history
2010 // September - November // Fischer creates Caught, an interdisciplinary evening-length performance for her undergraduate comprehensive performance project. Caught is created with Patrick Quigley, laying the groundwork for a long collaborative relationship. The show receives great reviews from campus and is picked up by LangLab South Bend, an incubation space.
2010 // December // LangLab South Bend presents Caught.
2011 // Fischer receives her BA from Saint Mary’s College and moves to Saint Louis, MO to work with Leverage Dance Theater.
2014 // Hannah returns to South Bend and begins developing When We Were There at LangLab South Bend. The cast is comprised of Greg Fox, Susanna Frusti, Luke Fischer, Hannah Fischer. Patrick Quigley accompanies the show with Chris Arrowsmith and Joel Fischer designs video feedback projection. Halfway through the process a community cast is recruited. Sophia Zovich, Ridge Alencar, Evan Bryson, Kristy Godot, Jing Zhu.
2014 // December // When We Were There premieres in the Annex at LangLab South Bend.
2015 // March // Fischer Dance is officially announced as a performing company and LLC.
2015 // March // When We Were There is presented at Clay High School for the magnet students. Cast: Greg Fox, Luke Fischer, Hannah Fischer, Evan Bryson, Ridge Alencar, Jing Zhu.
2015 // April // When We Were There is presented at the Birdsell Mansion by The Birdsell Project.
2015 // June // Fischer Dance travels to St. Louis to perform When We Were There in the Fringe Festival. Cast: Greg Fox, Luke Fischer, Hannah Fischer, Cait Redmond, Ridge Alencar, Niche .
November 13, 2015 // Mass violence in Paris. The news story catalyzes the planning of the next season.
2016 // January // Movement Lab launches in South Bend.
2016 // February // Hannah Fischer creates Pillars at Saint Mary’s College, a piece that becomes part of Fischer Dance repertory.
2016 // March // Fischer Dance acquires access to the JC Lauber Building and begins developing Mercy/Shelter. Hannah Fischer develops Works in Progress.
2016 // May - July // Fischer Dance presents Works in Progress in collaboration with The Birdsell Project. High emphasis placed on community dialogue surrounding ideas of ‘art as activism’ and the state of the arts in South Bend.
2016 // August // Mercy/Shelter premieres at the JC Lauber Building. Cast: Anna Greenawalt, Chloe Ilene, Lisa Hayes, Nick Dolezal, Joanna Whitmyer, Hannah Fisher. Music by Patrick Quigley. Lights by Johan Godwalt, costumes by Jennifer Stevens, video projection by Eric Souther, and camera operation by Joel Fischer.
2016 // October - November // Works in Progress continues for two final months.
December 2, 2016 // Ghost Ship fire in Oakland, California. The tragedy has ripple effects across the nation to South Bend, where Fischer Dance loses access to JC Lauber, as did many small arts organizations across the country after the incident.
2017 // April // Fischer Dance collaborates with Saint Mary’s College and Hannah choreographes a new original play by Casey Whitaker, Lucky, Liar, Loser. Fischer Dance becomes a recipient of the Margaret Hill Endowment through Saint Mary’s College.
2017 // June // Take Me With You premieres at Saint Mary’s College. Cast: Anna Greenawalt, Chloe Ilene, Lisa Hayes, Joanna Whitmyer, Sharon Sims, Maia Sutter, Lena Polzonetti, Nick Dolezal, Hannah Fischer. Lighting by Jen Kazmierciak. Music by Patrick Quigley.
2017 // June // Hannah Fischer receives an individual artist grant for the company through the Indiana Arts Commission. She is one of two artists in South Bend to receive this award.
2017 // September // Fischer Dance announces the fourth season and begins developing Small Batch, Holding Space, and The Listening.
2017 // December // Small Batch premieres at South Bend Civic Theater. Fourth season company performs: Mallory McAfee, Maia Sutter, Nick Dolezal, Anna Greenawalt, Chloe Ilene, Joanna Whitmyer, Sharon Sims, and Hannah Fischer.
2018 // January // Nesting premieres at The Music Village. Guest artists Terri Hron performs with the company: Anna Greenawalt, Sharon Sims, Chloe Ilene, and Hannah Fischer.
2018 // March // Holding Space premieres at LaSalle Body Shop. The dance for camera series is created in collaboration with Corlanthum and Sailbear. Full company performs in the 9-part series alongside a community cast of over 30 individuals.
2018 // May // The Listening premieres at 702 South Michigan Street. The project was funded in part by the Indiana Arts Commission.
2018 // July // water/skin premiers at Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival. Performed by Jeff Wallace and Hannah Fischer, live original score by Patrick Quigley and lights by Johan Godwalt.
July 27, 2018 // NEW INDUSTRY DANCE emerges under the direction of Chloe Ilene. The South Bend artists of the former Fischer Dance stay on to work under the new name. Hannah Fischer relocates to Salt Lake City.