Cerqua Rivera Dance Theater to Hold Final Performance of its “America / Americans” Fall Concert Series at Epiphany Center for the Arts

CHICAGO (October 11, 2021) – Epiphany Center for the Arts today announced that the Cerqua Rivera Dance Theater (CRDT) will hold the final performance of its “America / Americans” fall concert series this weekend on Sunday, October 17 at 7:00 p.m. in the landmark venue’s Epiphany Hall. The performance will serve as a benefit show, with all proceeds directly underwriting Cerqua Rivera artist pay.

“I’m thrilled to conclude our 2021 season at Epiphany Center for the Arts’ historic space, as we both share the strong belief in art as an agent of change and community healing,” said Wilfredo Rivera, CEO and artistic director, Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre. “Epiphany’s elegant background, serene ambience, and unique architecture serve as the perfect framework to showcase CRDT’s multi-cultural, magnetic, and soulful dance and music program.”

CRDT explores and celebrates who we are and what we are as Americans through bold and inclusive art making and presentation. With an intense focus on personal narratives, the combined talents of its diverse collective of artists, and the multiple artistic languages with which it communicates, CRDT engages audiences in magnetic human stories at once new and deeply familiar. In its art and artists, the dance collective is proudly and visibly multicultural, and explores the intersection of heritage, culture and identity. The “America / Americans” dance and music program includes the following works: 

• SHIVER: Three dancers portraying the parts that make up the whole of a person separating from the past and moving toward growth; choreography Stephanie Martinez, music Joe Cerqua
• SOUL REMEDY: Exploration of the Aesthetic of the Cool, a culturally specific phenomenon rooted in the Black American experience; a celebration of artistic legacy without appropriation (year 1 of a 2-year project); choreography Monique Haley, music Pharez Whitted
• IDENTITY CITY: A groundbreaking work unpacking how gender is felt, expressed, received, challenged (year 2 of a 4-year project); choreography Shannon Alvis, music Joe Cerqua 
• MOOD SWING: Our continuing response to the pandemic crisis and social justice movement; choreography Shannon Alvis, Katlin Bourgeois, Monique Haley, Eddy Ocampo, Wilfredo Rivera, music Joe Cerqua

“The mission of Epiphany Center for the Arts is to instill an artistic, cultural experience in all patrons who cross our threshold, with the hope that each of them will be inspired to realize their own Epiphany,” said David Chase, co-founder, Epiphany Center for the Arts. “The artists and artistry of Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre will do just that. We’re thrilled to host this unique and multitalented, multicultural dance company for the finale of their 2021 season.”

Tickets for CRDT’s performance of “America/Americans” are available at https://epiphanychi.com/events/cerqua-rivera, with pricing from $100 – $175, and sponsorship packages from $500 – $1,000. Tickets include concert admission and gourmet refreshments from Food for Thought. VIP tickets include additional support for artists. Cash bar available on site.

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About Epiphany Center for the Arts

Conceived with the vision to return Epiphany to a place for people to congregate, the shuttered, historic Church of the Epiphany has been preserved and adapted into the Epiphany Center for the Arts, an iconic cultural hub “For the Good of Art, Entertainment and Events.” Thoughtfully designed, the exemplary 42,000-square-foot campus located on the artsy edge of Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood boasts three distinct venues (Epiphany Hall, The Sanctuary and The Chase House) and a stunning array of amenities. The campus also features eight galleries that serve as a platform for a diverse selection of artists from Chicago and beyond. Epiphany’s exhibitions showcase the work of women, the LGBTQIA community, artists of color, and the disability culture. Epiphany’s top priority is to curate programming that is inclusive, while providing a place established artists can collaborate with emerging ones. Epiphany’s programming serves to unite community and artists alike while “Bringing Chicago Together.” Visit www.epiphanychi.com to learn more.