The Julie Jinhee Lee Dance Fund was awarded to Kara Brody

It was such a difficult decision and wish we could’ve awarded all 16 applicants. 

Jurors:
Nahelli Chavoya (Ireland)
Cristal Sabbagh (Chicago)
Mitsu Salmon (Salt Lake City)
Sharon Udoh (Chicago)
Cherrie Yu (New York)

I knew when I was selected for Chicago DanceMakers Forum Lab Artist this year (something I’d been applying to on and off since 2007 and been a finalist 4 times) I knew I wanted to give some of the award money back into the dance community in my cousin’s name. 

Kara Brody (she/her) is a Korean American movement artist based in Chicago. Focusing her practice towards community driven spaces, she has contributed to numerous productions as a devising collaborator and performer for Lucky Plush Productions, Faye Driscoll, Erin Kilmurray, Melinda Jean Myers, The Fly Honey Show, Helen Lee, Danceable Projects | Erick Montes, and The Cambrains. Recently, she created and co-curated a dance series at Steppenwolf 1700 Theatre for their LOOKOUT series. Kara is a Lecturer at University of Chicago and teaches frequently in the Chicago community.

Kara will be awarded $1200 to utilize towards dance and/or mental health services. She says, “As a transnational adoptee from Seoul, South Korea, I have been wanting to invest intentional time towards classes that could offer perspective towards my culture. As a form of self care and personal healing journey, I will be using this award to fund Korean language classes as well as traditional Korean movement and drumming classes.”

The Julie Jinhee Lee Dance Fund

Opens Feb 12, 2024
Deadline Feb 29, 2024, 11:59 PM CST
Notified in April

What:
One dance artist will be awarded $1200 for dance classes and/or mental health care.
Funds will either be reimbursed to the awardee upon submission of receipts or paid directly to the dance studio or mental health care provider.

Who:
-BIPOC dance artist 18 or older, living in Chicago or the Chicagoland area
-Active in the dance community for at least 3 years (performing and/or choreographing)
-Not currently in a degree-seeking program
-Advocate for mental health care

Why:
This fund is in honor and remembrance of my cousin Julie Jinhee Lee. It is my hope that Momentum Sensorium can provide this fund yearly for dancers in the Chicago community. 

Julie Jinhee Lee was a ballroom dancer and took ballet classes every weekend. She found solace in ballet and ballroom. Our fathers were brothers and immigrated to Chicago from Korea in the 1970s. Julie was the 1st child to be born in America. Growing up I looked up to her and we would dance together as children to Madonna and Michael Jackson. She was the first person to teach me how to point and flex my feet. As we grew older, we often talked about philosophy and poetry, gifted books to each other, and liked many of the same musicians. 

Throughout my life, I have had a therapist on and off. I have found that having a regular therapist is useful for the mind and heart maintenance. In the past, I would have a therapist for a short time and when my situation was resolved or I no longer had anything to talk about, I would stop therapy. Now in my 40s, I understand the importance of the mind and heart sustenance and sustainability. I have had a regular therapist since 2020. It has been useful for many aspects of my life: being honest with myself, having more compassion for myself, and building joy and confidence within myself. 

Very often when dancers begin to perform professionally, dance technique classes are attended less and less. The rehearsal process often replaces dance technique classes and can sometimes be a challenge to create time for classes.

How:
Submit the following with the subject line, JJL Fund [Last name, First name] to momentumsensorium@gmail.com between 2/12-2/29 (applications sent before or after the deadline will not be reviewed)

In a PDF (Please include the following in 1 PDF file)

  • Contact info: Name, Address, email, phone, dob, website, and social media

  • Resume (2-page max)

  • Are you BIPOC? Please expound in a few words (ie Asian, Black, etc)

  • Work Sample: Please provide a Vimeo or YouTube link. 2-5min. Indicate time marker. No edits. Can be up to 2 videos.

  • Statement of Intent- 

    • Why are you applying? 

    • How would you use the funds? Where do you want to take dance classes and/or get mental health support? What kind of dance classes and/or therapy? 

    • Why is mental health care important? What does mental health care mean to you? Do you have a current therapist? If so, for how long?

 

Kara Brody Photo by Chien-An Yuan

Helen and Julie in 1982

Helen and Julie in a performance together 2019