Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre brings a powerful mix of dance and live music to Columbia, exploring identity, connection, and community through world premieres and a returning work.
A first-time collaboration arrives at the Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago this spring as Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre presents “Urgent Motion/Shared Ground,” a program that meets a world in flux with movement and music that listens, reflects, and connects.
Running April 30–May 2, the performances mark the company’s debut at the Dance Center, bringing its signature blend of contemporary dance and live jazz orchestration to Columbia audiences.
At the core of the program are two world premieres—“Immense World” by Shannon Alvis and Joe Cerqua, and “We Intersect” by Monique Haley and Cerqua—alongside the return of “A Place Between Earth and Sky,” a work that traces the arc of a life through the passage of a single day. Together, the pieces explore the relationships between individuals, communities, and the environments they inhabit.
“As an ensemble, every time that we dive into questions of being, what emerges is a universal experience,” says assistant professor of instruction Wilfredo Rivera. “Through the multiplicity of voices in the company, we’re able to convey something that resonates with a wide audience.”
The program unfolds as a layered exploration of identity, belonging, and shared humanity. Drawing from diverse cultural influences and lived experiences, the company builds what Rivera describes as a “mosaic” of perspectives—each piece contributing to a larger conversation about connection in a fractured world.
Rather than centering a single cultural lens, Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre intentionally brings together artists from different backgrounds to examine how people relate to one another across difference. The result is work that invites reflection while remaining deeply human and accessible.
Music and Movement, In Real Time
A defining element of the performance is its live, onstage orchestra. Featuring 11 musicians, the ensemble does more than accompany the dancers—it actively shapes the experience through improvisation and real-time response.
Musicians and dancers share the stage, reacting to one another in ways that shift the energy of each performance. Rooted in jazz traditions, the score evolves moment to moment, creating an immersive environment that resonates physically and emotionally with the audience.
An Invitation to Connect
More than a performance, “Urgent Motion/Shared Ground” is designed as a shared experience. The work encourages audiences to sit with complexity, to reflect on their own perspectives, and to feel a sense of connection with those around them.
“Our aspiration is to build a sense of community and belonging—and to create space where people can connect with the humanity around them,” Rivera says.
It’s an approach that aligns with the Dance Center’s role as a space for contemporary performance that engages both artists and audiences in meaningful dialogue—while also offering Columbia students direct access to professional, interdisciplinary work.
Banner image above: photo by Andrew Weeks Photography.
