Jayde Kief’s premiere chorographic work, presented through RhinoFest at Facility Theater June 12, 14, 16, 19, 2024
The Four Faced Woman gazes down from her throne in the sky. At midnight the seed of life bursts forth into a fragile, magic, creature. As woman pushes through time, she evolves from Babe, to Youth, to Adult, to Elder, discovering her inner-power and cycling through vitality over and over again.
WO.MUN explores the celestial connection between woman’s power and the power of the moon, rebutting and expanding upon perceived restraints of the “Three Faced Goddess” archetype.
Featuring words by Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Sylvia Plath, Mary Oliver, and more. Choreographed, Directed, Produced by Jayde Kief. Choreographer’s Assistant Josie Starr. Contributions to solos from each dancer. Photos by Samantha Boehlen. Special Thanks to Strong Branch Productions.
Cast
Josie Starr, CA
is Youth
- precocious. joyous. abundant.
Second character of the cycle, Youth evolves herself with vim, vigor, and burn for life… infinite energy; she’s ready to ascend!
Emma Raney
is Elder
empowered. protecting. grounded.
The final character, Elder has experienced the entire cycle. From her rich, rotting, soil, new life will grow… infinite wisdom, she’s ready to rejuvenate.
Nic Steffenson
is Adult
searching. questioning. grounding.
Third phase of the cycle, Adult matures, pulling herself apart at the seams to unearth and find equilibrium. Will she loose her way? Infinite balance… she’s ready to transform.
Karah Thompson
is Babe
curious. gentle. knowing.
The beginning character of the cycle, Babe is born after midnight reaching out into the world… infinite possibilities; she’s ready to discover.
Artist Bios
Josephine (Josie) Starr, Choreographer’s Assistant, (she/her) born and raised in Marshall Missouri began her dance training at Broadway Bound Dance Studio under the direction of mentor Torey Spitzig. Josie graduated with a B. F. A. in Dance and departmental honors from Webster University. She has extensive performance experience in concert and competitive dance, as well as, multiple years of teaching experience. While at Webster she had to honor of working with artist such as Xi Zhao, Gregory Dawson, Tara Webbe Filomena Cacciatore, Anotonio Douthit-Boyd, and many others. Josie has had the privilege of training with companies across the United States, some of them including Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Backhaus Dance, and Visceral Dance Chicago. She now dances professionally in the Chicagoland area participating in free-lance-based projects. Her passion and curiosity for dance continue to be the driving force in her life, she thanks the people in her life for their unwavering support for the craft. She is excited to perform in WO.MUN
Emma Raney (she/her) a Louisville, KY native, has studied a wide variety of movement, and focused her training on modern and contemporary technique. During her career, Emma has had the privilege of dancing as a Company Member with Mutual Dance Theatre, Exhale Dance Tribe, and others. Currently, she is training with Venetia Stifler’s Concert Dance Inc. Recently, Emma was the Dance/Picture Double for the lead in The Boxer and The Butterfly, directed by Lindsay Hartley, currently on Amazon Prime and Plex TV. Through dance, she works closely with a non-profit gun violence foundation, the Whitney/Strong Organization. Emma is thrilled to continue her dance training and career in Chicago, IL, and perform with this talented cast at Rhinofest!
Nic Steffensen (she/her )grew up in the Chicagoland area where she trained as a competitive figure skater for fifteen years, earning three gold medalist distinctions and three invitations to the National Solo Ice Dance Finals. She holds a BFA from Columbia College Chicago where she graduated summa cum laude, and spent a year training at COMMON Conservatory under the direction of Terence Marling. Her supplemental training includes summer programs with Alzono King Lines Ballet, Moonwater Dance Project, and COMMON Conservatory. She is delighted to share the stage with a such a wonderful cast and bring the vision of Wo.Mun to life!
Karah Thompson (she/her) is thrilled to perform and support Jayde in this creative project. Originally from Texas, Karah graduated from OCU and has been proud to call Chicago home for the past seven years. She has worked with and led various dance companies in Texas, Oklahoma, and Chicago. Karah is excited to perform WO.MUN, and extends her gratitude to Dylan, her favorite dance partner, and to her two cats, PuppyCat and Purrple.
Riley Lamarre, Tech (they/them) is an artist, stage manager, and aspiring social worker. They’ve helped with a plethora of productions including stagehand for Sweetback Production’s Bipolar Bitch, house manager for Tellin’ Tales Theatre’s Six Stories Up in DISCOVERY, stage manager for nearly every season of Beast Women since 2019, and they served as a theater technician for several Prop Thtr Productions. They’re currently studying social work at Northeastern Illinois University, and when they aren’t drowning in homework they’re starting new chainmail projects that probably won’t get finished.
Director, Choreographer, Producer
(she/her) native Cincinnatian, spent her formative dance years studying in Los Angeles, CA. Under the direction of Dora Krannig, she learned dance science, Graham, Horton and Dunham technique, and launched her teaching career by working at local studios. After joining The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts’, Beverly Hills, resident company, The Wallis Studio Ensemble, she was guided by Madeline Dahm, in choreography, Viewpoints, Laban, and Graham. Jayde performed Panorama at CSUN, opening for the Martha Graham Dance Company, and garnered a deep appreciation for classic modern dance. Moving to Chicago, she now works with various studios in the city, teaching Ballet, Contemporary/Modern, Jazz, and Tap. Currently mentored by Deborah Byczkowski in RPM, Jayde focuses on dance anatomy, and creative methods of bringing the joy and passion of movement to every generation of dancer.
Donate to Our Dancer Fund!
https://www.gofundme.com/f/empower-womuns-dance-artists
All profits from the dancer fund will go directly to the four immensely talented, dedicated, and driven dance artists who performed WO.MUN.
While it is true that artists create simply for the passion and love of their craft, everyone is deserving of compensation for their work, and the years of learning that were necessary for them to become professionals. Consider donating to support the creative minds living locally in Chicago.
Special Thanks to:
RhinoFest
Curious Branch Theater
Prop Thtr
Samantha Boehlen
Alex Kingsley and Noa White
Libby and Mark Ross-Smendik
Janet Ulrich and Bill Kief
Rosśa Crean
Dee Byczkowski
Maralana Carlson
Alexander Sheldon
Claire Calloway, Caroline McLoughlin, Zoë Vulgamott
A Fairytale Ballet
VOLTA Performing Arts
Strong Branch Productions
My wonderful, beautiful, chosen family of friends and artists who support me with love, grace, and passion.
And all of you who came tonight to support local dance ❤
Music Credits
Jarðartrá (Dust to Dust), Eivør
Feel First Life, Jon Hopkins
Nocturne, Ana Roxanne
Infinite Love, Emile Mosseri
Untitled (Tourette’s), Peter Adams
Etude No 1 for String Quartet, Peter Sandberg
Weird Fishes/Arpeggi, Radiohead
Desire, yeule
The Beach, Alexandre Desplat
Sing, Four Tet
Sea of Corruption, Joe Hisaishi
Go, The Chemical Brothers
Evening Side- Oneohtrix Point Never Edit, Four Tet & Oneohtrix
Your Shadow, yeule
Easter Lily- roots version, Ichiko Aoba
Purple Rose Minuet, Susumu Yokota
Listen to the Official Soundtrack on Spotify!
Text Credits
Text Credits
Jayde kief 