ARTISTIC STAFF
Nick Pupillo
Founder/Artistic Director
Nick Pupillo, Founder and Artistic Director of Visceral Dance Chicago, graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor of Science in Ballet. In 2001, Pupillo joined the acclaimed Giordano Dance Chicago where he toured nationally and internationally for three years. Pupillo decided in 2006 to train and mentor young talent by developing the prestigious Visceral Studio Company.
In 2007, he founded Visceral Dance Center to provide the Chicago community with a new venue for artistic and technical growth. This facility continues to be a Chicago dance landmark. TimeOut Chicago lists Visceral Dance Center as "A bustling, well-appointed facility...with instructors from top companies and in-demand guest teachers." Utilized by a number of Chicago-based companies, Visceral Dance Center is home to its resident company, Visceral Dance Chicago.
Pupillo founded Visceral Dance Chicago in the fall of 2013. This repertory company presents his daring vision to explore the infinite possibilities of contemporary movement. The dancers of Visceral demonstrate this choreographic invention and are recognized for their technique, passion, and athleticism. In less than a year, Pupillo has led the company in a forthright direction, establishing a repertoire described as "expertly devised and stylish as they come." (Laura Molzahn, Chicago Tribune) He created two signature works for the company, Senza di te and Impetere. He has also commissioned world premieres by Sidra Bell, Monica Cervantes, and Robyn Mineko Williams.
Pupillo has received various awards for his choreography, including "The Dance Chicago Outstanding Choreography Award" in 2005 and 2012 and "The Cliff Dwellers 2013 Choreographer of the Year. His work has been described as "impressively dancey," (Lauren Warnecke, Arts Intercepts) and "a stroke of choreographic genius...complex, tumbling changes...in this portrait of perpetual motion." (Laura Molzahn, Chicago Tribune) Pupillo is frequently invited to conduct master classes in the U.S. and around the world and has taught for the Jazz Dance World Congress, Chicago Dance Connection and Chicago National Association of Dance Masters. Pupillo is currently an artist in residence at Culver Military Academy.
Karl Watson
Karl Watson began dancing in Cleveland, Ohio. After training at local schools, he attended Butler University. In addition to his training at Butler, Karl attended summer programs at Houston Ballet and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. He also worked with guest artists Kevin Irving and Christopher Roman. Karl graduated in 2012 with a B.F.A. cum laude in Dance Performance and a History Minor.
Upon graduation, he began dancing with Luna Negra Dance Theater, under the direction of Gustavo Ramirez Sansano. Grateful to have performed in the company's final season, Karl is now in his second season with Visceral Dance Chicago, of which he is a founding member. He has also performed with Pursuit Productions in their dance theater production "Blood Wedding," by Federico Garcia Lorca.
Karl has had the honor of performing works by Gustavo Ramirez Sansano, Nacho Duato, Ohad Naharin, Banning Bouldin, Monica Cervantes, Robyn Mineko Williams, Sidra Bell, Fernando Melo, and Fernando Hernando Magadan, among others.
He would like to thank his family and friends for their constant support.
