Earlier this year, Knox College students had the opportunity to study and work alongside professional dancers from the Aerial Dance Chicago team. The group was trained on special techniques used by the professional dance company, including free barres (large poles), hanging silks, and swinging apparatuses. The weeklong dance residency culminated in a sold-out performance at the Orpheum Theatre in Galesburg featuring Knox students alongside the professional dance troupe.

All Knox students were invited to learn the basics of aerial dance during workshops held on campus. Six students auditioned and were chosen for the public performance at The Orpheum Theatre. Shown below, from left: dancers MJ Opulencia ’25, Gwen Merrick ’24, Madelyn Pellegrino ’26, Marina Hope ’24, Aicha Chemani ’24, and Lauren Reed, Aerial Dance Chicago choreographer. Not Pictured: Knox student Tristan Blus ’23 who light-designed part of the performance.