about us

welcome to Bodies of Water, a chicago based dance company dedicated to fostering artistic innovation and engagement through performance and interdisciplinary collaboration. established in 2023 by artistic director esther pauline farley, Bodies of Water emerged from a desire to flood the city with opportunities for dancers and artists in all stages of their careers. showcasing the talent of local artists and to build a thriving community is what we aim to do.

Bodies of Water was founded on the idea that all artistic voices deserve to be seen and heard regardless of monetary or artistic mediums. our focus is on redefining the chicago dance community primarily through women-led work and changing industry stigmas. join us on this journey as we pave the way for the arts community to splash and make waves.

the bodies

artistic director

esther pauline farley

2026 artist roster

alyssa alber
bennett cullen
catie armbrecht
emma raney
madison wagaman
(tap on an artist’s name to learn more)

photography

kt miller
ktmillerphotography.com

admin & board

pay transparency

contracted artists are paid
a stipend of
$25 per rehearsal
a minimum of
$40 per performance

directors do not take any pay

we are committed to changing industry stigmas and precedents to better our community. a minimum of 40% of our yearly budget is dedicated to paying our dancers.
currently, over 50% of our budget is dedicated for
artist pay.

mission statement
Bodies of Water is dedicated to fostering artistic innovation and community engagement through dance, performance, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The organization provides opportunities for artists at all career stages by supporting the creation, education, and presentation of dynamic works that inspire and connect diverse audiences.

disclaimer
we are only associated with the following domains
please be wary of scams

bodiesofwater.org
(email and website)
bodiesofwater.dance
(old email, still valid)
bow.dance
(link shortener)