WHO WE ARE
The mission of Noumenon Dance Ensemble is to elevate dance artists of varying genders, ethnicities, and physiques, making professional dance relatable and accessible to a more diverse audience.
To accomplish this, the mission is divided into two primary areas of focus. The first is to elevate dance artists of varying genders, ethnicities, and physiques, fostering an environment of diversity and representation. Noumenon nurtures a safe and stimulating atmosphere, promoting the growth of these artists through inspiration and opportunity.
Noumenon offers gender neutral-casting, body aware costuming, and choreographic work focused in real human experiences. Studying techniques including ballet, Horton, Graham, and contemporary, the work of the company is athletic and emotionally charged.
Noumenon leadership believes a professional dance environment should be built on trust and transparency. Dancers are given the opportunity to collaborate and build artistry together with the artistic leadership.
The second component of the Noumenon mission is to reach a diverse audience, furthering the advancement of queer arts. Noumenon does this through its outreach program and promotional content, extending the mission to new audiences throughout Chicago.
Noumenon has expanded the reach of this mission by offering those communities it serves content which is above all, relatable. The choreographic storytelling is theatrical in nature and performances take audience members through emotional experiences as they relate to the topics the works address.
MEET THE ARTISTIC TEAM
Erin Murphy graduated from Grand Valley State University in 2008 with a Bachelor of the Arts in Dance. Her performance credits include principal roles in choreography by Thang Dao, Peter Sparling, and Patrick Corbin. In 2008, she performed with the Spinal Tap World Tour – Unwigged and Unplugged.
Moving to Chicago, she trained as a member of Deeply Rooted Dance Theater II, developing her artistry and refining her movement quality. She grew to performing and training with Deeply Rooted Dance Theater in 2011.
In 2012, she founded Dancehall Twigs alongside musician Jamie Dull. The project produced two full length concerts of collaborative live rock music and dance. Erin took on the role of Artistic Director, responsible for the dance vision, execution, and choreography.
Returning to the stage in 2016, Erin joined as a company member of Noumenon Dance Ensemble. In the 2017-2018 season, she began teaching and coaching along with performing at NDE. She assumed the role of Artistic Director of Noumenon Dance Ensemble in 2018, continuing the company’s legacy established by her predecessors of creating high quality dance performance and choreography with a reenvisioned mission.
Nina-Rose Wardanian is originally from Chicago, IL. She began her formal training at the Chicago Academy for the Arts and the Chicago Multicultural Dance Center, where she studied under Homer Bryant, and later went on to teach classes.
Upon graduating, she attended the University of Missouri Kansas City. From there Nina went on to join the Las Vegas Contemporary Dance Theater, where she performed numerous works by Artistic Director Bernard Gaddis as well as “Vespers” by Ulysses Dove. She was a founding cast member and dance captain for the Lawrence Arts Center’s “Midnight Visit to the Grave of Poe.” She also danced in the Moncler fashion show for Giambattista Valli in the fall of 2017 at Paris Fashion week.
Nina was a resident choreographer for the Bryant Youth Professionals from 2014-2020. She spent 2012-2019 with Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, where she also served as rehearsal director.
Nina began her journey with Noumenon Dance Ensemble in 2018 as Resident Choreographer. She signed on as Co-Artistic Director in 2019.
Erin Murphy
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Nina-Rose Wardanian
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Faith (she/her) grew up in the south suburbs of Chicago. She began dancing at the age of 8 and quickly fell in love with the artistry and athleticism of dance. She went on to receive her BA in Dance Performance and Choreography from Hope College in Holland, Michigan in May 2014. Faith joined Noumenon Dance Ensemble in 2015. She has enjoyed growing her skills and artistry with the company, even making her professional choreographic debut in the Spring of 2019 with NDE. She looks forward to continuing to dance and perform with Noumenon this coming season!
