Knockout

Knockout is an hour-long contemporary dance work driven by ferocious physicality, cinematic landscapes, and a nonlinear narrative between two women. Through athletic choreography and slow-burning tension, the piece explores queer dimensions that feel both deeply relatable and emotionally complex. Inspired by film editing techniques that manipulate time and perspective, Knockout lives in the messy space between attraction and danger, strength and survival, family and friendship, action and inertia—challenging not only what we see, but how we see it.

The project originated as a 12-minute duet commissioned by The Cambrians’ Chicago Dances project in 2020. Kara Brody and Erin Kilmurray had long crossed paths in Chicago’s dance community before discovering a shared movement language rooted in athleticism, tension, camp, and tenderness. Early research centered on “girl-on-girl” fight sequences collaged with femme fatale aesthetics, eventually uncovering layered themes of power, play, and intimacy.

During this process they began collaborating with sound designer Corey Smith, whose work expanded the project’s emotional and cinematic world. Sound—and eventually lighting by Liz Gomez —became integral to the evolving Knockout universe. Encouraged by strong community response, the artists continued developing the work over five years, culminating in a sold out, six show premiere run at Steppenwolf’s 1700 Theater in 2025.

Now a fully realized production, Knockout is entering its next phase through touring. The work will make its Twin Cities premiere at Red Eye Theater in Minneapolis on July 11–12, 2026. This campaign supports that next lifespan for the project by helping fund artist fees for the performances and building relationships with partners and venues for future touring opportunities.

The touring team includes Erin Kilmurray and Kara Brody (lead artists/performers), Corey Smith (sound designer/performer), and Bran Moorhead (production stage manager), with original collaborators Katrina Dion (co-direction/dramaturgy), Liz Gomez (lighting design), and Mary Williamson (costume design).

Live dance deserves to be experienced more than once, in different spaces and alongside different communities. Supporting Knockout helps independent artists sustain and share ambitious live performance beyond a single production run. It also uplifts the vibrant dance ecology of the Midwest and the artists working to strengthen connections across regional performance communities.