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REVIEWS
"...Some works of dance and theater show you how it feels to step into someone else’s shoes, but “Up Again…” feels like stepping into someone’s brain!“Up Again, down again, UPAGAIN” communicates what it is like to be an artist living with bipolar disorder, a back and forth between sober paralysis and intense creativity. Educational and entertaining, the value in Irizarry’s work goes beyond enjoyment by eliciting feelings of empathy towards fellow humans and a better understanding of what it’s like to be human".
-Tristan Bruns: See Chicago Dance
Review
Past Performances
Please join us in our first performance!
SOLD OUT SHOW!
Up Again, down again, UPAGAIN: My Bipolar Experience
Promotional Video
Saturday
February 01, 2025
7 PM
Neocortex Dance Theatre Company
Presents:
Up Again, down again, UPAGAIN:
My Bipolar Experience
Featuring The Musicians: CHROMABEATS & FRANK J. GLAB Video Artist: ALEX YASINOVSKY Videographer: SPENCE WARREN & JASON LEE
1650 W Foster Ave, Chicago IL 60640
The UWM Department of Dance Faculty guides this project in partial fulfillment of work toward an M.F.A in Dance.
Partial financial support provided by The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Peck School of the Arts Department of Dance & Partial financial support provided by The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Peck School of the Arts & Rainbow Children Dance Collective
Purchase Tickets
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In-Person: $20
Livestream: $15 (Sliding Scale Available)
Please email tickets.neocortexdance@gmail.com for more information on the sliding scale.
EVENTBRITE QR CODE
TRIGGER WARNING:
Mental health and bipolar content, may contain flashing lights, and in the “Switching (The Oscillation of Polarity)” piece, the middle finger is presented to the audience.
Neocortex Dance Theatre Company (NDTC) explores complex themes about mental health and identity (including themes of suicide, self-harm, abuse, mental illness symptoms, and more). The material and choreographic works may be traumatizing for adult or children audiences. If you are unsure about the content, please reach out to us for further details.
Playbill
Up Again, down again, UPAGAIN:
My Bipolar Experience
Join the Neocortex Dance Theatre Company (NDTC) at the Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble for our inaugural performance and MFA dance thesis concert. Featuring FRANK J. GLAB, CHROMABEATS, ALEX YASINOVSKY, SPENCE WARREN & JASON LEE.
"Up Again, Down Again, Up Again: My Bipolar Experience" is an evening-length dance performance exploring the complex psychological experiences and fluctuating mental states associated with bipolar disorder. This concert is the culmination and continuation of Juan Enrique Roque Irizarry Jr.'s research at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, combining interviews with dancers living with bipolar disorder and Juan Enrique's personal experiences.
The performance features two original choreographic works in collaboration with the dancers:
- "Switching (The Oscillation of Polarity)": A physical representation of bipolar disorder's effects.
- "Up Again, Down Again, Up Again": An abstract interpretation of the chemical imbalance Juan Enrique's brain.
Through this event, NDTC and Juan Enrique aims to:
- Raise awareness and destigmatize bipolar disorder
- Create relatable work supporting those affected and their loved ones
- Provide valuable resources and informational brochures
From the highs to the lows and back up again, this event will shed light on the complexities of Juan Enrique's experiences living with bipolar disorder, and he hopes to share a shared experience with the audience.
TRIGGER WARNING:
Mental health and bipolar content, may contain flashing lights, and in the “Switching (The Oscillation of Polarity)” piece, the middle finger is presented to the audience.
Neocortex Dance Theatre Company (NDTC) explores complex themes about mental health and identity (including themes of suicide, self-harm, abuse, mental illness symptoms, and more). The material and choreographic works may be traumatizing for adult or children audiences. If you are unsure about the content, please reach out to us for further details.
DISCLAIMER
​Neocortex Dance Theatre Company (NDTC) is not a licensed medical organization or personnel and will not be held responsible or liable for your engagement, treatments, triggers, or actions. The information and resources Neocortex Dance Theatre Company provides on this website, page, and our social media platforms, performances, rehearsals, workshops, residencies, or classes are not medical, personal, or legal advice, diagnosis, or treatments and should only be used for educational purposes. Always seek medical advice from licensed medical professionals.​
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NIMH Bipolar Brochure
Seeking interviews with professional & former dancers living with bipolar disorder
Please email Juan Enrique Roque Irizarry Jr. at jrijr@uwm.edu for more details.
