Reign Drop (they/he) is a Chicago-based dancer, director, and choreographer whose work explores themes of autonomy, liberation, and community connection within contemporary movement practices. They hold a degree in Dance from Columbia College Chicago, where they studied choreography and improvisation under the mentorship of Darrell Jones and Lisa Gonzales. He has played a significant role in the Chicago dance community, having led the Improvisers' Dance Jam for the Chicago Dancemakers Forum, taught at the American Dancing Bodies Symposium at Columbia College Chicago, performed with choreographers Erin Killmurray and Alix Shillaci, created original works for Synapse Arts and Danceworks Chicago, and choreographed for Shea Coulee’s "Rewind" music video. They are also co-founder of We Are Collective, an initiative dedicated to collaborative, community-focused dance-making.
In developing their full-length work, I AM, they employed a research-based approach that included a survey and movement investigation, leading to the creation of Trans Dance Connect. This sparked the creation of a class designed to be a welcoming environment for transgender dancers and allies, particularly beginners and those returning to dance after experiencing trauma in traditional dance spaces. It provides a community-oriented space where we aim to connect our mind, body, and soul.
Additionally, he serves as Company Lead for Queer Dance Freakout. Their leadership and creative work within this organization support their commitment to amplifying the voices of transgender individuals and honoring the experiences of marginalized communities through dance.
participating dance companies
participating dance companies
Queer Dance Freakout
Queer Dance Freakout is an interactive performance spectacle! This company of queer, trans, and nonbinary choreographers and storytellers will perform a variety of devised, dance, and performance art pieces that will have audiences booty shaking, grooving, and connecting with the queer community. The audience adds singles and playlists to the queue by voting for the dances they want to see. Queer Dance Freakout is ever-changing, as each performance, the company writes and choreographs new pieces, so no Freakout is the same as before.
Queer Dance Freakout performs at Steppenwolf Theatre as a part of the Lookout Series in June 2023.
Queer Dance Freakout wins the Audience Choice Award at the 2023 Circus Performing Arts Festival at the Den Theatre.
We Are Collective
The Wolfpack at the Improviser’s Dance Jam
Hosted by Chicago Dancemakers Forum
Using organic and primal imagery such as being reborn in the river, opening the throat chakra by howling at the moon, and having the autonomy to showcase each artist’s individual voice in an accumulating class—The Wolfpack is a home for dancers of any style to come and be heard.
It is essential to the heart of The Wolfpack to celebrate individuals who go against the grain in pursuit of sharing their own stories and concepts that support the pack of like-minded individuals.
Regardless of the voice leading the pack, our agreements are as follows:
🐺 We are an improvisation collective
🐺 We investigate freedom, confidence, and healing through movement
🐺 We are guided by nature and the healing properties found within channeling these archetypes
🐺 We obnoxiously celebrate each participant
The Wolfpack was also hosted by the American Bodies Symposium at Columbia College Chicago in September 2022. I shared my trauma-informed practice by getting into the body on the floor. I was inspired by the river and we discovered a flow through our spines and developed an improvisational whirlpool after being guided by a tarot reading.
“The River is the real you—full of deep emotion and potential, nothing to hide, nothing to judge. May you drink in the sight of your true self.” - Kim Krans
Community
Reign’s Rack: A place for you to find gender-affirming clothes at an accessible price. All clothes are donations from the community that we pour back into. We have donated over $10,000 worth of clothing to various organizations across the city, like Trans Chicago, Life is Work, Brave Space Alliance, and Task Force. Donations can be made by Venmo at @dropchop333, and events are posted on our Instagram @reignsrack.
Photos by Jen Udoni, Peter Serocki, and Phylinese Brooks.