Join us at Gerber/Hart on Friday, May 17th, at 7 PM for a panel of queer dancemakers including Molly Smith, Dawn Heilung, and Davon Scuttles for a preview event for Chicago Tap Theatre’s production of Can you Hear Us Now: The Queer Tap Dance Revolution! Materials from Gerber/Hart about Chicago queer dance history will be on display!
Please note that Chicago Dance History Project will be filming the panel and performance. The recording will be added to the Midwest Dance Collection at the Newberry Library.
Dawn Heiling
Dawn Heilung (they, any) is a performer, producer, and wiggly spaghetti noodle. Dawn has been dancing for 13 years and has trained in numerous movement styles like viewpoints, droznin, partnering/lifts, and gaga. They’ve choreographed for multiple musicals like the Addams Family and Thoroughly Modern Millie and danced in Queer Dance Freakout since its inception in Texas in 2018!
Dawn studied Dance and Musical Theatre at the North East School of the Arts and graduated with a BFA in Acting from Texas State University. (Go bobcats) In Chicago they have danced at Thalia Hall, The Den Theatre, Steppenwolf, and The High Hall. They have had their choreo featured in performances with the Chicago Dance Makers Forum and the Fly Honeys. Dawn is the founder and Artistic Director of Gender Fucked Productions, a trans, enby, and queer arts and event production non profit based here in Chicago.
Over the Past 2+ years Gender Fucked has grown to include a new works series for trans artists, Trans Voices Cabaret, We Are Dance Collective, Gender Fucked Meetups, and Queer Dance Freakout. As of this year Gender Fucked is now grant funded and has produced all over the Chicago area. Gender Fucked Productions envisions a future where trans and nonbinary artists can create art that pushes beyond any binary we could imagine.
Davon Suttles
Davon Suttles(they/he), an emerging artist in Chicago, who grew up studying and performing American tap dance in Keane Sense of Rhythm’s Youth Tap Ensemble. Davon is also an actor and an alumnus of both Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists and Columbia College Chicago’s Musical Theatre Performance program.
In 2019 Davon received the Cultural Community Partnership Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board for their first self produced work MELANIZED, a multimedia tap dance show about living as a person of color. This show addressed macro- and microaggressions towards people of color, as well as showcased the beauty of living as a POC.
Davon is a past member of Stone Soup Rhythms, under Dani Borak and has performed with the Children’s Theatre Company in Shrek the Musical and bare: A Pop Opera. In 2018 they were a featured dancer in the new hit adaption of 42nd Street, at Drury Lane Oakbrook Terrace, choreographed by Broadway performer, Jared Grimes. And in the Fall 2019, Davon returned to Drury Lane to join the ensemble of Mary Poppins.
Currently, Davon is dancing with M.A.D.D. Rhythms, a non profit tap company based on the South Side of Chicago, whose mission is to preserve, promote and contribute to this art form called tap.
Molly Smith
Molly Smith (they/them) is a dancer, choreographer, teacher, and arts administrator originally from Charlotte, NC with a BS in Dance & Arts Management from Oklahoma City University. Molly has almost a decade of experience teaching dance and currently teaches at Incite Dance Center as well as being on faculty with Activate Your Artistry dance convention.
Molly is a choreographer and dancemaker, presenting works recently through Take Up Space Dance Festival, The Newport Theatre, and Poonie’s Cabaret at Links Hall; they are also a co-founder of and tap dancer/musician in folk punk band THEM queers. Molly also has experience in company management, stage management, production management, and arts administration for various theaters throughout Chicagoland.
Molly is in their 6th season with Chicago Tap Theatre and serves as Rehearsal Director and Director of Operation & Community Engagement as well as performing as a Company Member.