Founder & Artistic Director 1997-current

Atalee Judy Choreographer, Visionary & Reactionist

"...is a choreographer for the 21st century." (Chicago Reader)

“...is brutal, honest, beautiful ... she miraculously controls her topics and masterfully blends performance art and dance, even while it is harsh, frightening and the ultimate in alienation.” (Chicago Tribune)

”...is someone not afraid to mix ugly with beautiful.” (Independent Critic).

Atalee Judy does it all - a genuine DIY gal, and also to keep her company's overhead low. Racking up an impressive list of credits such as: Choreographer, Dancer, Competitive Athlete, Actor, Director, Filmmaker, Composer, Singer, Costumer, Fine Artist, Editor, Technical Director, Producer, Set Designer, Punk Rocker, Reactionist and Heralder. She not only wears a few odd hats (or hair), but has the ability to make them into anything she dreams up. Her list of extensive creative ventures and performances in Chicago span over 16 years since 1991 in Chicago.

In an interview with Atalee she says:

I do admit to having a deepset anger problem from losing my father at age 12 and being a runaway teen in the angsty 80's punk era, but part of performance for me is the ability to transcend my anger to find places of release, understanding forgiveness and solace. I create works that challenge myself as an artist and as a woman, because I either draw on my own personal experiences or I draw on the experiences of friends who have gone through life experiences that I have not, such as sexual molestation, body modification, drug abuse, drug recovery, and then the friends who will never go through any kind of recovery and then sort of just flatline. Sometimes you feel so helpless... nothing can be done, and it's all very difficult to understand. Being a close friend to someone who is a survivor of molestation for example, kind of does your head in. You are never the same person after learning about their horror. I never have claimed to understand it, but I do want to help other people who are on that precipice, who might see a performance of mine and go, "You know what, I think I want to try to get through this." There is that voice in them somewhere — which some people don't have — that says, "Grab life's short tail and live it before it stangles you."

Atalee started Breakbone in 1996 after graduating college and wanted a company to house her extreme emotional and athletic nature while exploring and exploiting her background in the 1980's punk hardcore scene of New York's lower east side and her experiences in the martial arts.

Atalee was a young runaway teen living amidst New York's Bowery and Houston area. She took part in the Warzone & Cro-Mags Legacy started at CBGB's. She found herself in the middle of a mosh pit and has held onto that energy throughout her career in her performances. She has been quoted saying that she learned how to dance at punk shows and that "there's a lot of fall and recovery in the mosh pit."

Atalee's work draws heavily on the music scene known for it's raw and abrupt style. She even uses intense soundscores for her works citing Einstürzende Neubauten as her all-time fav to perform to. She has been the lead vocalist for various punk and garage band entities. She is still an active part in the independent music scene and can still be seen moshing in the midst of sweat and fists.

Never one to take the easy route, Atalee has forged her own style - learning through many mistakes and foul ups - to find her own voice and vision. Seen teaching her style of performance & Bodyslam Technique throughout Chicago, Atalee has established herself as one of Chicago's premiere performers and visionaries. She has toured spots in Switzerland, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Italy & Mexico. With a BA in Dance Performance & Choreography from Columbia College, she has served as an advisor for other independent choreographers and has been commissioned to choreograph, teach & perform for established performance companies in Chicago.

Recently awarded The 2006 Illinois Artistic Fellowship, Atalee is looking forward to continuing her exploration in fragility and strength. Other recent honorable awards include: The Elizabeth Cheney Foundation Award for Excellence in Performance by the Chicago Dance & Music Alliance her production of the ONE Series 2003/2005. She would like to thank her father James R. Judy for talking to her from the grave and embuing his intensity onto her - it is a gift.