Performance Exhibition
Laura Baumeister Solo Improvisation
Thursday, May 7 2:00-4:00 pm Free; walk-ins welcome.
Ensemble dancer Laura Baumeister will create a long form solo improvisation inspired by Brendan Fernandes’ installation, guided by choreography that engages self-expression, instinct, and individual interpretation.
About the Performer
Laura Baumeister (they / she) is a freelance movement artist, with a BFA in Modern Dance. They have dedicated much of their independent work to long form improvisational studies in composing movement from a base of imagery, sound scores, environment, and deep feeling. Baumeister has found that disentangling the brain and personality from how we innately move is a delightfully impossible feat; thus letting them inform and inspire one another lets us explore ourselves and others in an inexplicable profound way. Their most recent projects include GRIT by Maggie Vannucci, an evening length work created for the Steppenwolf Lookout Series, as well as performing as part of an improvisational multi-disciplinary exhibition with movement partner Katlin Bourgeois, The Rite created by Brendan Fernandes at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago for the exhibition City in a Garden, from July 2025–March 2026. She also participated as a performer and choreographer for Little Fire Artist Collective in November of 2025. Baumeister has been part of work for Brendan Fernandes at The Driehaus Museum, The Museum of Contemporary Art, Oxbow School of Art and Artists’ residency, and The Raclin Murphy Museum. They have also performed in works by Jessi Stegall, Noelle Kayser, Robyn Mineko Williams, Sophie Allen, Chih-Jou Cheng for the Chicago Cultural Center Artist Residency, Rebecca Aneloski (And Artists Company), and Fever Dream Dance Company. They are currently coming to the end of a two-year long process creating an evening length work with their close friend and collaborator Jenna Weatherbie; a premiere of the work in the process of being finalized.