Preview

Ballet 5:8’s “BareFace” is back!

 

October is a prime time for release, renewal and the celebration of culture; it is also Hispanic heritage month.  Ballet 5:8’s proud Mexican American founder and choreographer Julianna Rubio Slager honors her culture through her chosen medium of dance. Her latest revival of “BareFace” returns this fall to the Athenaeum Center in Chicago, Oct. 18 - 21, furthering a celebration of distinction, love and what it means to be Hispanic at this moment in history.

From page to stage; The Joffrey Ballet presents Liam Scarlett’s “Frankenstein” at the Lyric Opera

 

Mary Shelley’s groundbreaking science fiction/horror/philosophic novel, “Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus,” has been a tremendous hit ever since its publication in 1818. Despite Shelley’s young age—she was eighteen when she began the work, twenty when it was published.

Existentialism, humanism, isolation and betrayal are themes in the original novel that have led to countless reincarnations over the years.

Slay, slay, SLAY!; “Queer Dance Freakout” brings mirthful movement to Elastic Arts

 

WARNING: This review contains descriptions of sensuality, sexually explicit acts, profane language, shouting, screaming, loud music…

But enough teasing!

“Queer Dance Freakout,” presented by Gender Fucked Productions on Sept. 24 at the Elastic Arts Center, defies all expectations of a traditional dance performance. (And that’s a good thing!)

Gerald Arpino Centennial Celebrates the Genius of Joffrey Ballet’s founding Co-director

 

“The Arpino Chicago Centennial Celebration” honors the legacy of Joffrey Ballet Co-Founder Gerald Arpino (1923-2008) with a three-day festival of events, featuring his innovative choreographic contribution to 20th-century dance.

Two performances at Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre comprise the centerpiece of the festival with seven ballet companies performing some of Arpino’s best known works on Saturday, September 23 at 7:30 PM, and Sunday, September 24 at 1 PM. (Go to seechicagodance.com for program details)

The Museum of Contemporary Art celebrates three emerging artists in "Chicago Performs 2023"

 

From September 7-10, The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago presents “Chicago Performs 2023.” The performing arts festival gives emerging artists entering a new phase of their practice an opportunity to explore new ideas and directions, expand their scale of work, and reimagine their art in a new space and for new audiences.

CRDT's "The Island" Tells A Different West Side Story

 

 

On Wednesday, Aug. 30, Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre returns to Links Hall with “The Island,” a new work by Michelle Manzanales, featuring an original composition by composer and violinist, James Sanders, and based on a true story.

“The Island” premiers as part of “Inside Out,” the work-in-progress series which offers insight into the choreographer’s process of creation. The program is also a part of CRDT’s “Stories from the West Side”, a series that focuses on stories from Chicago residents who are people of color from that part of town.

“Dance For Life” Unites Chicago Dance Community at the Auditorium Theatre For Annual Fundraiser Saturday Night

 

“It’s a joyous celebration of dancers!” says Chicago Dancers United board member, Lynne Belsky, about the organization’s annual performance gala, “Dance For Life.”

Belsky, an MD and former dancer with the Joffrey Ballet, is co-founder and ballet teacher at CBG institute for Dance and Health, and owner of Living Well Medical Associates, LLC.

“There are no ordinary moments”; Symbiosis presents the experimental “Sancta” on July 16

 

Artists of all disciplines spend time in that grey area between amateur and professional. Climbing from one plateau to the next can be confusing and stressful—unless you have a guide to lead you. Luckily, there are dancers and organizations set up to help others take that leap from studio kid to full-fledged pro.

"New Dances" continues to thrive at 40

 

This week, "New Dances,” a local incubator for choreographic talent, ends its three-week, intensive process with three performances at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts. Six brand new works from six emerging choreographers featuring a troupe of 16 dancers in a Chicago dance landmark…what a great way to continue celebrating Chicago Dance Month. And all thanks to two women from Evanston.

Ensemble Español celebrates forty-seven years with “Flamenco Passion 2023” at the Northshore Center and Northeastern Illinois University

 

Ensemble Español is touted as “the premiere Spanish dance company and center in the U.S.” A title like that is a lot to live up to; fortunately, they’ve got a rich history of performance to back it up.