benchmarks 9.0

April, 2026

Described by audiences as “powerful”, “evocative and beautiful”, Benchmarks 9.0 is an evening-length work revolving around a central green bench. Choreographed by Emily Haussler in collaboration with the company, the piece transports audiences through spaces that hold meaning and memory. RESILIENCE Dance Company “delivers breathtaking levels of physical and creative risk” (St. Louis Dance HQ) throughout the 48-min work, choreographed by Emily Haussler in collaboration with the dancers. As the piece progresses through their nine, interwoven stories, the bench is used with “staggering inventiveness” (HQ) to immerse viewers in rich, vivid experiences of being alive across time and space.

audience testimonials

“The repeated motifs throughout this piece were powerful and evocative, I was almost moved to tears by this performance. It seemed very much like watching a person's entire lifetime flash before me and then watching their rebirth at the end.” -Carolyn Fernandez

credits

Title: Benchmarks 9.0

Direction: Emily Haussler

Choreography: Emily Haussler in collaboration with RESILIENCE Dance Company

Premiere: April 24th-25th, 2026 at the Lee Theater in St. Louis, MO as part of Once Here, Still Moving presented by RESILIENCE Dance Company

Dancers: Chrissy Clair Greer, Soraya Cohen, Lexie Hoehn, Josiah Gundersen, Nathan Krueger, Abbi LeBaube, Michelle Parkhurst, Ana Velazquez, Ashlynn Woelbling

Music: Don't Look Down by Christopher Cerrone and Sandbox Perfussion; Music by Michael Wall; mobygratis.

Lighting Design: Alice Anders

Costume Design & Construction: Chrissy Clair Greer and Nina Ganci

Additional Performances: May 28th - 31st, 2026 at Theater Wit in Chicago, IL.