, his creative mind wandered, growing a deep interest in movement and physicality. Dance, as a synthesis of expression and raw athleticism, became a natural subject. His work explores the edge of realism and seeks to celebrate the beauty of the natural world in its fleeting, yet everlasting form.

More work can be seen at www.kevinmichaelbriggs.com

Photo by Jie-Hung Connie Shiau

Composer Jerome Begin has composed many scores for dance, theater, concert works, opera, installation and film.  Equally at home in the classical, experimental, theatrical and pop worlds, he has always been drawn to collaboration.  His works have been performed throughout the USA, Europe, and Asia.  Commissions include Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company, Abraham in Motion, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Brian Brooks Moving Company, and many others.  He is currently on the faculty of The Juilliard School. For more info, visit www.jeromebegin.com.

Photo by Rosalie O’Connor