Rachel Damon creates, designs, and manages dance and performance. She has performed and presented internationally, as Artistic Director of Synapse
Arts Collective and as a former company member of Anatomical Theatre and Breakbone Dance Co. Rachel currently works as Production Manager with
Molly Shanahan/Mad Shak, the Production Stage Manager at Links Hall, and as a Teaching Artist with Chicago Moving Company. Her lighting designs have appeared in contemporary and aerial dances, videos, and plays in houses ranging from the Neo-Futurarium to the Goodman Theatre. Featured in Dance Spirit Magazine for her self-made career that bridges onstage and backstage, Rachel co-curates the improvisation series "collision_theory" as a Links Hall Artistic Associate with her CROSSCUT collaborator, Dan Mohr. Rachel loves action movies and eats dessert every day.

More info at: www.synapsearts.com

Damon's project, Factor Ricochet was a motion laboratory on gender expression. Focusing on exploration rather than statement, her research caromed between various stops on the gender spectrum, looking at how body states are experienced, projected, and perceived. Taking into account personal experience and scholarly study, Damon investigated the body and voice as a soloist and in cooperation with others.

Factor Ricochet was premiered in its entirety at Holstein Park, November, 2011