Kara Brody

Kara Brody (any pronouns) is a Korean American movement artist based in Chicago. Her work is an embodied social connection that uses dance as a site of queer belonging and collaborative inquiry. Approaching movement with a deep sense of tenderness and humility, she imbues a range of nuance with an explosive form of power. “[One] of Chicago’s most captivating performers” (Chicago Tribune), Brody spans genres, exploring contemporary, commercial, and experimental dance forms. Kara’s work is multi-focused, landing in many rooms where the creative stakes are different; she is truly at home within collaborative and ensemble work.  

She has toured across the world with Faye Driscoll, originating her role in Weathering, for which she earned a Bessie nomination for Outstanding Performer (2024) as an ensemble member. Additionally, she joined Driscoll’s Oceanic Feeling for the Beach Sessions Dance Series. Kara is part of Kimberly Bartosik’s touring company of bLUr and has been a long-time artist with Chicago dance-theater company, Lucky Plush Productions (2016-2025). Other performance credits include serving as a featured dance artist with The Fly Honey Show, Alex Grelle’s Best Actress, Paramount Theater, as well as a devising collaborator with Davide Balula, Melinda Jean Myers, Carlo Antonio Villanueva, Erin Kilmurray, Helen Lee, and The Cambrians. Additional guest appearances include the Museum of Contemporary Arts Chicago, The Renaissance Society, COYOTE SUN PRODUCTIONS, Freedom From and Freedom To, and [producingbody].  

Brody has spent the last decade uplifting Chicago’s diverse dance community. She was Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s LookOut Series’ first curatorial resident (2023) and has acted as Lucky Plush Productions Company Manager (2020-2026) pushing the touring lifespan of their productions both domestically and worldwide. Additionally, she co-envisioned their community- centered micro-grant program and built their pandemic-responsive Virtual Dance Lab. She teaches frequently, offering a community-forward class-taking culture through workshops and weekly classes for dance hubs like The Rooted Space, Chicago Movement Collective, The Joffrey Ballet, COMMON Conservatory, Visceral Dance Center, and Dovetail Studios. Kara is a Lecturer at The University of Chicago and has been a visiting instructor at Northern Illinois University.